Alex A

Tamahagane does have an effect on steel. Check out the modern smiths Akamatsu Taro. They make their own steel and ive read a few times on Aoi arts sale site that the blades they have sold by these smiths have a darker colour than NBTHK tamahagane.

Yes, but its finding the time to do it. Ive had a few guys round for prices but they seem expensive. If you read online and talk to people you get conflicting opinions on filters etc, some say you need a bottom drain and others don't. I don't want to go huge, just big enough for 4 or 5 , maybe 3 x 3 x 1 metre deep (to avoid predators) Whats your plans Stephen ?

one day i will again Stephen, they look great!

Not easy using images. Id go late Muromachi too. The blade appears to have seen some polishes, looking at the Hamachi, hamon and slender shape. Originally, don't look to be katana length Style of suriage, straight chop, think that comes under the heading "keicho" suriage. Id go with what Steve said above. Decent one too.

If your buying swords by looking at photos then i would advise you to buy from someone trustworthy and reliable. What exactly are you looking for ? Some good deals appear in the sales section here.

Nice blade Piers, looks very thick, koshirae nice too.

Il be honest Bruce, didnt really take much notice of the inscription. Must have been John. I suppose the point to my little exercise is this. If someone ever tells you a blade has its original late Edo mounts, its not necessarily accurate

Some may find this interesting, assuming the tsuka is original to the blade. To look at, would have said late Edo, was surprised at the date of the sword. https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A080120.html

Just seen another, with the habaki. https://www.aoijapan.com/tanto-osaka-ju-gassan-sadakatsu-saku-kigen-2600-nen/ and another https://www.aoijapan.com/tanto-osaka-ju-gassan-sadakatsu-kinsakukao/

I like Akamatsu Taro and there is no denying they make some great blades. They make a lot of Kiyomaro style blades, I see why they are appealing. For me though, there is a step up with regards quality of the hamon with regards skill and consistency. Lets face it though, if they sell, then maybe that's enough. Just rambling and what do iknow

Just as an example, A thick battle sword from the end of the Muromachi period, with a rather broad hamon. When i first saw it, it did make me wonder a bit with regards brittleness. https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A090819.html Ive brought this sword up before and hope the owner does not mind, its a good sword.

His work reminds me of Shinshinto Yokoyama, luckily that's more affordable

That "but" wont go away after you have bought it, loads of swords out there, take your time and you will find one without the "but"

Hello, here or log into Ebay.com usa

Another Enomoto Sadayoshi, made towards the end of his long career. I like its clean simple elegant lines. In Soshu tradition with Mitsu-mune

Was just looking through all the antiques, then i sees Darth Vaders helmet

If only the NBTHK would write a short note as to why they gave a named attribution, until then, il keep on guessing

I bought a tanto from Sadahito a few years ago, by way of Chris B. Sadahito did the sayagaki for his fathers tanto that he was selling, but to my surprise the tanto came with gift, he made a letter opener knife for me, fully signed. I might never have a sword made, but that was good enough for me, top dude.

For my own curiosity (and for anyone interested), spent some time this morning looking at Ko-Uda/Uda smiths, looking for details online and in books as to why some mumei Uda will receive an attribution to a particular smith name. Ive not come with anything new, in the back of my mind I was kind of thinking this has already been done and im treading old ground. We know Ko-Uda have a better reputation than the latter Uda, so you wouldn't expect such blades thrown into the Uda grab bag. (as well known) I went through most of the Uda school looking at blades online and in references, Kunikiyo, Kunihisa, Kunitsugu, Sanekuni,Kunizane, and so on. I suppose it comes down to basic Kantei, would first look to see if I could work out the age looking at sugata, nakago etc etc. Then there is the northern black steel which is often talked about, but not always the case. Kunimune made swords from dull black to brightly forged, I also have the attributed Hirakuni where only one out of the line of four smiths is said to have a "black" steel. Itame and Ko-itame mentioned a lot with masame and northern characteristics thrown in for good measure. You can pick out traits that will lead you to a particular smith, the age/characteristics/hamon for my sword. At the end of it all, i found a paragraph by Markus, that summed it all up with regards Uda, starting with "its safe to say", its katana, ko-uda (I dunno how you cut and paste from theses online write-ups) https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YvqNcpSz8nQC&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=uda+kunihira&source=bl&ots=TlWyOVVvDE&sig=ACfU3U0ONSNaSAqq-iEXjkQdRs0MUQu92w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi3vL36xr_pAhV-QEEAHUTBBMAQ6AEwEXoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=uda%20kunihira&f=false Excuse my ramblings, but at least in ones head now.

Il go with Enomoto Sadayoshi too

Tomotsugu is a name that has cropped up now and again whilst looking into Uda, just been looking at examples that are described as having a blackish jigane and ko-itame. Would take much much more than that though, I guess the NBTHK has many references of signed examples that gives them a giant head start when working out who made what.

I remember that sale, because it was such a great deal, loved that Uda and those fittings.

Love Junk, hope your not talking about the Tadakuni!

Thanks Jussi, was kind of hoping you would chime in with some of your data, much appreciated. Good to see an Hirakuni in there too. Il leave this here too, stops me searching for it http://www.sho-shin.com/hoku15.htm

Thanks gents for your replies. Congrats Ray, great result!. Kunifusa and Kunimune, big names from the start, understandable that if any would come with an attribution, would be those. I have a blade here from a somewhat more obscure smith further down the line, attributed to Hirakuni, its actually what started me thinking about this subject. In hand, its obvious why the NBTHK came to the attribution, there was only four by that name and there is enough info about their work. I guess there are specific traits, as more info gets compiled then maybe there may be more specific attributions in the future, hopefully. Perhaps if any one else has a Uda with a name attribution, maybe add it here too