Grey Doffin

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

Hi folks, 1st, let me say thank you to all who have had such nice things to say about me in the thread above; don't know if I deserve it but it is appreciated. Now I would like to introduce you to a sword that has been consigned to my website: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/c273-beautiful-wakizashi-yokoyama-sukekane-hozon-paper This is a 50.4 cm wakizashi signed and dated Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Yokoyama Sukekane Saku. Kimi Banzai. Tomonari Go Ju Hachi Dai Mago (58th generation). Kaei Shichi Nen Hachi Gatsu Hi (August of 1854). I'll post a few pictures here but please click the link to my site for all the dimensions, hada & hamon, and to see pictures of every inch of the blade. Sukekane was a bright light in the Yokoyama group of smiths working in the Bizen tradition in Shinto and Shinshinto and this wakizashi is a very fine piece from the smith. As I mention in my listing, occasionally I come across a sword that speaks to me, demands attention; this is one of those. My price is SOLD, which, if you think about it, isn't a lot more than the cost of polish, shirasaya, habaki, and paper. If you are interested or need more information please contact me by email through my site, not with personal message here. Thanks for stopping, Grey

Hi Xander, An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths: 1868 – 1945. The red cover copy lists Livio Cilio as the author and the blue has John Slough as the author; John Slough is listed as copyright holder on both books and the contents are identical. No idea why there are 2 versions of the same book. I'm not aware of a 3rd version; what do you know about it? Grey

Hi Gabriel, The spine (mune) of the blade is usually burnished when the sword is polished. The burnishing makes it shine but also makes any tempered area (hamon/yakiba) less visible. The hamon in the kissaki is called the boshi and there is usually a return (kaeri) a short way down the spine from the top of the boshi. Leaving this area unburnished (thus the line you mention) makes it easier to see the kaeri. If you'd like to ask a bunch of questions at once feel free to call sometime. I'm not an authority but I do have a few decades experience and am glad to help if I can. Cheers, Grey 218-726-0395 central time

Hi Gabriel, Care and handling: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php You should read this. Congrats on being gifted a Japanese sword. Grey

Hi, My name is Grey Doffin, I live in northern Minnesota, USA, and I have a website dedicated to Nihonto and books on the subject: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/ I've been studying Japanese swords for nearly 40 years now and buying/selling for most all of them (I'm trying to lose my 1st million). If you check my site today, in late 2020, you'll find a dozen or so swords and koshirae (with more to come soon), 150 to 200 sword fittings (tsuba, menuki, fuchi/kashira, etc), and a very large inventory of books on the subject. I try to have reasonable prices and items to fit a variety of budgets. I try also to be helpful. If you're just getting started with Nihonto feel free to ask questions about any of my pieces; I'll tell you what I think I know. This field can be daunting; there is so much to understand and ample opportunity to make mistakes. If you come to me with a question, I will answer honestly. Promise. Not sure what all I'll do with this space on NMB. As I get some time in the coming days I'll post highlights of some of the pieces on my site; beyond that we'll just have to wait and see. Feel free to post here also; your comments are welcome. If you want to contact me please use my email, not personal message on NMB. Email is easier and I can keep track of our correspondence in folders on my computer. Phone calls, if you live in The States, are fine also. Thanks for stopping, Grey grey@japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com 218-726-0395 central time

Care and handling: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Grey

Hi Julius, You can make a new mekugi yourself; just whittle a bamboo chopstick. And don't wait to do this; do it ASAP. Without that pin to lock the blade in the handle, it can fall loose: onto the floor, inside the scabbard, through your foot, there are many variations. Grey

Hi Julius, Here is a care and handling brochure you would be smart to read: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Grey

Hi Angel, Showa Ju Ku Nen Hachi Gatsu Kitsu Jitsu. Showa 19 year 8 month lucky day. A lucky day in August of 1944. Note: I may be off a bit on the kitsu jitsu part. Grey

Masanaga Saku. Grey