Alex A

Good news Chris, I had a package turn up like that from the US once, looked like a dog had chewed on it. I always ask now for anything bulky to be sent in a cardboard box. Something to do with it being in an envelope and the bulky item getting it stuck in some kind of conveyer or something.

I like the old Tensho style too, but rare as you point out. Ive seen later Edo recreations, one at nihoto.us a while ago, and one at an arms fair years ago with a tired Koto Bizen blade. I should have bought it, was only £900, but did need some attention. I didn't buy it, because im an idiot Saying that though, wouldnt mind a set of matching Omori wave fittings...…….

Lets face it, without provenance/documentation, then there is no real way to be be sure if fittings were made for a blade or not, especially with older blades as fittings have been swapped about since the start. I too like what appears to be a swords final koshirae, and like Chris, the best I can get to is good koshirae and good blade. Come across good good examples maybe two or three times a year and unexpectedly, usually when im skint lol. There was one a while ago, TH koto blade and also nice koshirae, both with NBTHK papers. It was a great deal, and didnt last long. Fittings were not top quality, but good, and didnt look cobbled together. Not a fan of new tsuka. Might sound a bit padantic but on what seems like most occasions, it indicates a recent resurrection. Not that there is anything wrong with that, just not my thing. I look for fit, wear, age and as above, good and good. Tsuka obviously not too worn, but good enough to want to preserve. Tsuba are often swapped out, best to look for tsuba with hitsua-ana that match up with saya. Many you see listed are obviously swapped out, even in books. The only issue isthat if you find good and good, then you might find yourself deviating from blades that you would not usually collect. Again, not a bad thing, as it opens new doors. A problem for some, as they might wait around for a long time searching should they want to stay true to their collecting ways.

What surprises me is the disregard of the blade. A chance it will end up scuffed due to an ill fitting saya.

Wow, good spot Jussi. That shall i say, adds a little more perspective on the subject.

Hizen Tadakuni swordsmith......94, excellent by todays standards. Died 1690,s

Late reading through this, but used these pegs recently, for anyone interested.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-tapered-bamboo-meguki-sword-peg-Shinken-katana-iaido-Iaito-Japanese-sword/112007881291?hash=item1a1430a24b:g:ysQAAOSw2gxYy9sg Bit of sanding, job done

I can see what your getting at regarding thickness, Jesper. Maybe just an exception to the rule, as sometimes occurs. Sure there's been one or two utsushi over recent years with similar plate thickness. You see Momoyama to early Edo this thin occasionally, but something telling me its not that old, but I have been around in circles a few times. This type of tsuba can be difficult to work out, especially from images.

Hi Jesper The plate is thin, but is uniform, maybe too uniform for an early tsuba and not much wear. Seen another like it a few years ago, but without sukashi. Utsushi-mono fits for me, but what do i know. The stars and suns you describe reminds me of a rain and snow design that you see on Ko-Katchushi, but look too crisp to be that old.

Folk have to be realistic when it comes to selling swords. You will only gain back what you spend at a dealer if its outstanding in some way. Something relatively rare or unusual, or very interesting about it + NBTHK et al

Well Szab, it certainly makes the ones I made a mess of my folks gate with back in the 80,s look feeble.

Seen a few books with images on ebay etc, thats about it.

Me too, but mine has a dirty cream sageo. Not the obvious colour but a break from the norm and looks ok.

One thing ive learned in life through a few bad experiences, is to no longer do this.

Hi Chris, Its very difficult from images for me to make a factual opinion (and with my knowledge and resources), let alone not having the resources the NBTHK have plus they had it in hand. They will have reference material concerning Tadayoshi 1st early works that we will never see, containing a number of Suriage/mumei blades and blades of all lengths. Some thoughts. In his early days he copied works of great masters. Jigane was a mix of itame/mokume/masame. My eyes bad, but think I see masame too. If it was signed?, im struggling to know why in the 1800,s someone would file the mei off and go to such lengths as to extend horimono (he was well known as an excellent smith). He wasn't one for carving bo-hi etc himself, im assuming this was carved at a later date from when the blade was first made, we will never know when as its impossible to tell for sure, looks old and consistent to age with my eyes though. Also, cant say for sure with the ana, see all kinds of variations on old swords. Sometimes blades turn up that don't fit into one of our categories, so for me, exception to the rule, (rule) applies. As said, if NBTHK say Tadayoshi suriage (with their resources) then for me, that's what it is.(assuming papers are legit and verified)

Horimono running full length of blade, through nakago, no mei, multiple ana. Im just seeing o-suriage.

Im not talking about Tsuruta Sans description Mariusz, im talking about how it was made to look older, hence "pretending".

Pretending to be something its not, especially the nakago (from the images) https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-unsigned-attributed-as-hirofusa/ Wonder if any new collectors can spot what gives it away ? Still, a good sword.

Thick Kasane for an old blade!

Sad news. Eric was helpful and informative. Some members stick in your mind as very knowledgeable, he was one of them, he will be greatly missed My condolences to his family and friends.

Nice koshirae too, but if buying i would be asking myself if it was made for this tanto.

E-sword always have nice items, but I struggle with the photography, lacks detail in the hamon compared to other dealers. Sometimes cant work out whether overly done hadori or the photography. This is when buying from overseas gets difficult.

Remember talking to a dealer when i first started collecting, i was on the phone to him and he had the sword in hand. I said "any flaws at all in the blade"?, he replied "no, not that i can see". A few days later the sword turns up with a fukure. Had a sword turn up from Japan with rust spots in the bo-hi, that was very disappointing. Once paid too much, learned a lesson. For new folk to the hobby. When your talking via email about a purchase to a seller, always be very wary when the seller does not answer ALL your questions in FULL or is VAGUE, chances are you might raise an eyebrow (to say the least), when your sword turns up.

I look for interesting.

I get what your saying Wah, but ilook at it this way. NBTHK have it in hand and think it worthy, im at risk of being labelled "Dunning Kruger", should I consider disagreeing with them.