Grey Doffin

Scrounge if you like but it is much quicker to look at the Index on the JSS/US website, where, if you search the 'articles' index for Token Yoran you find: JSS/US "Newsletter", volume 31, issue 1, page 1 and "Art and the Sword" volume 3, page 129. While you're there be sure to join the JSS/US. Grey

The title and author of this book, please. Nihon Koto ??? Thanks, Grey

Hi guys, When I made a room reservation for the Chicago show I was told that only rooms with 1 king bed were available at the show rate. That was a mistake on the hotel's part and that mistake has been corrected. If any of you had the same trouble and would like 2 double beds, call the hotel and they'll make the change for you. Grey

So, they are either both right..... or both wrong. Grey

I don't know what kind of soul I am, and I don't know if this is shoshin mei (the article doesn't say), but this is from page 37 of Number 17 of the Florida Token Kai's "Newsletter". Other than that you can look to page 143 of Zuikan Tomei Soran by Iida, and page 70 of Nihon Meisaku Shu by Shibata, neither of which I own. Grey

Fedex doesn't carry swords either. That is, they may carry them if you're careful not to tell them what it is they're carrying, but if you have a claim to make then they don't carry them. Every time I go searching for the one true best way to ship Nihonto I end up back where I started, at the post office. Grey

Todd, Check my index on the JSS/US website and you'll find quite a few references to this smith. Grey

Hi Adam, Hard to tell much from a photo but if that is a hamon that runs out the front of the kissaki there are only 2 explanations I can think of. The 1st is the one you mention: broken kissaki reshaped with a cosmetic hamon made to look like the turnback and kaeri. The 2nd would be a secondary hamon associated with with a flaw known as "crow's beak" (I forget the Japanese term). This is a ware in the kissaki, an opening running about where your hamon seems to run. I've seen a few of these and once, but only once, I saw a crow's beak that had a hamon associated with it. If this is the case, your sword has 2 hamons in the kissaki: one where it belongs and the other a mistake. Grey

Musashi no Kami Nagamichi. 1661 according to Hawleys. An oshigata on page 185 of Fujishiro's Shinto Hen isn't a very close match. Grey

In case any of you are interested, an auction off ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/1950s-Japanese-Samu ... dZViewItem Anyone recognize the smith/s in these pictures? Grey

I bought a wakizashi from this seller, skapala, and it showed up without its boshi. Still haven't got my money back. Be careful if you do a deal with him. Grey

No question; a fake. Grey

Ric, From what I know and can tell from the pictures, with the koshirae and at that nagasa, I would say that $2,000 and maybe a bit more would be safe. Without knowing more, I wouldn't say that at $2,500 or above, especially in today's market. In other words, even if the sword is gimei and has a few very minor problems, it should be worth 2 - 2.5K, but probably not too much more. Of course, if the mei is right and there are no problems, it is worth more, and if there are serious problems (ha giri, nioi giri, retemper, bad fukure, etc.), it would be worth less. This is just a guess; probably all anyone can give you given the lack of information we're working with. Hope this helps, Grey

Hi Dan, Sword is signed, "Omi Daijo Fujiwara Yukimitsu". If the signature is good it dates from the late 17th century. My guess is that this will polish up nicely; the rust looks to be sitting on the surface without much pitting. It needs to be shown to a qualified polisher; the sooner the better. Grey

I would stay away from all auctions for your swords. Unless you have something very important, a big auction house will just shunt them off to one of their secondary, dealer's auctions. A lesser auction house isn't likely to have the expertise to describe them correctly and give them the exposure you want for them. I think you're better off with the right sword dealer. Grey

No gamble at $2K; I would pay that for it today. Grey

And donating to a museum would be the second worst. Only the Boston MFA and New York's Metropolitan have serious Nihonto collections and they probably wouldn't be interested in anything you would have to donate. At any other museum the swords would rot in the basement. There are many Japanese sword dealers in the US, some of them honest, knowledgeable, and competent. You're on the right track. You need to find the right dealer and make arrangements before it's too late. In my somewhat humble opinion. Grey

My guess is either Shin-Shinto or later, or the business end of something that was broken at or above the machi and remade into a short wakizashi. If the latter, no idea why the signature unless it was added to increase the value. Grey

I have always associated a dry, dull patina with iron tsuba that have been burnt. My guess is that it isn't burnt and also that it isn't old enough to be ko Tosho. The placement of the sukashi, allowing room for Kotsuka and Kogai hitsu-ana, suggests to me that the ana are original to the tsuba. The condition, I think, is most likely the result of corrosion. But, what do I know about tsuba? Grey

Mariuszk, 1st, I meant no offense or disrespect. My point is, if someone were qualified to add nigui (whatever that is) he would know if and when it was appropriate to do so. Conversely, if someone doesn't know if it is appropriate to add nigui, he isn't qualified to do it. Grey

Couldn't agree more, Remzy. Mariuszk, the fact that you have to ask the question is evidence enough that you don't know all the ramifications. Japanese sword restoration should be left to those with proper training. Grey

A search of my index for listings containing "Inuyama" gives us 3 smiths who signed with the 1st Kanji Kane: Kanetake 兼武, Kaneuji 兼氏, and Kanewaka 兼若. I don't think any of these fit the last Kanji on the tanto in question. Grey

I'm voting for Kanemichi. Grey

Masachika 正近 Namie Suke date: 1848 citations TS352 Hi Todd, That's the listing from my index, if this is the one you're looking for. TS is Zuikan Tomei Soran by Iida.

Thanks guys. I used that Kanji. Grey