Alex A

Hi, better staying away from Ebay Check out the dealers listed here Just for comparison, look at other swords of similar price https://www.aoijapan.com/japaneseswords/wakizashi/ Places like Aoi will varify the papers are genuine

The surprising thing about those big Saotome, the weight!, understandable should a Samurai have wanted something lighter. Piers, that website has always been a gold mine of information, and wondeful tsuba.

Just to add, very little on this smith, as is sometimes the case so not much comparisons. Id be wary.

Tough lesson Michael.

There was a late Edo Smith , according to Markus index p418 Bunka 1804 to 1818 Yamato Mikasa Sanroku Ju Sanjo Kokaji Munechika

The biggest i ever did see here Piers https://www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#saotome - tembo

Just a point for consideration. You often see items listed "consignment sale" on dealers websites. A few years ago i was looking to move a few items on so i thought i would give this a try. Sent the item away to the dealer and it appeared on the website, all good. Item disappeared off website after a few weeks, no response from dealer to me. I contacts dealer and dealer said it sold but buyer unhappy and sending it back. Month later and still not back on website. I contacts dealer again to ask him what is going on, he said he forgot to re-list and will do it in morn. The next morn its back on. 2 months later and i ask dealer "any interest"? He replied "no, very slow" A few months later i ask "any luck", he replied "no" I says "send it back to me", he replies "i tell you what, i will buy it now off you" To be honest, i just wanted to sell and accepted his offer. In the back of my mind though, i cant help thinking he sold it the first time and hung on to my money I cant prove anything, just a hunch. Not a dealer from here by the way. Will think twice before going that route again.

On the original subject. What ive learned over the years. If folk really want to get involved then they can do. For me, been plenty of opportunities.

I would find this interesting too. I get why even experts may disagree on this one.

Jussi, thank you. Once again you throw some light on this somewhat dim lit hobby. We all learn something new. I now have a list of smiths that im eager to learn more about. For some that dont understand. Its never about questioning the knowledge of those that set the rankings but trying to understand their results. When you think about it, it was one hell of a task!!. Sometimes i think the only fair way would be to line up every sword by every smith but we know thats impossible. in that respect, i wonder what may have been missed or overlooked and hence, unfairly misjudged

Good to see something positive on the news about Japanese swords! This made me laugh. Number of registered swordsmiths has unsurprisingly declined in recent years

Another factor……..money Example. The Hizen school brought in money for the Nebeshima clan. No surprise to me Tadayoshi ranked Saijo, from memory think the 3rd was too, may be wrong.

Also, dont forget there was not a research facility back then producing clones for tests. Take into account variables involved. Flesh, bone thickness etc and how the sword would have to strike the same spot every time. Bit grim, but thats how it is.

Tv show mythbusters once set up a machine with a Samurai sword. There was a myth about ww2 Japanese soldiers being able to cut through hot machine gun barrels. Might be on youtube Anyways, for me, that would be the only way to test swords with any reasonsble accuracy Too many variables Interesting history though, recommend the book Tameshigiri by Markus

Ps, Is that yours? If so, thought you avoided Chu-Jo. ?

Nice!

Cheers Jussi, interesting, and surprised.

Last time i bring this up. Not wanting to sound nitpicky, but (dare i say it) the Ara-nie, would anyone agree that for this school it looks unintentional?. Im not saying you wont find it on these blades, just saying it comes across as a forging error, to me any way. This for me made it a lot more difficult, looking at blades such as Satsuma.

Really well put that Bob! Afher that Kantei experience, couldn't agree more Seriously though, some wonderful blades from the Edo period, Ubu and signed

Point being, 4 different people_4 different answers. Ask them their opinion on smiths and again you will get a varied response. This is why i think it would be interesting to see other rankings/info from different experts. Especially in this day and age,

Yes, 4 people with different attributions.

Dam, knew it was Senjuin!

Now on to a Sukezane/Suketsuna combo Thats me done on this for today, tough one. A Kanenaga too at one point.

Aye, its widely accepted.

Ok, so just bias in the Wazamono rankings, i take it