zentsuji2

Absolutely stunning swords Butch. Love the rayskin scabbards on gunto swords ,just never see them come up for sale here that often . The hamon on the Sukehiro is beautiful ,as are the mounts and officers tassel.....great sword . Look forward to more pics of second sword Thanks for sharing them . Ian

Thanks so much for sharing Matsunoki. There are some really interesting swords and rare Japanese militaria that rarely show up in the U.K ,and as you say easier to obtain without the dreaded shipping problems .

Can't help with the mei but really fantastic find Paul and it looks to be in untouched original condition . Such a pleasing sugata Congratulations ..bet you smiled to yourself on that journey home .

Thankyou Bruce for posting these ,really good of you. Regards Ian

Bruce I have a Hizen "Kanemoto "star stamped gendaito .Its dated 1943 with the NA stamp and another on the mune . The tsuba, seppas ,spring catch etc all marked T20 . My pictures are too large to post here so I tried sending them to your email with no success .Have you an alternate one so I can send thrm to you and maybe you can add them here . Real interesting reading ,thanks all of you for taking the time to do this. Ian

Excellent resource Chris,it's a lot of info on swords,sayas etc. Thanks for the link. Hope you're well. Regards Ian Bellis

Would this be carried by a pilot? Or airstaff ground personal,I haven't seen many air related swords, apart from suicide daggers. Who would wear it. Thanks Thomas. Ian Bellis

Never seen it,but glad you posted it,a lovely dirk,thanks for sharing. Regards Ian Bellis

Must have posted wrong, The top sword is by kuniie, it has a leather sword cover,but type 98 saya in grass green,can't upload bigger picture, sorry Thomas,and Kevin for poor photo, It is a leather saya though, then 2 type 98 sayas. It was only to give an idea.

Sorry for poor picture,but leather covered sword. Regards Ian Bellis

Hi Glad you got your sword,a good start. The paint on the nakago,is probably assembly marks,encountered in blue,yellow,red, it helped parts assembly of tsuba, and tsuka,handle etc,at the selected outfitters. I believe this is their purpose. As for parts you could have a leather saya made,it's cheaper and will look good if made well. Leather sayas turn up,but really it's a hit and miss,finding one that fits. I personally think leather sayas are excellent and yours definitely had one, the saya is textbook for leather covering. The habaki looks an older type,than many ww2 swords I have seen,but I don't know, as the smith is unfamiliar. The label you refer to is a sword part shop,they appear on painted sayas sometimes. I hope you get the saya covered, and the sword looks decent. Good luck and best regards. Ian Bellis

I'm having trouble bidding on ebay, I need a good trustworthy nmb member who will buy a sword for me, and ship it here without any trouble, ie with relevant numbers for customs. Please help. Ian Bellis

Excellent work,love the mystery surrounding Muramasa,and the fear ensued in tokugawa ieaysu being cut by a yari..and so on. His swords are beautiful like masamunes purity,muramasas mystical evil gives magic to something already magical,the Japanese sword. Thanks , I enjoyed reading and seeing swords I never hoped to see. Best regards Ian Bellis

Beautiful sword Travis I wish my budget was near this,a lovely shape, and nice write up, Owazamono and high rating,who could ask for more Good luck, sorry I can't afford it. Regards Ian

Price?

Thanks, I'll give it a miss at 7600 gbp Regards Ian Bellis

Been offered this kanenaga, nbthk. I'm learning, is this the real deal, and are these papers still valid. I like the sword but welcome your money saving input. Thanks to all who look,and for all help given. Regards Ian Nagasa 70.5, 1.3Myen

Price 400000 jpy

Thanks Chris, apologies Allen, Without this site I'd be begging for change and divorced. I have a lot on at present and thought as this was a Shirasaya maker,I may have found something. Best regards all. Ian Bellis

Allen I get offerred many swords. Im still a learner , this is waaay out of my expertise. I collect gendaito. I do not however judge a sword on the background alone, The seller is a saya maker, and shirasaya , lacquer worker, I asked for a reasonably priced old blade, I didn't know what was to come. Moriie was just a name I had seen in conosoirs book, I found it suspicious, so I asked . I have seen bundles of badly displayed swords with gems inside them at military fairs. A well displayed sword, has a well displayed price , and my wallet doesnt run to that. Check ebay sometime, its a piece of rust in a repaired shirasaya, but could be a gem. well displayed means known checked and accordingly priced. I wasnt knocking your comment , but diamonds are found in the rough, and unless you have a big bank balance, its where to look , Many may disagree but not all are David Bailey, and bed sheets are as good as velvet if a good sword is laid on them. No offence meant Allen, just a point of view. regards Ian Bellis

For the sword snob who's background means more than the sword, it's just a learning curve for me. I am a carer not a sword multi millionaire,or solo playboy, This is a saya maker,and fuchi maker for shops in Japan. Does it matter how a sword is displayed? If a masamune was on a pulled back old man's bed sheet would you dismiss it as gimei to the fact of his, messy room! What's wrong also with a sword being offered in Japan,they did make them there, I find it staggering the negativity on here sometimes,I'm not stupid, I haven't bought it already,I've asked for more pictures. Why not constructive criticism, the price is what made me wary it's too cheap, I hadn't heard of moriie until 2 days ago. I tried to message D'Arcy,this is a freind in Japan, who makes beautiful Shirasaya, lacquered saya,his home has nothing to do with it. Thanks Chris, for your helpful mei discretion, that's how to learn. I couldn't see ichimonji influence, I know nothing of this period yet. John do you think with the photos I sent, it looks a bad sword,or suriage, bohi,nice hada and for the price of a gendaito. Alan,why not point out the flaws,wear do I can learn,instead of knocking someone's bedroom. I have had money to buy for a year, I'm very cautious, but I believe on here, it's a knock first,before a learn. Thanks to helpful members as usual people who have saved me in the past I haven't parted with any money as I'm asking opinions. Regards Ian Bellis

Apologies Brian still not figured out the new enterprise yet captain.Wont do it again, sorty mate, regards ian bellis

More pictures from previous post. Apologies if not allowed. regards IanBellis

Ive been offerred a moriie katana from Japan. I am new to anything of this age and woulf be glad of any help on smith, and work , I linked him to ichimonji somehow. The blade has a nice hada , a bad scar in the bohi, some ware but its possibly old enough to warrant these things. Thanks in advance, hope you can help. Best regards Ian Bellis

Lot of money Chris. We're the swords you owned worthy of this price tag? I only have oshigata to go by. What style did he use,and was he better than sadakazu, Shigetsugu. I know his rating but have never seen one up close. It's a question for education on what made him the cream of the crop. Regards Ian Bellis