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Franco: My initial thought on this sword was late Muromachi, but the shape had me convinced late 14th century - straddling late Nanbokucho & early Muromachi. I suspected that it had o kissaki, broken at some point, and was repaired, hence the thin boshi. This is all suppositions, though. Do you mind expanding your thought process on why you think this sword could not be older than Muromachi? Any guess on school? This is how I can learn from others. Thank you in advance. Steve: Thank you for info on the fuchi. I'll look it up. Ken: Yes, the tsuka and tsukamaki are spanking new. In fact, I am not sure if the tsukamaki is done correctly. Plus, the tsuka wrap looks synthetic, not real same. This is how it came to me, but still, I am too ashamed to show pictures of the tsuka. Hoanh

Thank you Paul, Alex, and Carlos. I am afraid you are all correct. The boshi is only a fraction of a millimeter from the edge. Paul: If I look beyond Mino, what are some possibilities that you have in mind? I would appreciate any further assessment. Many thanks, Hoanh

Greetings, I would like to get your opinion about a daito I own. My assessment is that it's sue Koto and looks Mino. Unfortunately, the boshi is very, very thin, almost running off the edge. I hope I am wrong, but don't think so. The fuchi/kashira seems to be nice and well made, but this is not an area of my study. The tsuba looks to be shoami, but has prominent tekkotsu all over the rim. It's very pleasing to touch the tsuba around the rim because of the tekkotsu. All opinions regarding f/k, tsuba, and blade are welcomed and appreciated. Many thanks

The chiseling and yasurime look spanking new compared to the patina in the rest of the nakago. Hoanh

To tell with any certainty, we need (much) better pictures. Hoanh

Is the hamon etched on the sword, or is it the real deal? If it is the real deal, as clear and bright as it is on a sword of this condition, then it's very promising. As Axel said, better closeup, focused pics of hamon, nakago, and a shot of the whole sword would help greatly. Hoanh

To add to what John already said, the last two Kanji of the signature are Sukesada. Hoanh

What is the moral of this story? Put your hand on your wallet at all times and trust no one? I seem to recall this is one of Confucius's teaching Thanks for a nice dissection. Hoanh

I don't think Japanese swords are made to either break or bend. They are made to absorb impacts with vibrations. Repeated folding of the metal, introducing ashi (so I have read), differential hardening, soft shingane+hard kawagane are all parts&parcel of the same effort. So I have read ... Hoanh

I sent him an ebay message, and he revised his listing accordingly. He is an honest seller who has done the honorably thing. Hats off to him and no complaints from me. Hoanh

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kojima-Kanemichi-Gendaito-In-Good-Polish-/172790731541?hash=item283b215315:g:8gIAAOSwkaZZdAGC After much debate, I decided to post the eBay Kanemichi here. I wonder if the seller is a member of this forum. This sword was discussed here before, and what the seller described as "a minor flaw under the habaki that could likely come out in polish" is in fact a hagire. I will send the seller a message through ebay, but thought to post it here as well in case he is a member here. Hoanh

Stephen, That's an outstanding offer. Preview? Hoanh

Exceptional Owari tsuba! Hoanh

I am with Greg on this one. It's quite a nice tsuba. Hoanh

How about "residual element" between two sukashi? Hoanh

I used to own a Munetoshi with a cirle Matsu stamp. I like Munetoshi's work. I currently have one by his brother Akihisa. Very nice sword as well. Hoanh

Ed, Can you post pictures of the blade and & nakago? Regards, Hoanh

Greetings, I would like to share with you my humble gunto (not high-class, but very presentable) by Akihisa. Warmest Regards, Hoanh

Bob, It is genuine, but in rough shape. The area near the tip is badly rusted. I'm not positive it would polish out. Hoanh

I have a hirazukuri daito with 28in nagasa - a gendaito signed Minamoto Yoshimume. The last hirazukuri daito I saw was for sale on nihontoantiques a few months ago. As Ken says, they are rare. Hoanh

Matt, The individual pieces of the mounts seem genuine, but they definitely do not belong together. It looks like they are put together on a blade of questionable origin. I suggest you invest in some books. You will be much happier in the long run. Hoanh

As Paul pointed out, if there is masame hada in the shinogi ji, together with the fact that the boshi does not seem to be a continuation of the hamon, then we are likely back to Shinto. I would suggest looking for another (Shinto) school that produces utsuri, or this blade is an atypical Ishido school blade. I do recall that there is at least one school outside of Ishido producing utsuri, but for the life of me, I can't recall the name of the school. San Francisco shinsa is not too far off. If you are certain it's gimei, you might want to have the mei removed and submit the sword to shinsa to get an opinion. Hoanh

Ben, Nice sword! Question: how do we know it's Shinto as opposed to Koto? With utsuri on a Shinto blade, Ishido school is a good bet. My only trouble is that hamon for Ishido blades are exuberant and tend to go high up to the shinogi ji, which I don't see here. May be it's Koto? I hope it is. Hoanh

It is not too early to ask if we are having a year-end raffle, is it? If we are, I will commit to donating a very nice prize. Hoanh

A crack will appear on both sides, whereas a forging flaw will appear on one side only. If you look at the two pictures of the nakago, the crack appears on both sides, at approximately the same location. It's pretty cut-and-dry. If I were you, I would return this sword. Hoanh