Alex A

Lets face it, if auctions and dealers were as honest as we want them to be then profits would plummet. Still amazes me when i see vague write-ups and low res images on some dealers websites. No excuse in this day and age, they do it for one reason, deceive. Then on the other hand overly bull**** eager exaggerated write-ups You ask for better images and its like you have asked them to climb mount Everest Got reminded this week that sometimes they buy items in and then realise they have made a mistake, but the price don't change to customers, and neither does their dishonest write-up. Armour appears to have so many nuances, definitely not beginner friendly.

Better getting new folk into an hobby then putting them off, for obvious reasons. Great to learn about new stuff but no one wants to see folk sorting out their disputes in what should have been educational. Saying that though, as you mention, some good info.

Nice tanto, can we see the nakago ? Cant ever remember seeing one of these that was not modern. Saying that though, you dont see them too often. Remember SwordguyJoe was selling one some time ago, from memory. Think that was by a Mukansa smith. Yours reminds me of the sale.

Shame, the last armour thread was great (for a non-armour dude) Now im sat here thinking armour is ten times the minefield that swords are and looks a real headache in more ways than one. Also, about swords. No real way to know if a koshirae is all out original to a blade. Usually dealers that use that statement.

Reminded of Ishido.

Interesting to read. Makes me think of earlyish Ko Kinko type tsuba made from solid Shinchu, then lacquered that we sometimes come across A Samurai with such a tsuba would be walking around feeling like a Mr T of that era.

Nice sword, like your videos too.

Who knows Piers, you could have shown it to another expert and he may have said its genuine. Muramasa, more about the name then the blades, for me. Like to see them though.

Jihada looks a bit too good for the typical Sue-seki The nakago-ana look really crisp. As always, difficult from images.

Save your money for something you will be glad to own

I never thought it resembled Hizen Konuka either but assumed folk were talking about Hizen work done in a tight ko- itame which gets a mention from time to time, not Konuka. I see why Reihnard is saying Shinshinto. The reason i mentioned Osaka, in the image above it reminds me of one of my old blades. VERY tight ko-itame with same hamon. Dates to 1750 ish. Obscure smith This maybe one of those blades where judges scratch their heads and you will get different attributions from a different Shinsa. Its always fun with unsigned blades.

From memory Around 1570 ish, sure ive seen all variants on Aoi,s sales pages, tapered and non tapered. Seems to be less nengo on the tapered. Looking at some blades i would have assumed Edo but Aoi have them down as late Muromachi,.. I get the impression they study the sword and are not so nit picky when it comes to general Sukesdada mei as there was so many and some obscure. Anyways, just thoughts.

Not really with what's available. Looking at it, reminded of something you may find around end of Muromachi, Katate-uchi. As mentioned, cant see boshi/jigane.

Papers tell you its authentic and worthy of preservation. Why pay someone to tell you its authentic and worthy of preservation when you know its authentic and worthy of preservation Always good when there is a mei, looks decent.

Looks quite straight, like Kanbun Saying that though, sori is one of the worst things to judge from images

Seen enough Jean. Try selling one with that flaw. Know what you mean though.

This is why i find buying swords on ebay impossible Always a concern in what's not being disclosed.

Don't see any point in buying anything you don't really like. One day when you see something you really want you will look at the ones you shouldn't have bought and think well, i could of used that money to buy this one but now im skint

Interesting John, good to know Cheers

For a non armour dude, this is a very interesting thread, cheers. Taking the expensive costs of armour into account, now wondering how many would have had to make do with "mix and match" armours, bit like today with collectors on a budget putting an armour together. Hand me downs, 2nd hand and battle field pick-ups. From the cost, im assuming an high number but as said before, you don't find much about this in books.

Could be repaired that Piers.

Maybe look into Edo Osaka also.

I suppose you could send it to NBTHK, if you wish to do so. Looking at examples, you could make it fit Takada. You find Masame in the Shinogi-ji You find a mention of tight Ko-itame and Ko-mokume, aswell as O-hada, rather a mixed bag. You find Ko-maru boshi You find the same nakago You find nioi deki and wide. The minute i saw the hamon i thought Takada. Reminded me of a sword for sale a few years ago. Same irregular gunome/midare and choji, looked like it wanted to be Sukesada but the choji was different. It is written than Takada smiths were quite smitten with Sukesada and on occasion their work will fool folk into thinking Bizen. That sword was towards the end of the Muromachi though. Also written that horimono is rarely seen and usually not the best. Without researching more, the length of the blade to the nakago is a slight puzzle. It does look like katate-uchi but the longest i can remember in that bunch has a nagasa of around 67cm, i guess not too far away. As for the blade shape, well, seen one too many exceptions to the rules.......... rule. Anyways, just thoughts and nothing factual, be interesting to read what others have to say.

Find Ko-maru boshi in Takada, Just ideas.

Difficult from the images. Kasane of 6mm with a worn looking horimono reminds me of Koto, rather than Edo. Be good to see a good pic of nakago. When first looked at the hamon it reminded me of Koto Takada, they also worked in Ko-itame, the Yakidashi dont fit though, from memory (not to say you wont find one as they were known for copying other schools) Its an interesting blade, like it. Ps, some good looking into it by yourself, good to see.