Grey Doffin

1st Hisamichi worked in Kanbun (1661) and later generations weren't far behind. Isn't the sori on this blade awful strong for Kanbun Shinto (isn't the curvature exaggerated for a time period that produced mainly nearly straight blades)? Any thoughts? Grey

There are 2 different sets of Hawleys. The one that just sold on ebay is the earlier. It includes far fewer smiths but has a bunch of extras and is sized nicely to travel with. The other is newer, has all the smiths listed, and is much larger and heavier. If you're looking for the earlier, smaller set, get back to me by PM; I have a set I'd part with. Grey

The mei reads, "Noshu Ju Kanemitsu" and there is no question in my mind about the authenticity. You have a real Japanese sword. Grey

Hit him with a non-paying buyer; then it's his problem. If I understand the new rules, he can't give you negative feedback if he is shown to be a non-payer. Relist and say it is being relisted because of a non-payer who never saw the sword. Grey

Is the sword signed? If it is Shin-Shinto and unsigned then the smith didn't think it was a good sword and you have your answer. Grey

Brian, Thank you for offering to write the article. I agree; it will be great in the JSS/US "Newsletter". If you'd like help with editing, let me know. Grey

There's more to the question of whether or not to have the sword polished than just cost and value; you need to consider the sword. Japanese swords are made of different qualities of steel. The highest quality is the outer surface, the skin. Every time the sword is polished some of the skin is lost to the stones. After a certain number of polishes the skin is gone, the core shows through, and a great deal of the sword's artistic merit (and value) is lost. A properly done polish on a Japanese sword is a very fragile thing; it is easily damaged. Fingerprints, scratches, even chips and broken tips happen all too often. If you are going to have this sword polished you should learn how to properly handle and care for the polished sword, and make sure that everyone who will have access (your heirs?) does the same. No offense meant by the lecture; I'm sure you plan to take proper care. Just making sure you know what you're getting into. Like I said earlier in this thread, a polish isn't necessary to preserve the sword. Grey

Bob, A polish isn't necessary to preserve the sword; a very light coat of Japanese sword clove oil, or fine machine oil on the blade, except for the dark tang, is all that's necessary. I would recommend you learn more before you have a polish done; polishes are easily scratched and beginners often scratch polishes. Look for a Japanese sword care and etiquette page online. There should be one in the links at NMB home page, or google NBTHK American Branch and find the one on their website. Learn how to properly care for and handle your sword. Value: hard to say from just a few pictures but maybe $2,000. wouldn't be too far off the truth. This, of course, presupposes that there are no serious flaws on your blade, something we don't know for a fact yet. Hope this helps. Grey

You guys are missing the boat entirely on this one! You know the little ear wax spoon on the top of kogai? They were for the genteel Samurai in the city. The real, blood & guts Samurai in the country didn't have time for any such foppery; they used a serious ear wax cleaner. I forget the Japanese word for these implements; maybe one of you can supply that. In any case, this is the real deal in Samurai ear conditioning, with the added time saving advantage of being able to clean both ears at the same time. Grey

The latest translation effort of the JSS/US is now available for purchase. Kyomono no Ko-Meisaku: The Early Famed Works of the Kyoto Smiths, is 8 1/4 x 10 3/4", soft perfect bound, 100# gloss stock, and 142 pages. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3069 is a link to another thread on NMB that more thoroughly describes the book. Price is $65 plus postage for JSS/US members and $75 plus postage for non-members. Non-members should join the Society, save themselves $10, and help us publish our next book. Postage is $5 in the US and $10 everywhere else. The book can be ordered from Harry Watson, PO Box 630, Cisco TX, 76437, USA or with a credit card by email: afu@afuresearch.com If you send a check please make sure it is in US$ and made out to Harry Watson. I think this is a very good book but I'm biased, having spent so much time in editing it. A bunch of you picked up copies at the show in Chicago. What do you think? Grey

James, According to my 2 Kanji dictionaries that isn't a proper Kanji; must be sloppy handwriting. Teru, as has been suggested already, is as close as I can find. Wonder if I'm part of the evil clique. Grey

Correct,the disclaimer was not on the sale page when the sword was listed. What's more, I told Mr. Chaffee when he bought it that Bob Benson had put in a window and that the blade has no temper, not partial temper here and there that might be fixed by a polisher, but NO temper. You can see the edge of the window in the shinogi-ji in one of the pictures on the sale. Sorry, but I don't think I owe an apology. Grey

The seller is Christian Chaffee. When I sold him this sword at the Chicago show last weekend it didn't have a hamon (it had been in a fire and had never been retempered). I told him about the problem when I sold it to him. He seems to have forgotten to mention it. Grey

For the past few months I've been working to get a new book in English out to all of you. Just had a call from the printer; the books will be ready early next week, in time for me to drive them to the show in Chicago. We can't take mail orders yet; I have to ship some to Harry Watson and set a price for postage first. But in case some of you want a copy and know someone who will be at the show and can get you one, here's what we have. Kyomono no Ko-Meisaku: The Early Famed Works of the Kyoto Smiths, by Yoshikawa Koen and the NTHK. First published in Japanese in 1980 in conjunction with an NTHK Annual Convention, translated by Gordon Robson, and published in English by the JSS/US. Paper perfect bound, 8 1/2 x 11", 142 pages on 100# gloss stock. This is a very useful book; also great fun to look at and drool over. I can highly recommend it to you. The first 33 blades are important pieces from the Yamashiro tradition in Koto: Kiku Gyosaku, Awataguchi, Rai, Sanjo, Ayanokoji, and more, Imperial collection and National Treasure, really amazing pieces and ones that hadn't been published before. There follows 5 high end Kinko kodogu, and the last half of the book is 40 blades from the Osaka Kobe branch members display (Kiyomaro, Kotetsu, Naokatsu, etc). All of the swords are extensively described and discussed, with excellent oshigata, and the kodogu is presented in color. The cost will be $65 for members of the JSS/US and $75 for non-members. You can join at the show and get the member price. Once mail order becomes possible (mid April maybe) I'll post here to let you know. Come say hello if you're at the show. Take care, Grey

I don't think it needs to be polished.... It's retempered, gimei, or both. I learned this one the hard way, at the NBTHK in Tokyo. Grey

Unless the blade, once in hand and not judging by photos only, shows promise, there is no logical reason to spend more money on it. If I were in your friend's place, I would put it back on ebay and use the proceeds towards purchasing something better. Grey

And I can vouch for Mark; he'll treat you fairly. Grey

I think the blade was broken and the nakago was welded back on; no reason why a happy grinder would limit his grinding to such a small ring around the nakago. Since no effort was made to disguise the weld it was done to make the blade whole again, not to deceive anyone. Either way, there isn't a lot of value in the sword. Grey

Which is yet another reason why you don't want a poorly (or non) trained polisher working on your sword. A good polisher sometimes can see these coming and act accordingly. At the very least he can minimize the damage. A polisher without proper training stumbles on the fukure and tells you, "Too bad." Grey

The downside of a possible gimei pales in comparison with the downside of a nakago that has been welded onto the blade. Grey

I think the black is there to stay. It looks much better than it did when we first saw it; leave well enough alone. Grey

I was watching the ken: Noshu ju Kinju. The original Kinju was Masamune jutetsu (student of Masamune) and is considered the founder of Seki sword smithing. I was unable to find any reference to his signing like this; everything I saw was 2 character mei. My guess is a late Koto ken by a later generation. Both the price for the ken and that for the Nobufusa are much more than I would have chanced. Wish I had customers like that. Grey

Sue Koto can be ordered from Harry Watson, who handles supplies for the JSS/US. If there isn't a link at NMB links, just google afu and you'll find him. Another good book in English will be available soon. Kyomono no Ko-Meisaku by Mr Yoshikawa has been translated into English and will be printed later this month, I hope. This book covers great swords from the Yamashiro Den, most of them Koto, and great swords from other traditions also. This work also was made possible by the JSS/US (and all your memberships, hint). Once the book is actually available I'll post a message here on the Board. I can highly recommend this book; it's very good. Grey

For my money, the best reference in English for swords of all periods is the 59 volume set of "Token Bijutsu" English edition, put out by the NBTHK. There's usually a set available somewhere; expect to pay close to $1,500. Both my "Index of Japanese Sword Literature" and the Rich Stein (hope I got that right) website have indexes to the set. The JSS/US has a 2 volume set in English titled, Sue Koto. 700 plus pages on swords of late Koto for $50. plus postage. Heck of a deal! Grey

Even mild steel is harder than brass, thus any sharpened sword, whether tempered or not, will cut into brass. Can't tell enough about the sword from the one picture; sorry. Grey