Grey Doffin

Hi Paul, Smoke oshigata are not a good idea; the carbon (soot) can become part of the nakago's patina, changing it from what it was before. Better to use oshigata paper and the ink stone; it leaves nothing behind and, with a bit of effort, does a much nicer job. Grey

Hi J.W. You can take this to shinsa and you will get a paper, but the paper will say Sukesada, which you already know, so why bother? Depending on the group doing the shinsa they might specify a period of manufacture but it will be late Koto (16th century), which you already know, so why bother? Save your money for study and swords; in this case a paper makes no sense. Grey

work, work, work... Oh well, how about an Ishiguro Mitsuharu tsuba, a sweet little tanto tsuba, and a Bitchu no Kami Yasuhiro, Kii Ishido school wakizashi with koshirae. And more. Grey

Hi guys, The fittings have been listed and I've started listing swords. To all you who want to buy your 1st real sword worth caring about, keep an eye out. There will be good pieces at very reasonable prices. Thanks, Grey

Hi Andrew, Books. Start with either (but not both) The Samurai Sword by Yumoto or The Japanese Sword by Sato. Next step up on scholarship would include The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords by Nagayama and Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords by Nakahara. If you want a collection of oshigata (rubbings of authentic signatures), Fujishiro's 2 volumes of Nihon Toko Jiten gives you all the important and most of the less important but still worthy of attention smiths and won't set you back nearly as much as the larger Taikans. If you get serious about study, the 59 volumes of Token Bijutsu English edition by the NBTHK are, in my opinion, the best information in English on the subject. If you have an interest in Japanese military swords, Dawson's Swords of Imperial Japan: 1868 - 1945, Cyclopedia Edition is the best choice. Beyond those there are so many fine books, I wouldn't know where to stop. For a better idea what these books are like, all are listed, with descriptions and pictures on my website: japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com. Cheers, Grey

Hi Andy, I think you need to slow down; take some time with study before you go throwing thousands of dollars at swords and polishes. There will always be swords to buy and there will always be qualified polishers (both in Japan and in the US). The more you know before you spend the money the happier you'll be with the results. Otherwise you run a large risk of making mistakes you'll regret. There are lots of book recommendations on NMB; just use the search option. Grey

Hi guys, I probably do as much overseas mailing from the US as anyone else here. I've had packages delayed, sometimes by USPS but in other instances by the receiving country's Customs Office but, so far, nothing has been lost. USPS has been troubled by much higher than normal volume and inept political appointees to postal service management during the last administration (nothing like dismantling room size sorting machines to slow things down) but, with luck, all will be well again. Cheers, Grey

Best of luck with this Adam, One thing I would add is to emphasize the fact that it isn't possible to learn what you need to know in order to sensibly collect Nihonto just by watching a video. Reading, asking questions, and foremost, in hand study of quality pieces, all over the course of years are necessary. Grey

Hi Vittorio, While WWII is possible I think it is more likely that this dates to post war, made to sell to a member of the occupation force who wanted something to take home. Grey

Hi Jeremiah, New listings will be on the top of the page. Grey

Hi guys, Just a quick note to let everyone know I've recently taken in about 20 to 25 pieces of kodogu (mostly tsuba) and I've started listing them to my site. Some very nice things here. This is an invitation to check in at https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Tsuba-&-Kodogu; maybe something will speak to you. 13, I think, swords will be going up soon also. Stay well, Grey

Hi Alessandro, For the beginner, a good introduction to Nihonto can be had from either The Samurai Sword by Yumato or The Japanese Sword by Sato. Then move into more detail with The Conniosseur's Book of Japanese Swords by Nagayama, Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords by Nakahara, the 6 volumes of Nihonto Koza that have been translated to English by Harry Watson, and the 2 volumes of Nihon Toko Jiten by Fujishiro for a reference that allows you to check signatures against authentic examples (and won't break the bank). If you get serious about Nihonto you should consider the 59 volumes of the English edition of Token Bijutsu from the NBTHK, in my opinion they are the best information on the subject in English. After those, there are so many good books I wouldn't run out of suggestions until long after you ran out of money. My website: japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com, has hundreds of books, with descriptions and pictures, so you can get an idea what they are. And maybe someone else will have a recommendation. Cheers, Grey

Hi Alessandro, You ask, do you have any general guidelines to recommend? something to watch out for? Have you heard the one about the young man with a violin case under his arm looking lost on a sidewalk in NYC? He stops a lady and asks, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" She answers, "practice." I recommend study: books, in hand examination of good swords, attending shows, asking questions. And if you want to buy a good sword for the money, until you are able to answer your own questions buy only from reputable dealers. Grey

I have sent a couple swords to the UK from USA in the fast few months. I had to produce extra paper work to help the buyers prove antique status but, eventually, both made it undamaged. I would do it again. Grey

The title is Soshu Den Meisaku Shu. Grey

Hi Kyle, If you haven't already whittled a new peg for the handle, do so ASAP. The peg locks the blade in the handle and prevents it from falling loose and damaging either the blade or the person handling it. Grey

Hi, name please, With the dull hamon and terrible flaws, retemper is another strong possibility; this may be a prime example of what not to collect. Take some time for study and save your money for something you'll be proud to own: a much more satisfying pursuit. Grey

Hi Jesse, Noshu Seki Ju Kanetsugu Saku (may be wrong about the tsugu). This looks very much like Showa-To (non-traditionally made) from WWII. Grey

Hi guys, Another fine piece from my website: this a shakudo & gold kotsuka with NBTHK Hozon paper to Goto Joshin. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/tsuba-%26-kodogu/f207-shakudo-and-gold-kotsuka-papered-3rd-goto-master-joshin And rather than prattle on about how wonderful this is, I'll give you a few pictures (which don't do justice to the deep black shakudo) and invite you to see and read more on my site. I'm asking $4,225, which is a serious bargain for papered Ko-Goto. Thanks, Grey

This wakizashi is now sold. Thanks to all, Grey

Hi Greg, It is a given that the signature is false; the important Munechika never made a wakizashi (the form didn't exist until centuries after his period of work) and no wakizashi was ever legitimately signed on the tachi side of the nakago. What you have is, most likely, a low quality sword with a fake signature; sorry. Grey

Hi Pietro, Checking for Germany, for example, it will be $24.50 for 1st class without insurance or $38.60 for priority with insurance. Cheers, Grey

Hi guys, Years ago I put together a set of flashcards with characters commonly seen in sword signatures. The Kanji were chosen to be relevant, no hello or where is the bathroom please, just those found on swords: smiths' names & titles, provinces, numbers, made by, resident of, and others. 270 cards on card stock, Kanji (written by a classically trained Japanese woman) on one side and English on the other, and since this is writing it is closer to what you see on your swords than print would be. Sets (I have many) can be had for $25 plus post here: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/kanji-flashcards If you are interested please contact me by email from my site, not by personal message on NMB (I need your emails to keep track of business). Thanks, Grey

Hi Gabriel, A very light coat of oil on the polished portion of the blade, as is explained in the care & handling I linked to, and you're set. Nothing else is necessary and anything else might do damage. Grey

Hi Jan, Depends what you mean by relative. The date I have for Yokoyama Sukenobu is 1673; Sukekane worked in the 19th century and is thought to have been an adoptive son of Sukenori. So both Sukenobu and Sukekane are smiths of the Yokoyama group, it is very unlikely that they were blood relatives, and how closely they are related by family I don't know. They are related by School. Hope this helps, Grey