Alex A

See above Jacques.

Hi Adam, true. Though i mention due to Hizen school, just see it as a possible coincidence. Cheers. Ps, the one thing i notice most on yours compared to the examples put on by Mark and Jacques The lack of slant on the horizontal strokes. Though il be honest, stating its gimei is beyond me just by looking at a mei. I don't have NBTHK resources. As said, its not one of the obvious examples that you may come across. A short story. I once showed one of my Hizen blades to a well known expert and he remarked on the mei standing out as not being quite the norm. He was surprised to find out it was Papered by NBTHK. So i guess if folks with his kind of knowledge get the odd surprise, then that gives it some perspective.

The trouble with trying to identify blades by mei..................Its not like they are mass produced and punched on a machine. Looks close to me, not like one you normally see that looks like to be done by a blind man on a galloping horse. Always the possibility of Dai-mei. If it fails NBTHK, send it NTHK, you never know

Got a bit of time and will explain a bit more. Sometimes when you look at something it instantly reminds you have something you have seen in the past. Aoi art often describe Tadakuni blades as having an hamon that resembles clouds, which the blade above certainly does. The gunome is never consistent up and down along the blade. Just speculating and doing this off the top of my head. Didn't Tadakuni and the smith above both work at the same place around Kanbun ? So thinking a mixture of styles for one reason or another or a gimei on a Tadakuni blade. A mention of Masame in the Shinogi-ji https://sword-auction.com/en/product/9317/as17267-刀肥前住播磨大掾藤原忠国初代第25回重要刀剣/ Noticed more recently a few Tadayoshi blades online with a mention of Masame in the Shinogi-ji Another showing the hamon, you find Nie/nioi description for Tadakuni blades. https://nihontoantiques.com/project/hizen-katana-sword-fss-762/ Just thoughts, nothing factual, send it to Shinsa as mentioned to get the opinion of those with a lot more knowledge and data. Anyways, looks a real nice blade!

Hamon reminds me of Hizen Tadakuni.

Hi Piers, I'm thinking makers, schools Just trying to get my head around what folks go for and why. See many different types of Kabuto. Read of Saotome, where they considered the best ? Guess its a vast question as you point out and down to personal taste and budget but be interesting to see what folks like.

Knowing the most desirable is the most expensive, also what choices out there for folks on a more humble budget ?

Mine turned up today, as always a pleasure to deal with. Ps, for those that cant read Japanese and don't know Put the google translate app on your phone, use the camera and instant translation. Its not perfect but if you already have an idea with terminology then you will get the gist of it. Cheers Mariusz.

Cant remember ever seeing one for sale Grev, only in paintings and book photos

Aye, fantastic.

Ps, didnt know there were more pics of the blade, just noticed. Lots of masame hada, not what the Tadayoshi school was known for. From memory, read of it in the shinogi-ji sometimes.

To answer my own question and for anyone also curious, p247 Inlaid in gold or silver red lacquer or gold lacquer..............rather rare he states for cutting test results. Don't see brass.

Had a concern whether the inlay was actually gold. A lot of the time you see its been picked out. Judging from the images i cant tell whether its actually gold, gold colour or even brass?. Its something that I've never really thought about. Has anyone ever seen a brass inlay on a nakago?, curious. Ps, Dimitri, good book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tameshigiri-History-Development-Japanese-Testing/dp/1312327030 Cant remember but maybe the answer to my question is in there, will take a look.

Was just thinking of the possibility a later generation but you have to take into account the date on the cutting test write-up. Not saying there are no winners when it comes to auctions but im not the optimistic type and don't have money to gamble Maybe an expert that has it in hand may be more confident,. Could never bid on what's available and without taking a real deep trip through the books. not for me.

Expensive, see Katana by well known smiths 10k upwards https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-bizen-suke-fujiwara-munetsugunbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token/ Sometimes you see wakizashi for half that. Also, on rare occasion you come across a good private deal. Always a compromise though, the sword is mediocre or it was tested by a lesser known sword tester etc etc. Most folks just say buy the sword, not the inscription. Depends what you like.

Cheers Grev. He really does do his research and sits on the fence with stuff he is not sure about. Not just limited to edged weapons, he has also done some very informative vids on some firearms and their use in battles. The last bunch he talks about, i didn't know they were mainly used for law enforcement. Think i saw something similar at the Royal Armouries, from memory.

Hi First off, Id be asking myself why a Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi (top notch smith and always a target for gimei) with a cutting test is for sale on an auction site without mention of Shinsa papers ?

I like this guys vids because he really knows his antique blades (of all types) and explains how they were used. Good vid, especially for folk not too clued up on the use of such weapons.

If 4 still available let me know. Cheers

Lets not forget that carrying two swords (as in daisho-long /short sword) did not become the trend up until around the end of the Muromachi period or thereabouts. And on that note think I've said everything i want to say on the subject. Horses for courses as they say.

Going round in circles here We all know what a true Daisho is. But the FACT is, not all Samurai carried TRUE daisho. That should be the end.

Hi John, im also confused, what history is being created and what's selfish ?

Its about what you can live with Colin. The way i look at it, if the Many Samurai were able to live with Daisho that did not match then its good enough for me. If folk want to create their own Daisho then later want to sell, then they need to understand lots of buyers wont share their thoughts as to it being a "daisho" Personally, for display purpose. If i wanted a Daisho and someone had cobbled one together well, i wouldn't get to hung up about it and may be tempted. You see them occasionally at Aoi and other stores.

Ask yourself what you would rather own ?, may be interesting as we all look at things differently. Take value out of the equation An Edo katana and wakizashi signed by the same smith and made at the same time with matching fittings that were all put together in recent years,. or An Antique Katana and a Wakizashi by different smiths in similar koshirae that have provenance to have been owned by a Samurai in 1850 and showing appropriate wear.

Forgot to reply earlier. Always reassuring to know even experts give differing opinions, not just the folks here. Folks often say "send it off to shinsa, to the real experts" Even they don't see eye to eye on some swords. Another topic though but thought it was another interesting interlude.