Alex A

Thanks Piers, genuine antique then. Another in better condition here that has just popped up. Sagemono Netsuke Antique Teppo Japanese Metal carved inro Ojime Meiji 8969 | eBay

Noticed quite a few similar on Ebay a while ago. Thought id stumbled onto something but then noticed quite a few similar. Remember asking Piers about them. Actually, the top one below needs a further look into. As in it does actually look to be a used antique. Will add that not totally convinced but know nothing about these., Japan Antique Netsuke teppo shaped inro ojime sagemono rare Edo era Original | eBay Netsuke TEPPO Japanese silver Matchlock family mark of Samurai Kamon L: 4 inch | eBay

Though rare, obviously a point has been made that they are around if one looks hard enough. I guess you don't find what you usually don't look for. Ps, Good find John, especially with a similar inscription!

Hope your sorted soon Brian. Ana looks crisp, some patina, And what Ray said about it being earlier

Aye Michael, 580 grams at 50cm. Love the shape with the o-kissaki Was it attached to a pole for the test though?(as per Aoi interpretation), the big question.

Cheers, will take a look over that one. Like Buses, you wait and 2 turn up at once.

Thanks for the replies. What i find interesting is the inscription Aoi mention, below. "We do not understand the meaning of the Inscription well, but it seems to mean that Yamano Kanjuro cut off the body with one hand." This gets me wondering if the sword was actually used as in an ordinary strike by a wakizashi with one hand, without it being attached to a pole of some sorts (as mentioned above)? Also, i ask myself why would one test a very old unsigned wakizashi ??. I guess there a lots of answers to this question. Can imagine someone owning something like a Tadayoshi Katana and wanting it testing, the prestige of owning a sword of the same time that comes with all the bells and whistles, so to speak. The bragging value, even swordsmiths of the time pushing to have their swords highly evaluated,. But an unsigned suriage wak from the Nanbokucho era?, i find interesting. Perhaps it was someone's prized possession, who knows?, could go on but can only speculate and i guess we will never know. What i will say about those inscriptions, as gruesome as they are, they always add some history to a blade. Been a long time since i read the book from Markus and have a memory like a sieve, need to read it again,

Ok, next time i bother i will do a complete write-up to earn some thoughts. Cheers

Find it amazing that folks moan about political stuff and state stuff like "post more nihonto" and not one comment at all about a sword that you seldom come across. I guess folks seem to prefer politics.

Agree with this but just thinking that finding a pair with such documentation must be rare as hens teeth. Crossed my mind looking over this Daisho, the swords were made seven years apart towards the end of the Edo period but that really dont mean that they could not have been owned as a pair by the same owner. They come with a box with a family crest, but there's that all important question of provenance. Maybe there is further documents, maybe not. A splendid pair Dai Sho : Motohira(Dai Sho:NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)(Daisho Koshirae: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu) - Japanese Sword Shop Aoi-Art

A rarity Wakizashi: Mumei(Unsigned)(Omiya)with Saidan-mei(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) - Japanese Sword Shop Aoi-Art

Be aware you might scuff the blade using another old saya.

What Thomas S said. No other points to make. Rinse Wash repeat.

Think folks are being too pedantic over this. If a Samurai had a different katana and a wak with different koshirae then i guess it could simply be he liked them the way they were and didn't consider changing anything necessary. One sword may have been handed down, a gift, stole one, who knows. If on the other hand he was having both swords made new, then it makes sense he would have matching daisho koshirae.

Just posted a tanto off to the US with UPS.. As for descriptions. Online, you get 2 to fill in, one for the packing label which can only be short and a rather lengthy gap for the customs invoice which lets you go into great detail. The label description being short, your kind of limited. Having attempted to follow the "non vague and accurate" guideline then the best i could do there is "Japanese artwork tanto", followed by a more lengthy description in the customs invoice which included "traditionally forged cultural artwork by such and such, made from steel and in wood sheath, year 2007" , along with the customs tariff number. Had a few issues this time with their website and the pick up where they totally ignored my scheduled pick up time of no earlier than 2.30 pm as i wasn't home from work. Yesterday, waited all day with a no show so i called them and they said they arrived earlier than anticipated and apologised. Rearranged for today and they show up at 10.30 am instead of the agreed 2pm. Luckily off work with a cold so didn't miss them. Had a bit of a moan to the driver who just apologised and said they were busy. The other issue, their website. It didnt like to keep the information with the booking. I could not retrieve my online filled in customs form so had to print a PDF off their website and fill it out by hand. It does state when you print your package label out that they require 3 printed customs invoices. I called UPS and they were not much help but did say the written invoice should be fine. The call centre is in the US, i think they struggle with my accent. Last time i had no problem printing out the customs invoices, i should add. Anyways, info put here for folks that may want to use UPS, hope it helps.