truelotus

Well, this is a newly acquired - rather cheap tsuba I found on ebay basically, my main reason to buy it is rather comical, because it resembled (sorry) an "a**hole" I think the basic pattern is take-zu (underside of a mushroom) ? the seller said the main material is iron, but I doubt that it was carved, so I bought it upon arrival, I am a bit amazed by the quality of workmanship, these piece is definitely old, and it was an iron mokko tsuba, but strangely decorated with thick urushi with gold tone very nice tsuba, and truly, the resemblance to an a**hole ... err I mean mushroom is uncanny, they even copied the texture in amazing details, you can almost feel it - the mushroom, I mean the urushi is peeling in some parts, but overall the tsuba is intact any opinion on school, specific name, or anything else ?? ketsuana - tsuba perhaps ? thanks Donny

I have to admit this is the very first time I see the true Gokaden side-by-side - in ONE frame truly an amazing collection, and we do benefit from it - especially for beginner like me, which can clearly see which one got slender sugata, high shinogi apart from imagination from books If you don't mind, Jean - would you mind adding measurement of each sword ? and detailed pictures of each sword so we and future nihonto enthusiasts can benefit from your huge effort and it will be forever remembered as your legacy here :D thanks in advance Donny

thank you, all so this is sabinaito :D Donny

Hi here's a friend of mine's tsuba and gunto nakago could anyone help with the translation ? yea, he cleaned the nakago - he should NOT do that, but it has been done ... thanks in advance Donny

well I know I am being lazy, but could someone help ? thanks in advance donny

I just got a tachi in gunto koshirae, it's mumei and need to be restored professionally, but the koshi-zori and funbari shows the true identity of the blade nagasa 72.5 cm with sort of takeda kamon pinned in the kabutogane and ... still won't sell it for 1800

stumbled on this one ... seems to be the same theme as yours http://www.ebay.com/itm/Superb-Japanese-Edo-Samurai-18-19th-C-Antique-BIG-Issaku-Menuki-Carp-B161-/272023834084?hash=item3f55e24de4:g:c4wAAOSwA4dWKOud

actually I have seen a ishizuki on gunto with small wheels ... I think I saw it here in this forum ... I mean real gunto ishizuki, not funny sword like above but I forgot where

I especially loved the "divine wind barbarian slayer of the honourable gods" super sword ... hahahahahaaa

many thanks & sorry for the quality of the pic, will try to obtain better pics

yeah, I know I was being lazy ... need quick info on this gunto, though best pic I have so far thanks in advance Donny

I disagree with the rogue fuchi. I have similar shin gunto with dotted fuchi instead of the normal cherry blossom fuchi. and it was original to the koshirae. I got 3 specimens of gunto tsuka, one is high end - definitely custom made with oyatsubu in the same - came along with a nice koto blade, the other is koa isshin mantetsu sword with standard text-book quality tsuka, and the last one is mumei koto blade in lower quality koshirae, equipped with this dotted fuchi my best guess, seeing the kokuin on the nakago is this was a shin gunto, mix-matched with kaigunto tsuba and saya ... and err ... with kaigunto tassel

not necessarily chinese, folks ... have seen similar sword in junk market here in Indonesia ... they claimed it to be genuine gunto and need a wheel so the supposedly short-IJA-soldier may drag it anywhere he likes ...

I actually have the same thought couple years ago ... it's not expensive and it will definitely shows the beauty of the blade without interference of oil on the surface I even thought of tight fit plexiglass box for nihonto so it will be easier to carry and display

I looked around this forum and found little explanation (well, perhaps I did not dig deep enough) got an offer from someone in Japan and they showed me a nice blade with gunome hamon ... I cannot post the picture because it is still on sale what intrigued me is the sword has torokusho ... whereas the nakago clearly shows Showa stamp I read previously on http://www.jssus.org/nkp/japanese_sword_laws.html "Only traditionally made Nihonto can be licensed, i.e. swords made in Japan from Tamahagane 玉鋼 (and Shinto swords that are inscribed "Motte Namban-Tesu 以南蠻鐵" ["made using steel from the southern barbarians"]). This means in effect that it has to be either an antique, or made by a contemporary, licensed smith. Mass produced WWII swords (so called Showato昭和刀) and foreign made swords are not eligible for Torokusho." If I am not mistaken, a showa stamp clearly indicated that the sword in question is not traditionally made. so how is it possible to have a torokusho ?? did the judge at Toroku-shinsa-kaijo 登録審査会場 forgot to check the nakago ?? please advise thanks Donny

sigh ... that's absolutely correct ... I lived in Indonesia and swords like those are just a dream ... my monthly salary is even less than $2000 / month, since our currency dropped more than 40% against USD since last year you really get my point here - one great sword is feasible ... after years and years of saving T_T ... for now I must be satisfied with low class nihonto

OMG ... there's actually a single person (not a museum) crazy (I mean dedicated) enough to collect the gokaden ... I almost cried to see five of them side by side and in the same place ... I am aware the super tremendous effort to get them all ... superb collection, congratulations, Jean

agh too bad you cannot accept paypal ... as in faraway land like mine, it's the only reliable means of sending money T_T

looking for fuchi for this poor handachi ... blade is mumei and currently under restoration autumn leaves ? maple leaves ?? argh ....

OMG ... I read the whole post and re-look at all the images ... they are darn GOOD for a replica ... I even look closely at each photos and still have difficulties seeing it was a resin casting ... especially the aging of the parts I plan to buy one set from ebay as decoration item and now I have to rethink my option ... thanks for the info Donny

How come they chop so many imperial gift swords ??? the english translation is somewhat fuzzy but overall a very nice source for info many thanks, Chris Donny

Thank you, Chris i checked since the blade have no arsenal stamp - is it safe to assume that this is gendaito ? Donny

Hi all please help translating the mei. I know I am being lazy. too much work for today :D so I need your help ... I did not see any stamp ... any idea ? thanks in advance Donny

it is difficult to capture the beauty .... perhaps I need to invest for a better camera ?? I noticed the hada on the ji is different with hada on the ha ... is it because the ji finished with migaki bo ?? or my eyes deceiving me ?

okay, only 6 pictures in a post ... so here's the other pics