kissakai

Thanks for the replies, much better than I expected I was happy with the patina and the rough finish which raises the mimi slightly My biggest gripe was the inlay on the tsuba If the inlay was smaller and therefore in proportion to the tsuba it would have looked OK I don't think it will be in my collection for much longer! Grev UK

Would this tsuba be classed as a tourist piece as the quality is so bad? Size 77 x 70 x 4mm Not my best buy! Grev UK

Thanks Ted It one big step forward Grev UK

Hi Obviously I asked too much with this request - the only other kanji I found was for tsuba! Can anyone tell me if the tsuba is dated? With the date and knowing the school I can do a bit more of my own research Grev UK

Hi This is the only ‘papered’ tsuba I have so I’m keen to know a little more about it Can I ask for help with these HTKK papers. This late Edo tsuba unsigned is iron sukashi of what appears to be chrysanthemums and leaves. The size is 81 x 5mm and although it looks as if the mimi is wider, the mimi and centre both measure 5mm I’ve done a bit of translation but as I don’t know the layout for this type of paper I’m unsure what to look for and where and some are the kanji styles appear to differ I have no problem doing some research myself with some help I assume here is the basic tsuba data including school, maker, metal, type description Is this just the basic measurements? I have accurately measured the tsuba and differ slightly No idea what is on this page Front of envelope that may be the appraiser Back of envelope – no idea Grev UK

Hi This is the only ‘papered’ tsuba I have so I’m keen to know a little more about it Can I ask for help with these HTKK papers. This late Edo tsuba unsigned is iron sukashi of what appears to be chrysanthemums and leaves. The size is 81 x 5mm and although it looks as if the mimi is wider, the mimi and centre both measure 5mm I’ve done a bit of translation but as I don’t know the layout for this type of paper I’m unsure what to look for and where and some are the kanji styles appear to differ I have no problem doing some research myself with some help Tsuba full Tsuba side I assume here is the basic tsuba data including school, maker, metal, type description Is this just the basic measurements? I have accurately measured the tsuba and differ slightly No idea what is on this page Front of envelope that may be the appraiser Back of envelope – no idea Grev UK

Hi I bought 4 of this tsuba from his Christmas sale - great prices and communication Grev UK

Hi Jean The best I can do with the hamon - have an earlier nights sleep :D Couldn't resist adding this one with a worried 'Thomas the Tank' I hope this confirms the Mino school A couple of big questions: Is it worth having it polished and any estimate of the age With thanks Grev UK

Mariusz No need to apologise - I put these up for an honest opinion not praise I agree with your comments, it was mainly the unusual (to me) split fuchi I was interested in and an idea of the age of the tsuka Grev UK

This is the blade that goes with the koshirae just posted Now members can see all parts of the katana it would be nice that they tied up but we will see Reading about WWII swords brought back via someone’s granddad and the story being changed over the years. This story is better Through a friend of friend (in the UK) I purchased this katana a few weeks ago I bought it directly from the returning soldier who is now 91 years of age. The best bit is that I couldn’t pick it up earlier as he was just going to Africa on a two week safari – brill! He was reticent to speak of the incident but did say it was surrendered to him by a Japanese officer and was indeed a family sword. You know the Brits are not very sensationalist with their stories so I am convinced this is true. Initially he wanted it to go back to Japan but I did say this was virtually impossible but I would give it a good home and have no intention of selling it. He brought it back, it went into his attic and stayed there (I heard about it from his son). Although I would not press for details I feel it brought back too many bad memories. My dad’s brother was killed in Burma so I do have an idea what he meant. I posted a katana on the NHM about a month or two ago and had some excellent advice especially from Jean. So bearing this in mind I think it is early shihshinto, made in the Bizen area by Nagamitsu. Nagamitsu being a common name for a smith hasn’t helped at all and there are points in a Bizen blade that are not shown in mine but it would be clearer if it was in ‘polish’. The edge of the nakago is rusted away. Sorry about the quality but that is the best I can do. If any more images would help please let me know Grev UK

Thanks for the links, great info but as was mentioned earlier the eamples of the split fuchi were much better quality than mine but still good references I will have another look on the tsuba as the couble of strokes I can see may not be part of a mei I will post the blade images now but the images are not that good Grev UK

Hi Geraint Thanks for the coments – so quick The end of the saya is missing. The mei on the tsuba, even with a glass I can only make out a couple of strokes. Do you think I'm right with the tsuba description. I like your summing up. The blade is signed Nagamitsu but we will see!. A real bugger trying to take good photos of the blade. Grev UK

I hope you bear with me with adding so many images This was from a surrendered WWII sword – A family sword and I will elaborate on this when I put the blade on the NMB shortly. Apart from a few general questions I would appreciate any comments or corrections. I’m assuming these fittings have been together for quite some time I know the NMB is keen for the holder/owner to do as much research as they can and this is what I have found out Seppa – looks pretty standard Hanger – probably made in the field Habaki & Fuchi – Top – Pretty standard Habaki & Fuchi – Side – Pretty standard Fuchi – Side – I’ve not seen the overlapping used on this fuchi cap. Any views on this Tsuba – This may be Ko-tosho around 1650 Tsuka – I don’t now the date of these fitting – Any ideas Kashira Menuki – this is Flowery Diamond (Hanabishi) or Chinese Flower (Karabana). I don’t know the difference. Any help Saya full Saya top Saya uncovered – Amazingly after over 60 years it almost slid off These details were from Hawley’s ‘Mon’ Menuki Flowery Diamond (Hanabishi) Family mon for: Koriyama in Yamato Kurokana in Echigo Mikkaichi in Echigo Or Chinese Flower (Karabana) Yanagisawa Grev UK

Does anyone know what this menuki may represent? Grev UK

My mistake with the title which I hope I've changed - Thankyou Jean for pointing it out Just put it down to old age If it hasn't changed then I don't know how to do it! Grev UK

Does any one have better pictures for the attached images I can not see the mei or hamon very well I've also added the documentation that told me were to look (link) With thanks Grev UK

Hello again This is a tsuba I bought about a month ago I thought is was quite good apart from the rubbed surface The surface colour is quite black but not jet black. I’ve not messed with the images but tried with and without the flash When I looked at the detail using a jeweller’s loupe the fine detail surprised me I would welcome any comments Grev UK

Thanks for the advice - I will leave well alone I hadn't seen the orignal - thanks for the image Wonder why6 I hadn't seen this type of axe on my preliminary search Gre UK

Hi I bought this tsuba in a job lot and pretty sure it is a fake. If it is I was going to thin it down (currently 5mm thick) and recut the shape into a design I like I would just like your opinion before I do this Out of curiosity I googled Japanese axe to see which forms they used as I was sure they didn't use one of this shape I assume the lower detail represents lightning Grev UK

Hi I live in the UK and bought a wakizashi and Katana from Japan about a month ago They were held up at customs but I give them my qualifications as an Aikido coach and insurance details They were cleared within two days I have no idea if this will always work but for me it was fine You will see all over this message board the problems buying without seeing the item so be warned The other advice in this thread is excellent so be careful Grev UK

Wonderful - Some great comments that give me so much to look into Before I had no idea what I had but now it is much easier for me to be more specific in my searches I put it on the HMB hopefully for a bit of direction and why I was a bit disapointed when the only comments where on the crack which was an obvious fault For most of us we will not own a sword that is top class but are still hungry for information, not necessarily praise. Grev UK

Grey are you thinking it is WWII as you mentioned ‘Seki Gunto’? Jean I’ve just found out the following but this will be nothing new to you. I only have Robinson’s ‘Arts of the Japanese Sword, the NMB, and the internet for research. So I need to spend more time looking up these details. Also attached pictures as requested Yasurime - File marks on nakago - Mine are about 30° crossed. Diamond shape (Higaki) Ubu Nakago Form (Futsu Gata) - This general form is the nakago type which occurs most frequently. Kengyo tang style. Name Hawley Province School Province Kanemitsu KAN1464 Mino Seki 1381 Kanemitsu KAN1499 Mino Seki 1394 - 1428 Kanemitsu KAN1502 Mino Seki 1532 - 1555 Kanemitsu KAN1480 Mino Seki 1864 Sorry I was a bit pointed but where else can I get such good information. There is no need to spoon feed us just some pointers such as Jean made Maybe we need a section for the notice to ask for advice. That way there is no embarrassment in posting some of no so good stuff Grev UK

Hi Grey I put up this Wakizashi for discussion/comments, good or bad At the moment it is 2-1 for a serious flaw so I can live with that and I did find it difficult to see why it was signed if there was a flaw at the time it was originally made I was a bit disappointed that no one has given me any real info on this Wakizashi It seems in the main to be only the good and the bad that generate the most info and the middle of the road stuff hardly gets a mention I have another couple swords and as they are nothing special it hardly seems worth adding the posts/images I know we rely on people who voluntarily contribute so maybe it is to be expected Grev UK

Thanks Brian for your comment I must admit my spirit did drop I wouldn’t like to disagree with Josh but I believe there are some pointers to saiha There would be a change to the patina nakago, the hamon near the habaki and loss of shape to the nakago and sori. In general it would have looked wrong. To my untrained eye everything looked reasonable If I assume the crack (there is depth to it – about a 1/3rd to ½ way through nakago) was formed at the time of forging would this have been acceptable? I would wonder how the sword smith felt about this. If possible I would still like some general points about the wakizashi and its maker Grev UK

I forgot to add the sizes: Dimensions Full length in shirasaya 76cm 30” Blade full length 66.8cm 26” Temper length 51.2cm 20” Sori 1.7cm ½“ Width 2.7cm 1” Thickness 0.7cm ¼" Grev UK