stace

thanks Grey - that's helpful! I realize pictures (and mediocre one's at that!) are never the same as seeing the blade first hand. I'm trying to convince my cousin to attend the Tampa sword show and learn more about his blade as well as nihonto in general. he's not far away in Atlanta and he could see many fine examples of nihonto. thanks very much! Stace

Dimitri S. - thanks very much. that is very helpful!!! other insights would still be welcome. thanks everyone... Stace

Thanks very much Robert! any other thoughts about; is the mei legitimate or gimei? Was naganori a single smith or a line of smiths using that name? any sense of age for this blade? thanks again for any opinions!!! Stace

more pictures thanks

thanks in advance for any thoughts you have on this wak. my cousin inherited this and I did have this in hand last week. any thoughts as to smith and gimei or not? the blade is in very good shape. although not remarkable it has no obvious flaws, etc. Hamon is suguha. no visible yakote. the tsuka fittings are very nice quality. any sense of age or school? the nakago is 4.75 in and the nagasa is 19.5 in. thanks in advance for your thoughts - very much appreciated. Stace corpus christi, tx USA (more pictures in next post)

I rarely post but the notion this board is snobbish is rubbish! there are some regular contributors here that are truly experts in the art of nihonto. I have learned much from them over the years. (and have only scratched the surface of the subject myself) if someone wants to debate myths and rumors there are other more suitable forums. if someone wants to learn about nihonto - there is no better place. thanks to everyone who makes this a really great site... Stace

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts. shin shinto it must be.... any other thoughts on school or region of Japan? saya any indicator? many thanks domo arigato!!

thanks very much for the great insights and thoughts. Shinshinto sounds most likely. attached are a few more pics (mune machi and mekugi ana). more thoughts welcome and thanks again!!! Stace G.

more pics thanks

another request for any learned thoughts by the collective expertise is appreciated. I realize not being in hand, opinions are difficult and just an educated guess. but the respected knowledge of this forum is second to none. this tanto was a gift from my aikido sensei. nakago is 7.8 cm nagasa is 17.7 cm mu mei with suguba hamon boshi has nice turn-back gold habaki any thoughts as to school, age, worth a polish or shinsa? etc. thanks very much in advance!! Stace G.