Alex A

Hi Andreas, as for length, you worry too much, its a katana As for the activity, you want a daisho, ask yourself how long before you find a perfect match?.

I would agree with this in certain circumstances, battle maybe, someone comes running at you with a menacing looking Dotanuki, you think holy ---!!, step back, trip over someones leg (without the body), end up on your ass. The last thing your going to think about is sword protocol. Ps, no expert on blade dings, but James sword doesn't necessarily look like the one doing the blocking (dent in hamon), is it possible someone blocked (parry I should say) a strike from his sword causing the dent?

Does it make it real?, it would make the damage old damage, but not necessarily a genuine kirikomi. People have always been the same, take gimei swords as an example. Only way you will ever know if a kirikomi is genuine is to invent a time machine, or have some written account dating back to when it happened maybe. Its interesting to assume they are real though

Anyone more convinced about kirikomi on tsuba?

I think there is a big grey area. Reading starter books and looking at illustrations blade changes can get you thinking that at a certain time there was an amnesty where every sword owner had to hand in the last sword trend sword and then issued with the new trend sword. Something I have been interested in http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18788-koto-ubu-tachi-and-katate-uchi-in-shinto-times/ Ironically, started when I bought a late muromachi katate-uchigatana in Edo koshirae Got me a wondering, I suppose that's where the interest lies in this hobby, what i don't know (everything).

Hi Jason, I have a bit more time now, no fun trying sound sensible at 5am You say a "katate-uchi" is essentially an O-wakizashi, hmm, I have one here with a 59cm nagasa, just as easy to call it a short katana As for the 1450,s to 1530,s window, not too sure, this is a good read http://www.nihonto.com/abtartsuebizen.html I did say we over-catergorize stuff, but hey ho, here we go, take a look at no7 running into the Azuchi Momoyama 1573-1600 http://www.yamakawadojo.com/the%20japanese%20sword%20historical%20changes%20in%20shape.pdf Ive read on Aoi a few times (as an example), that no kazuuchimono where produced Eisho. As mentioned before, look at the sword quality before the mei, look for quality original bo-hi in these swords. As you say, katate uchi were no match for firearms (introduced 1542), they where an auxiliary weapon, but as an Ashigaru, you would be glad to have one, just in case your matchlock got wet or something

Hi Jacques, sure ive read somewhere on this forum that there is a Juyo rated Sukesada sword with a basic short mei.

Briefly, im aware of "general" blade shape changes over time and that uchigatana where auxiliary weapons, but by 1530 did the many thousands of katate-uchi, not to mention early tachi etc etc suddenly disappear?, brings me back to my earlier point about over -categorizing. Way back then, many could not afford to be picky, and used what they had, or what they were given. Many using family heirlooms, then handing them down, even up to the late Edo period, and so on, the reason we still see so many today.

We can look at the sword and maybe speculate a little, its possible it was used one handed. There would have been times on a battlefield when two hands on a sword are better than one, blocking an heavy blow for instance, or when fatigue begins to kick in, hence why your sword may have a long nakago and why during those times many nakago of katate-uchigatana were machi-okuri (blade slightly shortened to increase tsuka length). Its been mentioned before, but there is a notion that these days stuff like this gets overthought

Maybe your correct

Hi Jason, where did you read "katate-uchi" fell out of favour by the early 1530,s?. It was my understanding that they where used by mass infantry throughout the Sengoku. Recently ive also been wondering about their continued use in Edo times, judging by the many examples you still see in Edo koshirae. The nakago on the sword above does look to be intended for two handed use, the nagasa seems a little short for two handed use. Many katate-uchigatana that you see are machi-okuri, a longer tsuka added. Maybe by 1547 (as the blade states), some wise folk got tired of increasing tsuka length by machi-okuri and thought what the hell, lets add a decent length grip from the start, but what do I know

You have answered your own question, according to Connoisseurs, look for rough masame hada in kazuuchi-mono.

Hi Josh, i understand you don't want a modern tsuka. I think lacquering it wont make you feel any better about it

Hi Josh, Il be honest, i don't think its as bad as you described. The only thing i see that stands out is the missing samagawa, maybe you buy buy an old piece from Ebay and patch it up, I had a similar problem a while ago, i spoke to three experts. All three suggested a re-wrap but one guy was willing to have a go at repairing it. Four months later i gets an email saying it cant be done, too fragile. I'm now at at point where il be happy just to get it back, its in Japan Actually, on closer inspection, one side is worse than the other, id be torn between just leaving it and getting it re-wrapped, knowing me, id just leave it on the kake with the good side looking out If, so, don't handle tsuka.

Hi Josh, can we have some photos? If its past it and literally falling apart, id say best to have a re-wrap with good quality Samegawa and silk Ito. Its good to want to preserve, but it must be in reasonable condition, but sometimes its too late.

Cheers Paul, appreciated, when you get the time pm it over to me and il fire over a few queries.

Yes, fair enough Jean From reading above, I have concerns that the NBTHK are an "here and now" thing. You pay for an expert opinion, they give it, fair enough. BUT, without a firm link between them, the sword and the papers heading into the future, there can always be problems. Anyways, off on a tangent, apologies gents

I see. Out of curiosity, is it possible this can happen again, say in twenty years time they might look back and say all papers pre-2015 are scrap. Do they have a system in place to cover this?

As the window closed?, a pity that.

Hows about the NBTHK offer a free re-call?

I see your point John

Similar design here http://www.aoijapan.com/tsuba-mumeiunsigned-clock-openwork%E3%80%80 and another http://www.aoijapan.com/tsubamumeiunsigned-clock-openwork-design and another http://www.aoijapan.com/tsuba-mumei-the-watch-gear

Ive read something along the same lines to this with regards to some folk getting through guitar strings faster, their skin being more acidic.

As described, fast delivery, thanks

I would need to see them both in hand Once re-hardened though, its fair to say that the sword by the soshu master is no longer the sword by the soshu master. In that case, I would find it difficult accepting a saiha masterpiece with a big name (not that I can afford it). Same price though and I may be tempted