SAS

My first purchase. I have been looking at swords for over 35 years, have even made a few nihonto-style blades myself, and I am not a rich man as a disabled vet……yet there are times when you just have to DO IT! (I did it

Deal is in process, Thanks Ed. Steve

PM sent to Ed.

Thanks very much!

Send it to me, i like it fine the way it is!

Ah, my brain is working better today, I believe the swordsmith is Yoshindo Yoshihara. I believe the Seattle operation was to be able to produce gendaito beyond the number permitted in Japan. When I have an extra 10 grand or so I would love to have one of his creations.

Thanks for the reply! My books are still packed but i remember that there was a Japanese swordsmith who had an operation somewhere in the Seattle area; his name escapes me at the moment, seems like he did a book with Leon Kapp, any ideas?

Greetings, when I was a student in Seattle from 1979 to 1983, there was a Japanese department store at the bottom of Chinatown called Uwajimaya. On an upper mezzanine there was a shop which had nihonto displayed; I used to spend some time gazing in the window, but it was never open when i was there, and I am not sure what kind of reception a 17 year old college student would have gotten. I wonder if that store is still there, and does anyone know anything about it? Thanks, Steve

Excellent test, looking forward to more results!

Ken, my wife's father had land here and we are building a house; theoretically it is a bit cheaper to live here than Hawaii, but we do miss Hawaii!

That is a rocking' habaki; nicely done!

A little sake might help:)

As one who aspires to make swords in the Japanese style, I can say that i do it because there is an artistic and functional aspect to the swords that resonates within me. As a non-Japanese, what I make is not Japanese, but it represents my best interpretation of nihonto that i am physically and emotionally able to achieve, after many years of studying Japanese art and history, martial arts, and the sword. For some, none of this will be relevant and they will be uninterested in my efforts. Hopefully, there will be a few who will be inspired enough to want to have one of my efforts, though even early on in my smithing journey (6 years now) I can see the truth in Ford Hallam's comment about the futility of trying to make a living at it. The work can be its own reward.

Very interesting; it looks as if it might be a type of san mai construction from the photos, also the grain seems coarse as if it had been overheated prior to the quench. Hard to say anything definitive from the photo but interesting to see.

Thank you Adrian for this very interesting article; I have been interested in the Ainu (emishi) since my college days long ago and have wanted to see info on their swords for some time. Please continue your work and posting it.

The part that is broken is the habaki, not the fuchi; you can have a new one made by a specialist, as they are custom to the blade.

Aloha, new member here; i have been reading the board for a couple of weeks now. I am an artist and bladesmith, and have been in love with Japanese swords for over 30 years. I have recently been forging tanto and wakizashi and making fittings. Thanks for making this site available.