Grey Doffin

Hi Charles, Of course every good or better Nihonto is unique and there are no absolutes so, in theory, this is what I think you can do with $10K. That should buy a quite good quality katana or tanto with Tokubetsu Hozon paper, signed and made by a well respected, near important, smith and mounted in shirasaya and/or nice but not great koshirae. A wakizashi of the same level would be maybe 1 or 2 K less expensive. This is meant to give a rough idea. As you are a relative beginner make sure you get good advise and deal with someone you can trust. Ask lots of questions (feel free to drive your seller nuts) and have fun. Grey

The 2nd book is Jidai Mitokoro Shu by Ikeda. Grey

Not that I'm aware of. Grey

Hi Donnie, Senjuin is the name of a group of sword smiths who worked beginning in the Kamakura era and are one of 5 divisions of Yamato swordsmithing, which is itself one of the 5 main traditions of sword making in Koto (old sword) times (pre 17th century). If the signature on your sword is right (not a given as forgeries are common) it tells us that the sword is quite old. The surrender tag most likely tells us nothing about the blade; rather it will be the name and/address of the person who surrendered the sword at the end of WWII. Click on Sword Care & Cleaning at this link: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ to learn maintenance. You may have more questions and if you'd like to ask them over the phone feel free to call. Cheers, Grey Doffin 218-726-0395 central time

First, thank you for all those kind words. This post is prompted by yet another thread started by a new collector who is wondering if he should buy some gawd awful & ugly unsigned wakizashi with bad kizu on ebay. Beginners, I know you want to be the one to find a diamond in the rough and your natural inclination is to be wary of anyone who knows more than you do (us dealers) but you are doing yourselves no favors. If you are just getting started you need guidance and you won't find that on ebay. I am not the only dealer who claims to be honest here on the message board or with a website; there are more than a few of us you could safely approach. If, however, you do come to me about a sword you're considering, I will tell you about any defect or shortcoming it may have and what it means to the value and answer any questions you may have and gently steer you in a sensible direction and I won't lie to you just to sell a sword. And, as mentioned, there are others you can trust; it doesn't have to be me. But please, leave ebay alone. Take your business to someone who has nothing but his reputation.

Hi guys, A quick note to let you know that swords are being listed to my site. 3 have gone up since yesterday: a tachi by Enshin and katana by Nanki Shigekuni & Tsuda Sukenao. More will follow in the next few days. If you think you're deserving of a treat or if you need an anniversary gift for the wife, take a look please. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Swords Cheers, Grey

Thanks. I guess I'll go with either Yukinori or Yukinobu. Grey

Thank you both for the effort but there is neither a Hamano Yukinori nor a Hamano Yukinobu in Robert Haynes' Index. Might it be something else? Grey

Hi Guys, Assistance with this, which will be for sale, will be appreciated. Thanks, Grey

Hi guys, Some time ago a new collector suggested that dealers at the shows should have something to tell customers about the swords they're looking at. Mark Jones and I share tables at the shows and at this week's Chicago show we will each have short write-ups of all the swords on our tables. These will tell you who the blade is made by/signed by/papered to, the length, and a bit about the smith: who he was and when he worked. Please ask to see these if interested. We will have more than a few swords totally new to the market here in The States: not been to a show, not on my website, haven't been seen by anyone. With 7 tables we should be easy to find; stop by and say hello.. Cheers, Grey & Mark

Hi Kevin, Ittosai Yasutsuna and dated Ni Sen Roku Hyaku Nen (the 2,600th year from the founding of the Imperial line). Grey

What language/s is the text in please? Grey

Hi Joseph, You don't have to purchase anything. Facial tissue or even toilet paper is fine for applying and removing oil. Don't do anything to the sword's tang (the patinated section under the handle) and don't try to fix anything; well meaning amateurs can do serious damage. Just follow the instructions in the care brochure and you'll be fine. Grey

Hi Joseph, If you scroll down on this link: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ to Care and Cleaning you'll learn how to safely remove and replace the handle and a lot more you should know. Grey

Hi Daniel, The paper in the Fujishiro translations isn't a gloss; more a matte finish. Perhaps a different paper was chosen because the Fujishiro translations have no photographs to reproduce, they are text only, whereas the translations of Nihonto Koza contain many illustrations. Grey

Suishinshi Masahide witha kao. Grey

Hi Pietro, I currently have, counting my own that I purchased from Harry, 4 sets of the translation volumes. They are decent quality printing, well bound and on the paper you'd expect in a good book. Nothing photocopy about them. Grey

Hi Mark, Edo period. Neither koshirae is a treasure but neither is terrible either. The 1st one is the better of the 2; the 2nd is less well made. Unless someone else knows different. Grey

Hi Alex, Please tell whoever it is with the sword to wipe the blade where he is holding it in your 2nd to last picture. Acid in his sweat is slowly but surely etching his fingerprints into the surface. Never touch the polished portion of the blade. Grey

Hi James, Try to find contact info for Brian Tschernega, who lives near Seattle. Maybe he is linked above. He should be able to help with the glued tsuka without doing damage. If someone tells you how you can fix this yourself, don't listen; this shouldn't be left to an amateur. Grey

I also will be at the show and, since I drive to this one, I can bring books with me. If there is a book on my site that you'd like and you'd like to save the cost and trouble of shipping let me know. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books Grey

I think Bruce has this right; it is the remains of a broken sword. If for no other reason, of which there are a few, the handle is too long for the blade. Grey

Hi Scott, With the terrible nakago, sloppy horimono, weak hamon and iffy boshi I think this is most likely made from a piece of a longer sword sometime shortly after WWII and aimed at the occupation force or tourist market. But I could be wrong. Grey

Hi Andrew, We will have to see a picture of the mei (nakago) to know if it is gendaito (traditionally made and fitting your requirements) or showato. Grey

Hi Andrew, If you look for a copy of Dawson's book be sure it is the later, Cyclopedia Edition, not the early paper back. Here it is on my site: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b510-swords-imperial-Japan-1868-–-1945-cyclopedia-edition The best of the books by Fuller & Gregory is Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b259-Japanese-military-and-civil-swords-and-dirks Check with abebooks.com or other online book sites; you may find a copy closer to home that will cost less for post. Cheers, Grey