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Ken, The original listing was schizophrenic. The seller talked at length about how this sword might be gimei, but also talked at some length about how it might be shoshin. But, he did say to buy the sword, not the signature. When I emailed him privately about why I strongly felt the sword was gimei based on workmanship, he conceded quite openly. He seems to be straightforward and honest, but a bit on the optimistic side regarding his swords, and perhaps a bit eccentric. You can read the original posting below. http://www.ebay.com/itm/331350084789?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT Regards, Hoanh

Gorgeous! Hoanh

All items listed for sale MUST have an asking price. We can't go on fishing expeditions on NMB. Regarding your sword, if you want to get it papered, you will need to remove the gimei first. The cost of removing the gimei, plus round-trip postage to/from the togishi will run $250. The cost of getting NBTHK Hozon, with agent's fee, plus postage, will run approximately another $750. Your sword, being a mumei shinto (after removal of the gimei), will receive Hozon and no higher. Mumei Shinto Wakizashi, in good polish, shirasaya, and with Hozon origami, will be in the $2000-$3000 range, normally closer to $2k than $3k. So, if you paid $2k, you are at best breaking even, if you are lucky. Personally, 1. If I paid >$2k or more for this sword, I would leave it as is and enjoy it. When I am ready, resell it and take a lump if necessary. 2. If I paid between $1k and $2k, I would gamble and get it papered. 3. If I paid <$1k for it, I would certainly get it papered. My choices above reflects my personal opinion only and reflect my risk tolerance. Everyone is different in the collecting world. Regards, Hoanh

I saw this sword on ebay by sedonafotopro and emailed him. It's a nice sword, but definitely gimei. The workmanship is not that of Inoue Shinkai, and the signature is not correct. Regards, Hoanh

Curtis, You mean Norimitsu, right? Hoanh

Jeremy, I would send it for second opinion if NBTHK appraisal makes absolutely no sense. If I am able to understand the appraisal, then all is well. I have a few more pictures to post. In the OP, I had indicated that I saw no ji nie. Actually, I just didn't look carefully enough. I went over the jihada carefully with my macro lens at the highest magnification level and turned the sword at various angles and under different lighting conditions. It turns out that the jihada is covered very evenly in fine (ko) ji nie, and I see lots of fine chikei, too. I must say this is quite embarrassing, not seeing these things the first time around. No excuses! I think I am more comfortable with the Echizen Rai/Yamashiro/Yamato call. What had me hesitated before was my inability to see ji nie and chikei. I am satisfied now. The attached pictures are taken at random places on the ji hada to show the even distribution of jie nie. Regards, Hoanh

Steve, What gave clue to the (Sue) Soshu call? I don't think we can make the call one way or the other from the pictures. I have seen so many swords for sale by this seller, claiming to be the widow of a long-time collector, trying to sell off her deceased husband's collection. Each sword would come with a kantei by a renown Mr. George Welch, of whom I have never heard. I have not found a single kantei of Mr. George Welch's to be believable, other than the reading of the mei. You might want to send it to a professional togishi to get his opinion before deciding what to do with this sword. That way, you get an independent, believable opinion (at no cost other than round-trip shipping). Regards, Hoanh

Kenneth, What's not to like? It's a beautiful sword, in excellent condition, by a notable smith, and now papered. Congrats on having the fortitude to wait out your urge to buy until after you have done your reading! Regards, Hoanh

Do you have close up and focused pictures of the sword (boshi, hamachi, hada, hamon, nakago, etc.)? It would help a great deal. Does the sword currently have good-fitting shirasaya? If not, and you decide it's worth a new polish, you will need to get shirasaya made to protect the expensive polish. Once you have it in good polish and shirasaya, you might as well get it papered as the cost of papering it is incremental compared to the cost of a full restoration. All these costs will need to be factored in. It will end up being closer to $4k than $2k. Hoanh

Pictures? Hoanh

Yes, easy for a professional togishi to straighten out a bend, but there is always a chance that a hagire will result. There are no guarantees. Regards, Hoanh

Curtis, It looks like Norimitsu, but the "Nori" seems to be missing a vertical stroke. Regards, Hoanh

Bill, I was straddling the fence, but you nudged me over the edge. NBTHK it is! Regards, Hoanh

Jonas, Reluctant to jump it late in the game, but most of the times, the wooden dowel (called the mekugi) is tapered - larger on one end than the other. I would cut off about a 3-in segment of a bamboo chopstick, trim the end to slightly under-size the hole on your sword handle, and start to bang away at the chopstick with a hammer. If that does not drive the mekugi out, then turn the sword handle the other way and start banging it out, as you have no way of knowing which is the bigger end until you try. It that doesn't work, bring out the nuclear bomb. Regards, Hoanh

Bill, Yes, I concur about the polish. While the polish is not new, it's actually very good - certainly good enough for shinsa. I need to get shirasaya made for it before sending to shinsa. The blade is currently in kaigunto mount. I just looked at many examples of Echizen Rai Chiyozuru blades, and it's quite an interesting comparison. The opinions received so far seem to vary from Yamato to Yamashiro, and from late Kamakura to Muromachi. I am inclined to send it to shinsa, but am undecided between NBTHK or wait until 2015 for NTHK in San Francisco. This is something I have to sort out in my mind first. Thank you for your input. Regards, Hoanh

Daniel, When it comes to habaki, koshirae, and shirasaya, everything has to be custom-made for your sword. You can't purchase them and fit them to your sword. So, you will need to get in touch with qualified craftsmen to get estimates for the work. On average, habaki is about $400-$500 and shirasaya is $500-$600. Regards, Hoanh

Chris, Excellent pointer! Thank you. Regards, Hoanh

After a date with the uchiko ball, the sword shows more activities that I could not see before (see pictures below). Regards, Hoanh

Steve, It's a Chinese fake. Regards, Hoanh

Giuseppe, Determining whether the hi is original or not is very, very difficult, and unless one is absolutely sure, one would be safe to assume that it is not original. Having said that, if we were to assume the hi is original, this type of hi would terminate about 3cm above the hamachi. This configuration would make the bottom nakago ana the original nakago ana, and the original nagasa would be 29". Lots of ifs and conjectures, though. Regards, Hoanh

Franco, What would be your take on the time period? The suguta, extended kissaki, and to some extent (and much less reliable indicators) the bohi soehi, give me the impression of late Nambokucho. I know this is pretty thin evidence, but... Regards, Hoanh

Peter, The roundtrip postage would probably be more than the sword is worth. If you look at the width of the nakago versus the width of the sword at the hamachi, there is such disparity that it is almost certain someone has done a number on the sword. This is a good example of why we are so much against do-it-yourself when it comes to nihonto. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but enjoy the sword for what it is. Regards, Hoanh

Darcy, The nie is pretty "regular" size. But as you noted, they look like ara nie because of the magnification. You have given me a new direction, so I will search for examples of Taema school and read up on it. I don't hear objections from either you or Franco regarding the late Nambokucho assessment, so I assume that this is a reasonable guess. I have cleaned up this sword with a couple of uchiko sessions and will take more pictures if I see details not yet shown in previous pictures. Thank you for your inputs, gentlemen. Regards, Hoanh

Peter, Is this the blade? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-japanes ... 27ef708b61 If you don't own it yet, RUN! There have been several naginata, in good polish and papered, offered for sale here for much less. Regards, Hoanh

Greetings, I just want to share a new item in my militaria collection. The blade was posted here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20468 Here are the mounts the blade came in. Everything fits tightly (tsuka, tsuba, seppa, saya) with no free play. Overall, it's a really nice package: a nice blade in high-quality mounts. Enjoy! Regards, Hoanh