ROKUJURO

For Steve:

Looks like one hour or two for mending that! At least the HITAI ATE is in good shape!

Joab, this is the translation section. As your sword is not signed, there is nothing to translate. The NIHONTO section might be more appropriate. Better photos may be helpful for an identification.

Travis, take off the HABAKI. In case the MACHI (= notches) do not align, you can be sure it is a non-Japanese imitation.

Hi Okan, there seems to be a closing button instead of the traditional silk HAORI-HIMO (羽織紐). This could be an indication of late manufacture, but might as well have been copied from Western clothing. The shoulders are probably 'reinforced' to make a KAMISHIMO look wich might point to a high-rank wearer/user (HATAMOTO?)

No, where the HAMON starts (above the HAMACHI).

Not Japanese in my opinion, and not necessarily related to swords or knives.

Colin, you are of course correct!

Chen, it didn't look "freshly restored", it looked incompetently stripped of its patina. Restoration does not mean making the item look like coming out of a modern factory! When taking photos of swords and TOSOGU, it is best to use a plain dark, non-reflecting background for good contrast.

Ian, while you may be completely correct when talking about modern knives and cutting-edges physics in general, we cannot apply this to authentic Japanese sword blades. We try to keep them as close as possible to their original shape. No "improvements"!

Ian, I wonder where you got your information from. The theories you are putting forward are not taking into consideration that sword-blade cross-sections changed over the centuries, to an extent following the development of armour. The objective of a competent TOGISHI is not to sharpen a blade in the first place. A good polisher will restore a blade with the same angles and proportions that were intended by the smith who made it. Sharpness comes more or less automatically in this process. That is how I understand it.

Ian, any tampering - polishing or "restoring" - with authentic historic blades is frowned upon here, and any advice for sharpening or dulling those blades is not in line with their preservation which this forum is devoted to. If you have a Chinese look-alike, you may treat it as you like, but please do not report that here.

Ian, do you suggest that collectors should grind their blades themselves to change the primary cutting bevel? And what makes you believe that the original edge would fail on a blade that is part of a collection and is of course never used?

Hi Eric, welcome to the NMB Forum!

Reynaldo, in case a sword-blade is forged with the intention of copying the style and the MEI of another (more famous) smith, he will try to emulate the style and features. Looking at such a blade, it will be very difficult to find traces and features authentic to the maker.

I get all notifications promptly in spite of Gmail, no problems there.

Sam, the museum needs advice and support, and I hope you will get into contact with relevant staff members there!

These long handle ornaments are called KENUKI GATA MENUKI after the HEIAN JIDAI TACHI style swords.

Curran, the little story was told to me in the late 1990's by Eckhard Kremers, who was very close with SASANO-SENSEI, and it happened earlier in his career. SASANO was the godfather of Paul Kremers. I was honoured to meet SASANO-SENSEI not long before he passed.

Well, that only depends on how many rooms your dog house has....

Hector, it is probably part of the collector's game to "hunt" down a piece that nobody had recognized before.... In my opinion, it is not irresponsible unless you invest money that is needed for your daily life. But I know that happens also. SASANO-SENSI once came home with two VERY valuable TSUBA he just bought, and when he showed them to his wife (who was very well informed about TSUBA and knew all of her husband's trade), she immediately said 'We do not have enough money to buy these! How is that possible?' He had to admit that he took a loan on their house. Not soon after this, he sold one of these TSUBA and bought the house back. Not really recommended unless you are SASANO MASAYUKI....

That is much better! Thank you Glen!

They used a special technique to make it extra ugly!

I would like to inform you that the NMB Forum here is a very good place for the sale of authentic Japanese swords and equipment. Which cannot be said about E-Bay......

Starships.