Alex A

Could maybe just add a link http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/measure.htm

Lol, Hizen Masahiro ?

Hello, its impossible to elaborate from what can be seen here. Look here for quality of images that make life a lot easier for folk here https://www.aoijapan.com/ People should not be mailing you being negative, its ridiculous. As said before, mass produced covers a large spectrum of quality. The issue i have is that the nakago appears a little crude and is unsigned. There's just too many swords about of that type which are more collectable, signed blades, even dated. Cant take away the fact its handmade and a real piece of history.

An old late Muromachi Kiku tsuba came up for sale recently and im sat there thinking why has nobody jumped on it?, it was an absolute DEAL!. Anyways, i keeps saying my tsuba collecting days are done but obviously not. Mariusz as usual always great to deal with. The tsuba turns up and its very impressive. It was once sat on a katana (judging by the ana size and it was common to see smaller tsuba on katana at that time) It has a crack above the hitsu-ana. Judging by the two slightly bent spokes i was thinking the crack may be the result of a bash to the outer rim. Its a funny thing, years ago i would have been put off by a crack but now it don't bother me. Not on a tsuba thats heading towards 500 years old!. Seems a shame that old Ko-Kinko tsuba don't seem to get the same attention in the sales section, seems they just get rotationally owned by the same bunch of enthusiasts Anyways, a pic. Next to a small tanto tsuba, that was another great deal from Mariusz. Another to show the wonderful patina.

For the most part, forums are a godsend for those with little knowledge of what they have. As said before, whatever info that folk receive is FREE. Usually, with something decent the answer is always send it to Shinsa. I still use forums myself when i need to and I'm so grateful to the folk that take the time to reply. When researching to learn something i often find that the most useful information is found in old discussions on forums. Discussions involving experienced collectors/hobbyists, stuff you will only find in the most obscure books (if your lucky). The only gripe i have is sometimes folk can come across as ungrateful, especially when they don't like what they hear. Sometimes not even a thanks. If ever i use a forum and ask questions, i contribute a small donation towards the upkeep. Personally, think anyone that uses forums on a regular basis and does not contribute, is a tight ass. (meant with a laugh)

Ps, for someone that makes that kind of statement I do wonder why you often get so involved in such experiences lol

Only a rough guide Jacques, its not a shinsa Just to give folk some direction

Don't forget measurements. Saying that though, have noticed when you ask folk for measurements they suddenly disappear Ok by them for folk on here to mess about for an hour trying to help them out though, sigh.

Agree. See it at the arms fairs with the likes of WW2 stuff. Pretty recent in terms of history and i get the impression folk are thinking seriously about long term investment Nihonto collecting is well established and it ticks over at its own pace, somewhat very slowly. You don't buy expecting to make a profit, there's just not the interest, in comparison. You see the difference. Oh and by the way, see quite a lot of young ones at the fairs.

Hi Baba, perhaps too honest. All i can say is, im as about as interested into getting into debates on the topic as i am in such swords, so it ends there. It was not a point to upset folk, just my own view and what i dislike about certain swords, its an age old issue. I think sometimes its necessary to be honest and say what you think, stuff often gets shrouded in history and continuous ramblings. Actually, usually when someone makes such remarks, fires up some good learning

Whilst on the subject, a niggle. Do feel from reading the odd post that a few folk over indulge in the complexes of kantei and put shinsa panels et al on such an high pedestal it becomes really boring. Lost count of the blades that re-paper to something else. A blade either fits or it don't, in my book the blades that don't fit or are questionable are not worth buying if provenance is of importance to you. (which for most folk it is) This hobby can be full of bull££$$ and bull""""rs, (though not intentional) Its impossible to be factual when nothing can be factual. ,just varying and somewhat sometimes foggy opinions on foggy swords, from time to time. I find it crazy folk will buy expensive mumei swords with the only verification being someone else's opinion of what it is.

Depends. An example. I could own an OBVIOUS late Muromachi Mino Tanto, signed Kane (whatever), with everything correct right down to the yasurime. I know its genuine but a great number wont. If it don't have papers, your limiting any future sale to those that are able to verify and accept for themselves OR would need to be papered for newbies and the ignorant to purchase. Lack of papers must reflect price. Then you have price, many wont pay for an expensive piece without papers, which is understandable. The big grey area is Mumei and the thousands of oddball blades that throw a spanner in the works. Some folk cant accept and need to know so head to shinsa. I dont feel any real contentment comes from such blades regarding maker, even after attaining papers, but that's me. Some beautiful mid level blades out there without papers and owners that have been able to research and come up with their own opinions, isn't that what this hobby is about. Tons of variables, set by the blade in question and the differing folks that buys them.

Clear pic of the boshi would be useful

Sounds like a good excuse for a drive Colin

No faith in them Colin, whatever i post, I'm prepared to lose, sadly Parcelforce/UPS best of the bunch, for me.

Would be a lot cheaper and safer to deliver it yourself If it matters so much you will have to avoid the larger couriers like parcelforce Private self employed couriers can be expensive, only ever used one and he charged £1 a mile. I would look for a private courier in your area

Steve, just a quick one. Once bought a sword on here and from memory it was on here around 9 months, way way back in the for sale pages. Folk don't always have funds available at the right time. It can take a while, that's how it is sometimes.

Would be great to live somewhere like Tokyo and see swords in hand before a purchase., for a lot of us though, pictures is all we got. For what i like, the chances of me seeing a blade in hand in this country before a purchase are virtually zilch.. Obviously some dealers provide better images than other dealers and go the extra mile messing about for you with extra daylight images etc. To the point where with seeing enough swords you get a good idea of what is being presented. If you cant be certain when looking at images, don't buy it. Agree though, buying in hand is really the only way to be sure.

Hello, yes, we like to have a go. Add some clear images of the nakago showing file marks plus all the dimensions. Plus if you can get better images of the blade Also confirm whether there is masame hada in the shinogi-ji please, hard to say whether just scratches or not from images. Cheers

Often hear the term "commercial polish". Once spoke to a polisher about the obscure looking Hadori that you see and his reply was that some dealers don't want to spend the money and just want something basic with less time spent, more profit. He said he didn't like to do them but that's how it was. Would be good to hear again from Andrew Ickeringill

Tough one, with what's available Reminds me of Hizen A mention of a similar boshi https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1958-0730-156-a Just for fun, nothing factual. You need to check the rest of your sword with other examples, nakago etc,

Hi Everett, so long as no active rust then ok. That's a tiny chip, they dont bother me but we are all different. The opening on the mune is a bit of an eye sore, a polish wont make that look better. Understand why you want it polished, sentimental reasons. If you do get it polished then you will need a new shirasaya, around £350 also. Cheers

Its ok on a good sword with lots of activity and done well. Sometimes though, looking at dealer sites in its difficult to know whether a sword has a bad polish or its just a bland sword. One Japanese dealer in particular seems to have a lot of these swords and im guessing they use the same polisher often, hence i was always a bit reluctant to buy from, especially as unwilling to provide further images.

Hi Everett The fittings are Edo, some or all of it may be originally fitted to the blade after it was made. Folks have an habit of swapping stuff about over the years so its difficult to say for sure. There were particular styles of koshirae linked with certain periods, an example would be Tensho koshirae for Tensho period. Koshirae during the Edo period became a bit more flamboyant in comparison. Its rare to find Koto Fuchi kashira in comparison to Edo. Your doing the right thing regarding oiling the blade, only need a little. Wouldn't bother getting the blade polished, looks good enough, save your money. Ps, lots of useful stuff online, and check out beginners books, a thread somewhere. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm http://www.sho-shin.com/index2.htm Learn a lot from online stores like this, once you learn some terminology https://www.aoijapan.com/

You have the blade in hand and it is in good polish so there are lots of clues. Nakago is good showing shape and file marks, Blade shows grain pattern and hamon. Agree about Edo, though i think if you can spend enough time on it with it hand you can narrow it down significantly. Il be honest, it can be very time consuming and difficult, especially from images. I was tempted to spend a few mins looking for Edo blades with similar nakago, you can find similar in 5 mins online (matching nakago-jiri and yasurime). You need to to do this with every element of the sword and narrow it down. After that, Shinsa, should you think its worth it.