KizuKazu

Will try. It only took me six months to post these. Not much sori and the boshi is kaeri if I recall. It's packed away now so can't check without major unpacking. For such a short plade, it has a very nice feel to it. No rust or kizu but the polish is old and faded. Simon

Here are a couple of angles on the same shot - not much I'm afraid. Will try to do better. Simon

Yukimori is listed in Hawley YUK297 and YUK299 as the son of Yukimitsu. Like most else, the eBay mystery man probably got the date wrong. I have followed many erroneous half-truths to successful finds whilst other collectors passed off incomplete information. This is what sword hunting is all about. Some are dead ends, most of mine have not been. I've rattled off some names before. I don't believe I mentioned the Masamune tanto I found? Yukimori was a Bizen kaji but there was much exchange between Bizen and Soshu at this time. It could be another Yukimitsu but generally, if Hawley states a name when there are many, it's usually THE name. Yukimitsu was a student of Shintogo Kunimitsu, which would make him a contemporary of Masamune but Fred Weissberg goes as far to say that Yukimitsu was the father of Masamune. I always understood Shintogo Kunimitsu to be the adopted father of Masamune. The eBay guy knows nothing. He got the name from somewhere along with those false expectations. I'm more interested in the tanto. It could be anything but I like the look of it. I pulled a genuine Miyoshi Nagamichi katana off eBay a year ago based on the grace of the blade, as there was no close-up of the work and no shot of the nakago. $600 I think it was, as nobody else would take a chance. People tend to underestimate a graceful sugata, whereas I believe it is the first thing to look for and possibly one of the most difficult of tasks for a kaji. I've only recently turned to eBay for swords. Occasionally something good comes along but I have to use a different set of senses than previously without sword in hand. It's working. I have a number of fine blades using similar selection criteria. So no, I made nothing up but nothing is certain until sword is in hand and back from Shinsa. NBTHK Shinsa. I'm staying in contact with this man and he is expressing his gratitude for what I tried to do, which was out of genuine concern and no interest in the sword at that stage. Now we'll see, as I'm getting curious, more about the tanto. Until then, it's only pointless to state a position on relevance one way or another. I've followed longer shots than this to very successful outcomes. Remaining positive helps but then I'd have to get into the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Physics, which is not as OT as you may think.

There's that, there's always that, then there's the fact that America is in the worst economic shape it's been in since the 20's right now. Or so I read. I'm in Australia and things are OK here but I'm not so quick to judge desperate last stand life-rafts at the moment. Nobody's being forced to do anything. Nobody's going to pay $9k for such a sword, let alone $90k. It would be interesting to have a look, were it not a waste of time as there is no way he's going to let them go for their true value. I saw a picture of the tanto on another site where he has them also and; it's a could be. They are both worth a look; were they in reasonable hands. The guy could be a 35 y/o car salesman for all I know but as I said (but has been deleted), I'd rather waste a hour to give a person the benefit of doubt than turn my back on someone in need. Despite all the BS, perhaps he is about to loose his house. That would get me thinking creatively; a lot more creatively void of deceipt admitedly but being creative has been my career. A lot of people have to think creatively for the first time at the moment. That must be scary if you've worked on a production line all your life. This was all just intended as bottom-line humanity. At the end of the day, he's going to have to come to terms with the fact that they just won't sell. If he wants to sell them, needs any money at all, he's going to have to come to terms with the their true value and a son/student of Yukimitsu does sound exciting, if it really is. The tanto is anybody's guess. I'm going to try to get over to the US on a sword hunt this year so I'm going to keep touch with this guy. Showing him humanity was genuine but it may just pay off in the end. I doubt it but there are swords I have chased for 20 years. Simon Binks

Just to qualify, I have Hawley, Fujishiro and a couple of others. When I refer to my books, I am refering to a library, cartons upon cartons of books going back hundreds of years from my family collection to the thousands I have purchased, including an extensive collection on Japanese swords, cartons of those alone, mostly in Japanese. Likening this to a laptop is akin to associating a stereo to my recording studio > 2 tracks vs infinite. All this pales into insignficance compared to the purpose of the original post - to try to help an elderly man about to loose his home in this economic crisis whilst we sit in luxury with money to throw away on expendables like Japanese swords. Simon Binks.

I don't need an excuse for my books and most of my belongings to be in storage and have no plans on getting them out in the foreseeable future for other reasons I don't need to explain to a Japanese sword forum. I'm just trying to help an old man who is about to loose his house. I have searched the Web extensively. I'm pretty sure that the simple answer is that the apple fell far from the tree in Yukimori's circumstance. It happens. Why is the most simple, well-meaning jesture met wth such hostility. Every time I come here it results in a hostile result. This posting couldn't have been more selfless yet still I have to justify myself. I'm sure everybody saw this sword. Who else cared to do something, let the guy down from his impossible expectations? Even if this Yukimori is more valued than Hawley rates him, there is no way this poor old guy is going to get 1/10th way to $90k. I just wanted 1/ Others to write to him as well so he has realistic exectations, as I don't expect him to just take my word for it or 2/Get as much as I could for him. I don't want anything out of this. I'm not bidding on the blade or trying to get a free kantei for my benefit. I'm just trying to help an old man about to loose his house. I don't need my books for that. Simon Binks

Some turkey has convinced an elderly man that he has a Yukimori wakizashi worth $90,000. eBay: SMALL Japanese SWORD MADE BY YUKIMORI 1536/SMALL BLADE /W SHEIF Item Id: 120848322092 I've written to the guy, firstly asking politely how he came to expect that value. He replied that someone whose name he won't reveal had told him that was the value of the sword. How many times have I heard that. This poor old guy is about to loose his house and he's hanging on this absurd valuation as his saviour. I'm guessing that his advisor is referring to the son of Yukimitsu. We all know Hawley's rating system is merely a rough guide that is sometimes way off but I can't find any information on this Yukimori - other than he being the son of Yukimitsu. If this is THE Yukimitsu, as in student of Shintogo Kunimitsu/contemporary of Masamune, one would think his son a kaji of higher value but I can find no reference to support this. Then again, all my books are packed in boxes. If I'm wrong and this is a sword of much higher value, this is best-case-scenario for this poor old guy. How about it guys. Here is an old guy (80's I think he said) about to loose his house. The photos are distant and show nothing. There is also a tanto that accompanies the wakizashi. Who knows what that may be? If this Yukimori is the son of a kaji who worked alongside Masamune - IF - surely it would be a case of an other error in the Hawley rating system - YUK297 & YUK299(?) - 20 points. I know he'd be lucky to get $90k for a Masamune right now (? I have no idea) but just throwing this up there to either get some help to let this guy down in his expectations, or maybe I'm wrong and he's sitting on something that may not be worth $90k but maybe enough to get him out of trouble. Over to you guys: Simon Binks

I think it's been pretty well-covered but swords come straight to my front door in Australia. I am in the state of Victoria which has the most strict arms/weapons laws. Swords arrive from Japan or the US and I don't have to pay or do a thing. Not a problem. Simon

John, Australia and Indonesia? I have spent a lot of time in Indonesia but was never able to turn up a sword. Saw a good Gendai when I was in Bali December '94/Jan '95, but preoccupied and had a number of very good blades with me. Dang, I should have got it. Where are you John? I left some good swords in Perth. I have a black mask, grappling hook, glass cutters, gloves, thought we could catch up next time I am cleaning somebody's chandeliers. Simon

Has anybody heard anything about Jon Bowhay lately? He really looked after me in Japan once and I have heard that he is unwell. I've sent him a message via his Website but no reply. This is not like Jon. He was always very communicative. Would appreciate any news. I believe I have a good NBTHK papered sword in koshirae coming. Don't know the details yet but will advise. Simon

Dear John, Thank you for your thoughts, but I am in Australia and these guys look to be in the USA. Then again, you look to be somewhere between Australia and Indonesia?? Whatever your location, thanks for the thought. Simon

Just noticed this. Here is my third attempt to join and I am taking Brian's advise and introducing myself. My name is Simon Binks and I have been a collector for about thirty years. I have joined this board as simonjbinks, Marked Hamon and KizuKazu to try to keep harmony but I don't want to bring this up again, as though I'm sure members are sick of the melodrama, none more than I. I just want to talk swords. I don't think I'm anybody special, in fact, when I think of the swords I've let go, I think I'm a bloody idiot. I was a rock musician in the 80's. Who wasn't? The touring provided the swords. I have had three collections, my first a collection of quantity occasioning quality. My first sword was purchased in Bali. I looked in the local trading paper where I had seen Japanese Swords Wanted advertisements and contacted that person. We met at his work and I was disappointed to discover than my Bali find was a jeep spring. That person was Barry Thomas who has been a constant friend and mentor for all of those thirty years. I purchased my copy of Hawley off Willis himself, in his grand Hollywood mansion. He casually pointed to a Chinese wall panel that he said was worth more than his house. I'm sure others here have seen his house. That must have been one Chinese wall panel. We all know of flaws in his work but considering when and how it was done, a remarkable effort by a wonderful genteel man. I very much liked Willis Hawley. That first collection went in Japan, where I was mutton to the wolves. I figuered it the right, moral thing to do. It was not the right financial thing to do. I had to finance time living in the US trying to restart my career as a musician on a grander level that in a country of a mere 18m (I think Australia was at the time). But first, I lived in Japan twice for about 18 months a piece. I met Nobuo Ogasawara, who took me into the catacombs of the National Museum and showed me pieces that don't usually go on display. I was also taken to Jon Bowhay's Sensei, who just happened to be polishing a superb Masamune katana. They were both impressed when I shrugged a quick kantei of the sword as being Soshu Den. I didn't let on that I had seen a glimpse of the sayagaki. I almost dropped it when it was pronounced to be a Masamune. My second collection began with a superb Soshu piece that came from my Aikido class. It was in good polish, no flaws and Handachi mounts, with a superb deep red ishime urushi saya. I collected a few more, including a Gendai piece by one of the top Gendai masters but this was when one did not collect Gendai pieces. Or so I thought. A less than honest collector relieved me of that under conditions that caveat emptor does not really cover. A near fatal car accident forced the sale of that collection. I am now on my third collection. I have tended to be lucky with swords, but I also get somewhat obsessive-compulsive about the search. I do romanticise. I make no apologies for it. It's my choice so please allow me to be an excitable young man. I may not be so young anymore but I'm always looking over my shoulder for adults. I've picked up a thing or two over thirty years, living in Australia, LA (after driving from NY with an actress — don't EVER do it — and picking up two swords and three guitars on the way). I've also lived in Singapore and Jakarta and swords have never been far away. I have had a lot of swords, must be somewhere around 150, some very good, some average early on in the learning curve and some extremely good but it's an addiction that never ends. And Barry, DID you sell that mere Nihonto to buy your beloved daughter (Allison?) a car? Simon Binks

Alan, This is so much more complex than it was wth the Kotetsu, which was sold by the way in 1985. The Kotetsu was obviously chromed. I knew that when I bought it off a guy who found it as the sole item in a destered shack in the middle of the Australian desert. Go figure. Because of the thin nature and cracking appearence of the hada on this sword, it didn't click that it was chromed. It looked completely different than the Kotetsu. As stated, it looks more like spider rust and the blade does not have the extra niku of a proper chrome plating. I'm hoping it was done half-assed. I'm going to take it down to a panel shop and talk - only talk at first. Thanks for your help. Simon

Barry is an old friend and my mentor. He is the most knowledgable collector in Australia and one of the finest people I have ever met. We have known each other for about 30 years now - all my life as a collector.

Raymond, Yes, this does answer some questions/conundrums, but opens more. Losing 9 cm will take the machi below all mekugi ana. The top mekugi ana - the one closest to the blade, is the oldest on the sword. The Gunto tsuka uses the one below it, closer to the nakago-jiri. I know this is reverse to the norm but nothing seems to make sense on this blade. Taking 9 cm off will put the Bonji in place but the nakago tapers in width dramatically. This means that if it were shortened in the 18th century, then the nakago must (might?) have been narrowed down at the same time. In that case, the patina should not be so dark. This still doesn't explain the great wear over centuries to reduce the nakago by constant kneading to make the kanji starting and ending with Ichi to be as worn as it is. Then there is all that messy bonji/kanji??? It's a riddle that doesn't translate well in short bursts of text. You really need to see the sword. I will take it to Barry Thomas and see what he has to say. Simon

Alan, It does have a cracked appearence over the chrome. That's why I assumed it was some kind of minor spider rust. My Kotetsu survived having been chromed and was commented on as being a remarkable blade by the Japanese togi. I requested that he repatinate the nakago and refill the cutting test with gold, paid extra for this but when I got it back, this had not been done. Bloody annoying. I'm working up the courage to take it down to a panel shop or a chroming specialist. I haven't even searched the yellow pages yet. I gather you study kenjutsu or Iai? What style? Simon

Mark, we have corresponded before over an item on eBay. I remember the email address. You knowingly swapped a Masamune for two Rai blades? Tell me it was a Masamune tanto in shirasaya for two Rai Kunimitsu Itomaki no Tachis. Then again, I have done so many things I am still kicking myself for. It's a continual learning curve. I may be coming to the States soon on a vintage guitar/Nihonto collecting sweep. Just trying to work out the logistics. It's a little more difficult than 6 states and two territories: seven major newspapers in Australia against 52 states in the US. I drove from NY to LA and lived in LA for a while but it was an in-between-collecting hiatus. I've always wanted to do a sweep of the US but now that I have the opportunity, it's so hard to work out the logistics. Simon

As you say, original legth of about 65cm which is short for a katana of quality and this does have very good workmanship. I'm going to try to photograph it. A lot of literarure will tell you not to look at swords of this length, as it can only be second rate. Then again, one may find just about any opinion on anything if they look hard enough. One explanation is that it could have been a 'boy's sword', but this is a very good piece for a young man's first sword. I have examined it closely many times and the original mekugi ana and the bonji don't seem to add up. It's quite normal to see bonji just in front of the machi, but there has to be room for the balance of the tsuka, fuchi, seppa, tsuba and habaki. It doesn't seem to add up in the flesh, unless it was never intended to be mounted, which would explain why a sword of great age has lost no discernable niku. I see at least three hands at work; the shortening attestation and the date ascribed to it, the ichixxx mune(?) xxx + Ichi as in Ichimonji on the katana mune (or tachi omote?), one very good single bonji on the katana omote, a whole bunch of crude kanji and strange bonji (?) on the katana ura. The line of Ichi etc etc, is much more faded than the kanji attesting to the shortening. The kanji amidst the more crude bonji on the katana ura is just messy. Had this been a boy's sword, this may explain the crude kanji/bonji and I shudder to think how he slept that night. The single good bonji on the katana omote is one inch from the original mekugi ana, no room for a habaki, let alone fuchi, seppa and tsuba. There is a lot going on in this blade. It's hard to tell because of the faded polish but I will try to capture it on film, er, pixels.

All very logical but not nearly as exciting. I tend to get excited by the thrill of the hunt — liberating these items from an unappreciated resting place, though this sword has been very well treated. Not a single finger print. It'a like a puzzle with many possible solutions. It seems logical to me that only a true Samurai family would feel this shame so deeply to take all evidence of the shame for the family away. A non Samurai family with a made-up heritage would also be shamed but as they would have been living a lie with a fake mon, would not have a noble lineage to obscure and I doubt that they would think of this at such a time. This would be why I've heard of this practice over the years but not had a single sword with the mon removed until now. I have had some very fine blades with mons from famous families still intact; an old Bizen tachi with a Mitsubishi mon, a Sashu Ju Masayoshi with a mon from a famous family I can't recall now but I've kept the tsuka (sold the sword). This sword is a mystery. Very good blade of a strange length, bonji that I can't see as ever having been visible when mounted, writing in at least three hands, the date of the shortening recorded and silver used as filler in the mekugi-ana. This all points to something. It looks like maybe a show piece or a shrine dedication. Yes, I give my imagination free reign but that's the fun of it and there is logic behind my thinking. Yes, I romanticise. I can't help it. It's my creative side. I have had some very lucky finds, so this fuels my expectations. I found a Masamune once. I found a guy with about ten or fifteen swords. I could only afford/justify five. I tossed up between a very nice blade in somewhat gross elephant koshirae, brilliantly done but not shibui, and another very nice mumei tanto in beautiful ebi koshirae with matching kodugu, all signed including kodzuka and kogai, all in shakudo. There was also a Heiango Nagayoshi, a beautiful mounted mumei katana and a Soshu Tsunehiro. I chose the ebi koshirae tanto over the elephant mounted tanto. I can't remember what the fifth was. I heard later that the elephant mounted tanto went to another collector and it turned out to be Masamune. The katana was my first experience with hagiri. That was almost 30 years ago and I'm still kicking myself. I never sent the ebi koshirae tanto to shinsa. It was in good polish; a very fine blade but I don't know by whom. I still think of it.The Masamune must have come from a wealthy merchant. No Samurai family would have ordered such gauche fittings, even though they were expertly done. At least, that's the only way I can get to sleep at night. With such encounters, it's hard not to romanticise. Simon

I don't find it strange. I have heard much of this practice but have never had a blade where this had occurred. I just feel that this is a sign of a real Samurai family, as so many officers merely purchased swords to take to war as they did not come from Samurai families. I have heard the average price for a sword was about $300 at that time. Swords were considered status for the officers. Many mons were just made up. Coming from a Samurai family was supposed to command more respect from the troops. With the mon removed, this a good sign that this sword did come from an old Samurai family. There would be more important things on the minds of non-Samurai officers at the time of surrender. The fact that it very old but seems to have never been used is further hope that this was a family treasure formerly held in high esteem, due to the number of times it must have been handled to remove so much niku from the nakago and obsure the mei, finally given to a son not expected to return by one of the more realistic old Japanese noble families. Simon Binks

Ian, Thank you. Coincidental that your sword had a gold cutting test. My prior chromed blade was a Kotetsu with a gold inlay cutting test by Yamano Kuemon Nagahisa. I believe he was the sword tester for the Tokugawa Shogunate. The gold in my Kotetsu cutting test was lost during the process. The process scares me but I believe that the blade is worthy. I've seen many opinions and advise as to methods of removing chrome on Web searches but none were concerning Japanese swords. Almost all concerned auto parts where the base metal was of little concern. I just have to find the name of the chemicals, or as others have suggested, take the sword to a chrome specialist, after somehow safeguarding the nakago. We must catch up. I have some more swords for you to see. Thanks Ian. Simon

Perhaps nagasa is an issue. In response to requests to post photos of the Ichimonji Bizen blade, I will try but these things are so hard to photograph. I've just bought a new Nikon digital SLR and whist I know it should be the same as analogue, I'm having trouble getting my head around it. I was a published photographer years ago so have no excuse. It's a very good piece and the polish is clean but old and faded. I'll try my best but it will take a few days. I have to get lights, etc. Someone mentioned contacting the NTHK regarding this sword. A reference to some light they may be able to shed? Because of the quality of the blade, the bonji and amount of writing in at least three different hands, the fact that it doesn't seem to have seen any use, the Ichimonji kanji, the odd length for a sword which appears very old, I get the feeling this is something special. As stated in the original posting, this has the hallmarks of a family treasure, much admired but little or never used, hence the removal of the Mon. This, as I understand it, only happened with swords from old, established families. I will make some enquiries with the NTHK. There is a Shinsa in Australia in September. I have at least 6 blades worthy of kantei. Simon

No, I just want to be left in peace to discuss swords. As almost all forums use handles and I saw individuals here doing so (Nobody), I saw no harm in using one to avoid continual attacks by Moss, a person I have never met but who clearly bares a grudge against me because of my former fame in this country. A lot of men envied us as we got all the girls - 20 years ago. I had as many people come to my defence as those who picked up the conversations amidst my defending myself and joined the attack. This is just a Japanese sword forum, we're not curing cancer here. I should be able to come here to discuss Nihonto in peace. I am more than able to defend myself but I shouldn't have to. Is this going to start all over again? If so, I'll leave now. Simon Binks

Last time, I nearly missed what has turned out to be an excellent Kamakurra Bizen katana signed Kagemitsu due to Moss interjecting when I was trying to gain opinions on this site. The chances are that this is gimei, but if so, a professional gimei by an expert, as it is a very fine blade and looks like a Kagemitsu. It is signed katana-mei, whereas Kagemitsu uausally, but not always, signed tachi-mei. An expert gimei artist would know this. I tend to be lucky with swords. It may just be, but whatever it is, it is well worth the price I paid. The hamon is complex and tricky, just like Kagemitsu. I've picked up some really nice pieces in the last few months. This Bizen kogatana is one of them. The nakago is really nice with a beautiful patina and in supurb condition, though being so worn down, it must have been held and admired many times over centuries. I also picked up a Miyoshi Nagamichi. This is the second Miyoshi I've owned and fourth I've held, but the only one without loose hada. It is unquesionably genuine. This sword tells a grim story. When I purchased it, no attempt to clean it had occured since it was taken from the field in what must have been a bitter hand-to-hand struggle. There were two semi-circles of dried blood encrusted around the monouchi - two stikes. There was more blood on the kissaki. This sword must have been returned to the military saya without chiburi, something a Japanese officer would never do. The good thing is that the blood was so thick, no oxygen could get to the blade, so it came off leaving little evidence. The sword must have been in new polish when taken to the field. The blood had dried on the blade before it had been returned to the saya, so it must have been left lying where it fell for some time. A grim reminder of the true purpose of an art-sword. KK

Thank you Morita San. It's kind of bitter sweet as I'd hoped to discover the kaji but I knew the form of the 'mei' was strange. I've never seen a reference as to who shortened a blade before. I find this in itself interesting. I think this is certainly a piece for shinsa. I thought Iyetoshi but there's just not enough of the kanji left to tell. All the other writing has me baffled. I see at least three hands at work there. I will try to post photos of the work in the blade but it is in faded polish. No kizu, rust, chips or sword cuts and doesn't appear to have lost any niku at all but it does look very old. Very old but never used. Curran, I thought one could sign in using a 'handle' as in most other forums? I have looked at this forum many times and seen people posting with what is clearly not their real name. One seemingly very knowledgable person by the handle of 'Nobody', very unassuming and self-effacing. Please advise and I will oblige. KK