ROKUJURO

Hector, it is TAGANE MEI. As to the motif, I believe it is TOMOE and waves, not clouds. What do you think?

That should just be fitting. Maybe you even get a TSUBA for free on top!

Vanessa, I shouldm't have asked..... Generally, the age of such an item is not so relevant. You may find very well made modern NETSUKE as well as much older ones with little value. It is the quality that counts.

Joel, before a newbie reads this and believes it: This is all wrong or at least confounded from other information.

VV, please sign all posts with your first name so we could address you politely. It is a rule here on NMB. Concerning your question, I don't see MASAYUKI, and I don't see Japanese quality in design, expression, or execution. Maybe the backside with the HIMOTOSHI is better?

KUNIHIRO

That one is still worse if possible at all!

That may well look like star constellations to some....

That's what I thought. So it is a typo in your text above: ....This blade is a Muromachi period Wakizashi signed: Nōshū no jū Kanetsugu (濃州之住兼辻)....

Hi Travis, Calvary is not exactly the same as CAVALRY.

Frédéric, can KANETSUJI (兼辻) be read as KANETSUGU as well?

To me, all three look cast and of no collector's value. Better photos on a plain dark background in correct orientation might prove me wrong.

Not much to see on these photos. A rather neglected KO-WAKIZASHI (see my PM please) in HIRA ZUKURI shape. KANENAGA (YAMASHIRO TEGAI school) with these 包永 KANJI would be a very famous name in KAMAKURA era. Later generations of that school used 兼永, but our experts will have to decide the reading. For that, please post a vertical (tip-upwards, light from the side) photo of the NAKAGO in the TRANSLATION section (here, not IMGUR). Better photos will show what you have there. For the moment, please refrain from any attempt to clean or polish it!

Looks like a pile of bayonets with - possibly - one Japanese WWII sword. In case you are interested in Japanese swords, I suggest you take this one and make some detail photos of it on a plain dark background, take it apart so that details are visible, and then our militaria experts will certainly be able to help.

Travis, no need to apologize! Just trying to help! You wouldn't get the desired response in the FOR SALE section!

Travis, you are posting in the FOR SALE section. Perhaps try in the TOSOGU section with photos made on a plain DARK background so details become visible.

Hi Lea-Ann, If you could use a plain dark, non-reflecting background for photographing, we could see much more. A white background reduces the contrast as you can see yourself. What can be seen from these poor photos is, these arrows are of the simplest war type. They may indeed be as old as EDO JIDAI. The KANJI on the shaft may be a name of an archer or a dedication; that would not be unusual. It certainly has no effect on the value. The long YANONE (= arrow-tip) (single photo of an arrow) does not look Japanese to me; it might be a replacement. Better detail photos will allow for a closer assessment.

Just for the terminology: What you call 'Seppa' are TSUKA (= handles)

....and all photos made on a plain dark/black background, in a dark room with spotlight!

Konrad, it is a counterfeit, not a replica. Good replica are more difficult to identify; they are made close to the authentic items. This one above is very easy to spot in case you have seen a certain number of swords. It is all a matter of experience, as so often in life!

....and you will not get a genuine hand-made Japanese sword for $ 200.--, so this may also be an indication.

Justyn, certainly a good memory item!

Yes, it does mean No. 4

And another one, probably not by one of the NOBUIE:

Calabrese, congratulations! A very nice MUNEKATSU TSUBA with OMODAKA leaves and a KOZUKA HITSU in gourd shape! The surface might have been treated with something water-repellent, but I don't think it is disturbing. What you see as damage is the result of a YAKITE technique, produced intentionally for a WABI SABI effect! All very good!