Alex A

Looking at your blade, the Kanji appears unusually large Saying that though, i used to own an Hizen blade where the Kanji was unusually large, as noticed by an Hizen expert and i agreed. Still, had NBTHK Hozen.

For a first blade its ok. Wouldn't be surprised if turned out to be something from the likes of Fujishima. A gimei blade is just a mumei blade wanting to be loved, lol

Old thread, i know. Though looking at the original post. Looks antique to me, simple solid construction Personally, think maybe its just a small rudimentary signal cannon.

Just to add, make sure you have not missed any exceptions for antiques in that legislation, sometimes you find it written elsewhere.

Aye, From memory, think the Token Society of GB sorted out some legislation with the government that was having a similar impact Paul B or other members here would know more Hope it gets amended as it sounds a terrible injustice to genuine antique collectors

Id drop some pul down it, let it soak Repeat then as above Ps, oil, not anything like wd40 it stains

Agree with Jean. I would just change the menuki and re-wrap tsuka, in this case.

TH don't have the sparkle it used to have. Looking over Aoi,s waks a few weeks back, think over 80% were TH. Some swords i wonder why. Many signed swords don't need papers at all as they kind of obvious they are legit. Mino Kanewhatevers etc Personally, only buy swords with papers because when it comes to sell the majority wont buy swords without papers. I am but an humble bottom feeder though. Agree with BIG, Hozen enough. Should back up what you already think. Cant comment on Juyo as have no real interest. They add value, obviously. As an example. Tadayoshi katana with Hozen .....................................£8000 Same without, whos brave enough and wants the hassle of shinsa?, shipping?, not many............................£half price, if your lucky. Without papers, think the online shopping would become high risk very fast, for many.

Reminds me of that ww2 cutting through a machine gun barrel tale. Ps, difficult to price. Could see this being really appealing to some folks, like $700 appealing. Sometimes surprising what stuff goes for, put it on Ebay and see, $300 reserve.

Not "top notch" status but could be a good deal for someone wanting an old SIGNED blade.

I will look into that, thanks Axel

Is the nose a fukure? Only joking, cool

Weird, links above work but when i google search and try to join it i get this Just tried Bing, same that way too Internal Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. Please contact the server administrator at webmaster@82-sho-shin.mars-corp.com to inform them of the time this error occurred, and the actions you performed just before this error. More information about this error may be available in the server error log. Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument

Recognised that sword by the time i got to the 3rd pic. Congrats, was a good deal for TH.

Just thinking out loud Sam, observations. We all learning. Always exceptions to the rules rules and all that.

Just reading that, a blueish look to the steel doesn't remind me of Sue Mino From Connoisseurs. "the colour is black without being blueish black" Added a pic of one of my swords, Mino. In sunlight its obvious dull black, next to another blade stands out as black, no blue. Crap at photography but hope it shows.

For clamping the saya together, i just wrapped some elasticated string around it, got it from work. It worked ok, left it for 4 days before i put the sword back in it. Seen woodwork guys using clamps that you operate with one hand, would have been ideal but don't have any yet.

Internal error it says https://www.sho-shin.com/intro.htm Its ok, weird, just clicked on that link and its working again. Google Chrome being bad lately, SLOW, maybe its that.

Your welcome Sam. Did consider Mino as Kirill pointed out but lack of Masame swayed me. Also, considered the Yasurime. Just went with what it reminded me of, best guess lol

Perhaps Sue Bizen

Making rice glue is easy, vid on youtube. https://www.youtube..../watch?v=8qtb6KeJ0jY Just repaired a split saya myself, pretty straight forward.

Rare! Be careful, don't stub the point on something. Stating the obvious, but if your not used to handling swords, its easily done. Like it,

You should always question papers, dealers etc At the end of the day cant end up thinking you duped yourself Sorry to say it, you should know better

Thanks very much Ford, appreciated. Judging by your images, appears the one I'm looking at will be an acceptable match. Can be tricky finding good matches, as the old saying goes "measure twice, cut once" Glad that's cleared up. Cheers!

Thanks Peter, Wow, the silence is deafening on this one, so to speak Noticed off top of head 6mm differences in length of some kozuka, perhaps there is more difference out there Maybe I'm being too pedantic