Alex A

All the best Jp for a better year!

Hi Mark, Know nothing of armour but living in the UK, id be tempted to get in touch with David Thatcher to see if he is selling or knows anyone that is selling something that may suit, always a chance, i suppose, David Thatcher – Katchushi Koubou – Japanese Samurai Armour Studio (yoroi.uk)

Difficult Jon, from the dimensions it kind of reminds me of a mid 1600s blade. Perhaps if you joined something like the Token society you would get more advice. Last i heard we were down to one experienced polisher and he lives in Scotland. Perhaps have a word with him about what he thinks. If you do get the blade polished then its best to have a new shirasaya made too, another expense. A case or working out what is what and how much you want to spend. You do see some questionable polishing about in the UK, commercial polish. Im not sure who does these but wish they would stop. Mike Hickman-Smith is well known for Shirasaya, lacquer etc, perhaps speak to him also.

Hello, Acid polish (as mentioned) makes life a lot more difficult and obviously obscuring a lot of fine detail that would be there should it have been professionally polished in the first place. Not sure whether that is core steel (dark patches) or something to do with the acid polish maybe. If it is core steel then that is something definitely associated with Kazu-uchimono. Although there are things about this blade that for me dont quite fit that catagory. The nakago looks quite well finished and the hada looks quite refined The hamon, blade length and yasurime are all asking questions (so to speak) Appears to be nioi-deki, Still, reminds me of Bizen. Wouldnt be surprised if after polish it turned out to be something like Edo-Ishido, the nakago fits and if you look hard enough you will find examples where the hamon also matches. What Jimmy said above too is worth looking in to as they Bungo Takada were know for making swords similar to that of Bizen but ive not looked at examples today. Its difficult at times, you can sit here all day going around in circles, this is why signed examples make life easier and in the end are more desirable. Your blade is not worth the price of a top polish but there are experienced polishers that will improve what you have with a traditional stone polish, you will then have a greater understanding of what you have.

I see why you like the last 2 blades Jussi, but just look at the expression on Mr Tsuruta Sans Face He loves it, good sales tactical photo, even im wishing i had some money

Yes, straight to their sales page, be surprised if this does not sell in the auction though.

Pretty straight forward as to why it has no signature Either was never signed to start with or cut off due to being o-suriage. we will never know, very common

Its in good condition and the koshirae is nice too If you ask then you will always get back different opinions based on personal taste and attract some competion maybe I like it, as it stands with the price, tempting for a lot of people at the moment

Some great deals Grev!, like the Musashi

Only time ive noticed beads of oil is when ive used a light machine oil. Hence tried it and stopped using it right away, only place i use that now is on an electric shaver Used express gun oil for many years without any bother so will stick with that. Quite thick and leaves a very fine film Each to their own

Not a sword anymore, more like a chefs type knife, although if you plan on holding a koshirae together with it then i suppose it adds another argument I would just get the permit and do without the worry.

Feel for you Chris, im hoping similar idiots dont get in charge here

Not as close as it looked in the first pic. Love old blades in ww2 mounts Very nice to own Mark Cheers

Best i can think of is describe it as “old tuna knife chopper” and hope for the best. Who knows, might of been haha

Agree tony, they can be a pain at times Use Ups if ever possible

Jeez, thought UK was a total Nancy State, but now know it could be worse

Looks to be a Katate-Uchigatana, Muromachi Find many good Bizen examples dated to Eisho Punched ana and slightly shortened in this manner is the norm Look into work by this line of smiths and no doubt you will find matches to your sword, Tobiyaki etc Lots on the forum for these type of swords too Some info in here

Hello, does the hamon run off the blade ?

Must have made a very pleasent change for the Shinsa team! Guess rarity has a quality all of its own (dunno why text has gone bigger)

Hello, Suspicious of this one, thats not to say its not genuine, just the condition does not allow for anything accurate and there are elements of the blade i dont like. such as the nakago, but anyways. Clue=one ana (peg hole) so appears ubu (blade length unaltered) Not thinking anything too early, blade width looks a lot narrower at the pointed end compared to near the nakago and there does not appear to be a great deal of curve. small kissaki. Perhaps Edo 1660 ish Nakago jiri reminds me of Bizen jUST A THOUGHT, NOT A FACT AS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY FOR SURE IN ITS CURRENT STATE

An example of an early Edo blade. Not the same but guess you can say its in the ball park Appealing with the long kissaki https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A060221.html

Tough one, being honest im very unfamiliar with the name and would only have got this if id owned or looked into buying one of his swords. Was surprised when you said Shinto, as you mention the jigane looks earlier. Was hoping the shot at Inoue Shinkai was one of those swords that dont quite fit, like when you come across top Hizen smith blades that are not typical Konuka hada. Again, the amount of big names and Ko-itame that was around on searches for swords of this period stood out like a sore thumb Good to learn about this particular smith, interesting and fine blade. Cheers

Tough one last attempt Munetsugu

Nice blade First thought when i saw the image was Mino. The shape and long kissaki reminded me of some you see from the likes of Kiyonobu No doubt it aint but thinking that time, around Keicho maybe? Will look for a bigger name haha

One of the Osaka Kunisada line, Inoue Shinkai?