zatoichi

Dirk, I read the description and looked up the kanji for dew and it didn't seem to match. Lots of people on ebay say lots of things, doesn't make them true. I can look up the smiths mei but not the other kanji so just trying to verify. Justin

Thank you Kunitaro-san jusin

Can anyone help with what this means? Justin E

Two questions based on pictures. Not a sword I own. Would this rust spot polish out. I know it depends on the blade and how many times it has been polished. lets say koto sword in good shape, no sign of being overly polished. Second picture . on a high quality blade were the grain of the sword is very uniform is this a fault from the forging process because it stands out from the rest of the grain or is this expectable. In swords rated Tokubetsu Hozon? J Edwards

jean, some questions , only because I do not know. would they except a blade for tokubetsu hozon that was so badly damaged from polishing? This sword has the hi going through the nakago so it is probably a cut down tachi, do you think the hi proximity to the fukura of the kissaki is due to the tip braking and the kissaki being remade vs a cover up? Your saying the blade has been over polished is this due to the hi kissaki relationship or is there something else you are seeing in the blade? If so what are these things? Your help would be much appreciated. I am sure you have heard all these questions before. J edwards

thank you john and josh, It was more an exercise in comparison between what is and what it should be. I thought it was gimei since the seller does sell blades that are papered, lives in Japan, and sword submission for shinsa is november. so for the potential increase in value of course he would have submitted it, if it was real. That said it has some nice qualities., and the horimono seem to be executed well. I was not looking for a blanket statement that all un papered blades in Japan are gimei but what are the features that prove it. Just to help me understand what things I am not seeing. thank you Justin E

Hi, swords mei awataguchi torin kunitomo, swords nakagojiri shallow kurijiri- matches awataguchi school swords nakago- seems more funa-gata than furisode-gata not a match for school swords mei three characters- school usually uses two character mei sugata- mu-zori , school usually ichi-zori hamon- suguha , school usually hose-suguha boshi- awataguchi school hie rougher in boshi compared to hamon- I don't see this boshi- awataguchi school short kaeri- this looks like long kaeri harimono- ken seen in this school harimono - goma hash seen in school near mune yasurime- kiri seen in this school Hataraki of this sword seems very nice to me, but you have to understand that I am a neophyte so all things should be taken with two large grains of salt. Thus the name zatoichi ( blind swordsman ) can't tell what I am looking at. Just posting this to see what people with greater knowledge think. Justin E

Kunitaro san, Is it true for all swords when polished to much for the hada to become nagareru? Is this just true for swords that are hammered more than filed? Is the quality of more hataraki in hamon something that distinguishes a better quality sword? It is something that I find captivating and ethereal. Justin E

First picture un-papered blade on ebay . Second and third mei from papered blades. Second kanji up from bottom seems to be rounded the lines not as straight. Justin E

found some more pictures of a yasumitsu blade. this one has a different mei. the hi is maru-dome not kaku-dome. the horimono is much further over the shinogi. It does have the same suguha hamon. Just trying to understand what I am seeing.This blade was NBTHK Hozon. Did smiths really stay so close to a style over there working life? If so why was it so ridged? Justin E

Hi ford , you are the consummate artist, always amazed when someone can visualize the end result from a solid piece of metal,and draw it out. Great work and a joy to watch. Thank you. Justin E

I was looking at this sword on eBay. It has sold now and I was looking for some help in understanding things that I did not see. some things looked off to me,on the picture of the sword Kissaki the yokote doesn't line up. Hi not parallel to mune. Ends of hi shaped differently. Horimono goes over shinogi. Are these signs of bad workmanship that should not be seen on a blade by this caliber smith? Blade was said to be done by Bishu osafune sakyo yasumitsu. I believe the hamon is also not the style that this smith is known for. But maybe every smith needs a change sometimes. I will thank all now for any help they may give. Just trying to learn from people who know a lot more than me. Justin E

Has anyone had experience buying from e-sword.jp. If so what did you get? Any issues with shipping? Justin E

thank you, both articles were very helpful Justin E

Question about the relationship of the yokote to the shinagi and ha. Is the Yokote supposed to run between the radius braking point of the ha and shinogi? Is it supposed to be perpendicular to the ha at the braking point? Some blades it is perpendicular, some leaning forward, some leaning back. Is this just bad polishing that has changed the geometry of the blade? Thanks Justin E

Hi all, I first got interested in Nihonto after visiting my girl friends parents while at college. In there attic was a sword brought back by here grandfather after the war. It was in rough shape after her brothers had used it to cut up boxes and broom handles . So I oiled the blade with sewing machine oil and put it back in its saya, where it probably sits today. This was 1979 and after that I brought every book I could find, ( which was hard to do before the internet ) went to museums, went to shows and auctions ( Dr walter compton at christies ) , and now I have bought my first blade after all these years a tanto, from flee bay . I bought it from a dealer in Japan and sent it to the november shinsa. When I get it back in February I will post some pictures and let the snickering begin. Justin E