ROKUJURO

Matt, that may well have been in the distant past. Do you have any evidence for that? The actual definition is: " A dirk is a long-bladed thrusting dagger It is most famously known as the traditional sidearm of Scottish Highland clansmen and officers, serving as both a formidable combat weapon and a symbol of cultural honour....." A dagger is undoubtedly a two-sided thrusting knife. There are indeed dagger-shaped bayonets (Switzerland) but the one shown above is not one of them.

Tony, it's funny that you are saying that! In the knifemaker's language, an unusually thick knife (some customers seem to like that) is mockingly called a "sharp prybar"! With that KASANE, I would have expected a MIHABA of 50 mm!

It is not even a dirk in the correct meaning. Dirks (or daggers) have 2 cutting edges. What might help in this case is seeing the NAKAGO of the blade. Hopefully, it is not riveted.

We would like to help Tony with a convincing assessment, but in this case, I am reminded of Plato's Allegory of the Cave. With these images, we are just discussing shadows on the wall.

With a blade that seems to be off "normal" by so much, I can accept any speculation. With a KASANE of 12,7 mm (really?) and a likely hand-painted HAMON, it can be anything.

I think that'a a bit of an exaggeration. What about five times?

Brian, that would be called 'learning', and that is not good as it is different from what people are used to? So a sword with a TACHI MEI, worn as TACHI, is a TACHI, but a military sword with TACHI MEI, worn as TACHI, may be called KATANA because many militaria collectors are not familiar with the terminology? The opportunity to learn new things is one of the main characteristics of this forum, at least for me. It is a "cloud" of competence, of specialized knowledge and information. Should we really exempt or spare people from learning? And how do we transfer facts and knowledge then? Just a few thoughts that came up....

Collin, this is not the "FOR SALE or TRADE" section for you! Please post your sales offer there, preferably with photos made on a PLAIN DARK background for good contrast. To repeat: This is a TACHI, not a KATANA.

Dale, do you believe the broken TSUBA above was cast? I am not sure. Cast TSUBA break easily, but not all broken TSUBA are cast.

Now that you are saying it....and even with a hand-painted HAMON!

Tony, you have succeeded in posting some of the worst blade photos I have seen so far. Please try again with a PLAIN DARK background. And look at your photos before posting. In case you see nothing, we will also see nothing. And is that really a KASANE of 12,7 mm? That would be outstanding!

Yes it does indeed melt at about 900°C to a glassy coating, and this is used in fire-welding to keep oxygen away from the surfaces. Borax is not the only substance that can be used. Our ancestors had several methods.

I think these are valuable documents for historians.

Again, this belongs into the TRANSLATION section.

I can't see anything on these photos. I will send Collin some advice how to make sword photos.

Adam, the signature is TACHI MEI, and it is worn TACHI style.

Technically, you are correct. In the real sword world, you simply don't do it. It is considered bad manners, and a person who does this is thought to lack basic sword handling and etiquette knowledge. If you do it in a Japanese sword shop, you are asked to leave.

Hi Arnaud, this happens because hot melted borax/boric acid is highly corrosive. It can solve iron oxide at moderate temperatures (1.100°C), but at white-hot, it will even attack the metallic iron. By the way, these are not tea-kettles but water-kettles.

Carrie, please NEVER touch a bare blade with your hands/fingers!

It is not a KATANA but a TACHI. It is a cruel fate for a potentially decent blade to fall into the hands of clueless and disrespectful people. Oh my!

Hi Collin, welcome to the NMB forum! A plain dark, non-reflecting background would have resulted in better contrast of the photos. And it is a TACHI, not a KATANA.

Thank you Mauro! Everyday, you learn something new!

I cannot see a FUKURE, but multiple KITAE WARE. They can be an indication for a "tired" blade. A closed FUKURE will not be affected by carefully cleaning and oiling a blade.

Yes, it is really nice! A very solid, perhaps early EDO TSUBA in my opinion. You might call it a MOKUME TSUBA, but I don't think it was intended to be one. The SUKASHI looks more like KUMO (= cloud) than snowflake to me.

Yes, we all wished that.....