Alex A

Understand Aleksandr, was just thinking out loud, done a few myself. Buy decent fittings, if you buy low end parts you may end up regretting it, especially if you value your sword. Maybe worth considering having everything new, Tsuba, fuchi koshirae, menuki and seppa, it gives it that personal touch, rather than mixing the old with the new. No fit issues, which can be an headache. I enjoyed searching for parts too, educational. It can take some time sourcing correct parts, which can be a blessing, spreads the cost out.

A wiser man once said to me "enjoy your blade as it is, in shirasaya".

Hi Km, i would assume some smiths would only sign an order after receiving payment, unless it where a gift/presentation. Maybe that would explain a few of these "general" mei dates. Maybe that would also explain more mumei pieces (non payers), but lets not go there...

Haha, sorry Chris, couldnt resist that one, i know, hot springs

And heres the proof :lol:

This clearly demonstrates that replacing tsuba is an exact science. A while ago i had the opposite result, the tsuba i purchased was half of a mm too thick, so everything was too tight. As the habaki was solid silver i was able to file a skim off the back, being extra careful about removing any filings. An easier fix, but still a pain.

Hi Km, back then (in the good old days), folk where not ruled by the clock or time, as we are. A case of getting up when the sun comes up, then having a few healthy beers throughout the working day , but then some trouble maker invented the clock, then shifts, then productivity/profit charts, then a device called a "clocking in machine :cry:" etc etc, rant over . My point being, times where different. I type this whilst looking at my watch.....

Hi Mark S, I noticed yesterday that the example you put on was signed tachi mei. Now then, that was typical (but always an exception to the rule) of Tadakuni line katana. From what i understand, wakizashi where signed katana mei, but then again, maybe exceptions out there, not sure. Anyway, the mei on your example is shoddy to say the least, especially "wara" . An attempt at "Harima no kami", the son of Shodai Tadakuni or possibly the Shodai in his later years (so ive read, gets confusing). The example in Jims link is that of the Shodai. 20 watchers, someone looking for a bargain Josaku smith maybe, wishful thinking.

Newbies are often asking how to spot fakes, maybe there should be a compilation of mugshots, a prize at the end of the year for best and worst fake :lol:

No expert, but looks gimei to me.

Maybe time should be narrowed down a little as regarding mumei swords, rather than categorize, each sword weighed up individually.

Cheers Chris, as you say, Nobukuni school would have made a clearer choice.

Here is a nice example of what i have been looking at. http://www.nihonto.ca/naotsuna/

Hi Paul, i should have been more specific with that statement, im particularly interested in mumei/ubu pieces from the Nanbokucho period. Would this then rule out merchants? This requires further reading on my part, not sure, apart from samurai, who actually carried tanto/wakizashi at that time...

Mark, the price of your sword as just doubled This could be another topic, but does have something to do with what is being written about blades made for nobles/posh samurai. Im assuming smiths of old did not do Horimono free of charge, so, horimono would suggest the blade was made for someone up the ladder, would it not?

Interesting little read Mariusz. Seems Era may play an important role.

I suppose each blade has to be looked at individually, the school, the time, the quality, ubu or not and then one can make up their own mind, speculate :lol: Given the number of swords past down through generations, seems a pity information was lost along the way. Ps Km, there must have been many genuine far fetched reasons that some swords where left unsigned, yours isnt one of them

Moving on, another thought circling my noggin regarding mumei pieces, particularly Tanto/wakizashi from the Nanbokucho period. Ive been looking at work from rated schools. Ive seen mumei, UBU, tanto/wakizashi with original elaborate carved Horimono and some not so elaborate, typical Suken, Bonji and Ken. Now then, the fact that these mumei/ubu blades have these horimono tells me the work was good. Why would a smith go to the hassle of carving horomono if the blade was inferior? So, there had to be good reason these blades in particular where not signed. Ive read the VIP/Shrine theory. Maybe in these cases, thats correct.

Never been able to fathom out how the Lanes get to some of those prices

Hi Doug, your likely to come across low end Late Edo/Meiji Sukashi tsuba that where cut from "stock" plate, i owned an example a while ago. Featureless flat steel with neat crisp edges. The one i owned had been mounted, so, someone must have considered it adequate at some point

Sorry mods, just noticed another thread on this subject below!, darn, even threads on the subject can be invisible, please feel free to delete this thread.

I dont know much about these weapons, is it a bit late for this kind of weapon?, i would have linked them to an earlier period. A recent thread with a photo raised my interest a little.

First one ive seen for sale. http://www.aoijapan.com/kusarigama-nany ... kichijitsu

Looks familiar. Tsuba page http://www.thelanesarmoury.co.uk/shop.php

Your right Grey, i was thinking the wood around the habaki had swelled due to moisture.