Prewar70

I understand that NTHK and NBTHK can arrive at different conclusions. Would you spend $15k on a signed blade with NTHK papers only or would you want to get NBTHK's results too?

Thank you for the help it’s much appreciated

Saw this at the show today unfortunately it has been a lot of time with the buffing wheel. Fittings were OK. Any help with the signature would be appreciated thank you.

Pictures?!

Darcy can you speculate what type of family owned a blade of this importance? When I read about the koto blades on your site the history of Daimyo ownership is particularly interesting. I’d think that a signed ubu Tachi like this had to have been owned by important families. Is it possible to research if this sword is named or mentioned in any texts or ceremonies as gifts?

Gimei or not that blade is in sad shape

Beautiful. What is going on with the condition of the nakago.

Why does a sword of this age, which has been greatly shortened (now 24.5 in), still retain a signature?

I was looking at this last night. I am not a fan of flashy koshirae. I’d sell the koshirae, I wonder how much of the cost could be recouped? A sword like this seems perfectly elegant in shirasaya.

I think you'll get better results oiling the shaft and letting it slowly soak into your nuts, for those really stubborn ones....

Pull that handle! Pull that handle! Pull that handle!

Seems like this is a perfect example of what you and Ray are talking about as well as an illustration of what Darcy explains. https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-izumi-kami-kunisada-inoue-shinkai/

It looks like the nakago has been cleaned some?

I'm a neophyte, but what Darcy says makes perfect sense to me. I think our egos get in the way. THe additional commentary on Hozon vs. TH is interesting too in regards to western v. Eastern views. After reading this again I opened up AOI and saw these two swords. Obviously in Japan, good schools, old, so, why TH? Darcy I'm curious, what are your thoughts? Juyo candidates, or already tried and not Juyo material so get TH papers and off to a home in the states? If you would submit to Juyo, why TH papers? https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-bizen-sukeyori/ https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-uda-kunifusa/

Wondering if anyone can tell me age or school and if it looks like decent quality or run of the mill. I thought it was interesting. Thank you

Luis, you may be right but I'm not following your train of thought. It's not the same smith or school, but you're suggesting that they way the mei is cut can lend it to a time period? Help me understand

Based on my digging around, this sword is in line with shape and size for Muromachi time period. Lifting info from Aoi's website, ground fighting was the thing and shorter swords with smaller nakagos were in style. Katateuchi style. The link below is to a wakizashi that is currently for sale. Nagasa is 20.6 inches, mei placement, and looks ubu, not 100% on that though. So if the blade in question is shortened a few inches with a nagasa of 18.5, the dimensions make sense. My sword could be late Muromachi based on style. Need to see if I can find Yoshii school oshigatas. https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-bizen-kuni-ju-osafune-munemitsu/

Morning. Nagasa is 18.5 inches and sori .5 inches.

After some help translating ( was able to purchase and received in the mail today. Suriage, Bizen Yoshii school with the smith's name cut off. The hada is not visible due to condition but the hamon is. Hamon seems consistent (no pun intended) being one of the major kantei points for the school as well as sugata. So does the boshi, which is barely visible in one of the pictures. I'd appreciate your opinions as to age, Nanbokuchu or Muromachi. Any help with mei oshigatas and perhaps I can find a specific smith, if the signature is good. Seems overall like a nicely made sword. Thank you. https://www.nihonto.com/bizen-yoshii-school/

Seems like a desirable school looking at other swords that have sold. This doesn't have a specific smith attribution like Kaneuji, so maybe a detraction there. It's mumei, but seems like most are from that period as well as shortened. Length is good, it's not short. So as I'm trying to learn tell me what I'm missing. I thought the price was reasonable. http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as18329-刀：無銘（伝-大和志津）-katana-mumei-den-yamato-shizu

Thanks for the correction Ray, hopefully it is.

Well I won the Sue Bizen, probably overpaid as it's out of polish but the hamon is still visible, and it's only money. Once I have it in hand I'll get some pics up. Thanks for the help.

I agree, and I will see if my bid is competitive, but was curious about the gendaito. Is the Bizen Yoshii in this example, referring to the school because it's suriage and we can't see the rest of the signature? What is the hashtag character after Yoshi?

Appreciate the help Ray. WWII blades aren't my thing but this one had an elegant sugata and looked to be above average quality. I didn't see a seki stamp or star, did he make traditional blades?