Alex A

Looks a decent made sword with well finished nakago, not something i would associate with junky kazu-uchi mono. kazu-uchi mono seems to be one of those "bracket" subjects that folk try and fit everything into. At that time, smiths were blasting out all levels of swords, some obviously mass produced, and some "good" but suppose they could still be described as mass produced. For the best of the bunch, look for longer mei, although not always the case. I like to see bo-hi etc, and date on sue Bizen. Sometimes you see really good bizen with scruffy mei. Judge the sword on its own merits.

Avoid buying from Ebay if your new to collecting. Look at the dealers above or look in the sales section. Sometimes swords on Ebay are advertised along with papers from another sword. If no reply, then you cant do business, so move on.

Some more info Dwain https://markussesko.com/2013/09/14/the-secret-world-of-mekugi-ana/

Mekugi-ana can be confusing sometimes when judging age. If appears punched, then obviously it backs up a good age, but its never straight forward. Look at your books and online, you will find even very old papered UBU swords with just one neat round hole, how can this be? One reason maybe that drilling started earlier than we think it did, in some areas One reason is that if a smith wanted a neat round hole, then it could have a neat round hole, look at sukashi on Koto Tosho tsuba just as an example of metal work at that time. One reason maybe that existing punched holes where eventually drilled to accommodate new fittings. I was only looking at a Nanbokucho sword on Aoi the other day, 2 holes, both appeared to be drilled, always gets me a wondering.

Hello Paul. Its very difficult to judge from the info available, plenty of info available online. Bare in mind your blade appears to be once longer and it looks to have a decent amount of curve. Im sort of leaning toward early Muromachi, Maybe this may help you. http://www.yamakawadojo.com/The%20Japanese%20Sword%20Historical%20Changes%20in%20Shape.pdf

Is your sword in lovely polish with no scuffs ?. If so, buying an old ill fitting saya may well put scuffs down your blade, repairing scuffs professionally is an hassle and expense you will want to avoid. If the swords in old polish, no point getting it polished, as scuffs will eventually show from an ill fitting saya. Maybe there is someone local who makes saya at a reasonable cost.

That's great Jussi, cheers. Knew something had to be written somewhere, just couldn't find it.

Cheers Kirill & Chris Using the koshirae i provided as just one example. The fittings certainly have decent quality, the tsuka has age, looks great and would make a nice addition to any collection The thing that struck me about this koshirae is that the tsuba has hitsu-ana, but the saya appears to have no allowances. Im guessing the saya is a late addition maybe. Its these little niggles that have me curious, as to where NBTHK etc stand.

If anyone knows, or knows where I can find info, would be appreciated. An example https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-bishu-osafune-sukesada-eisho-10-nen-8-gatsu-hi/ Cheers

A number of bonsai enthusiasts on here Eric Glad its not an hagire. Looks to be in a decent polish.

Maybe a crack in the hamon Eric, middle of 4th pic, https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm Check other side of blade. Nice tree.

A good book to own, if you don't already have it http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b734-uchigatana-koshirae-translation-tokyo-national-museum

An excellent Owari tsuba, Momoyama to early Edo. 7.2 x 7.1 x 0.6 cm Outstanding workmanship, great patina. a fine tsuba. Rim displays tokketsu. SOLD Any questions, please pm me. Thanks to Mariusz for pictures.

Just found this with regards Baleen. http://cool.conservation-us.org/jaic/articles/jaic32-03-001.html

Fuchi-kashira appear to be later than Tensho.

Morning Guido, happy new year! With blades, you might see one more polish, last chance saloon. With koshirae, when its gone, its gone. I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beholder may want to bare that in mind, when a future sale occurs. Suppose if done well, helps Was actually looking at a papered Daisho the other day. that was done nice, papered though. Where ti draw the line ?, upto the owner. With antiques, anything original adds to provenance/authenticity. New tsuka often get me wondering if just a recent assembly All relative to owner Best

Herewith where the problem lies, whilst me, you and Ray agree to preserve the original tsuka, For some, the impulse to re-new is far to great. Wish folk would leave antique tsuka alone, and look to preserve. Seems folk want pretty, which often antique isn't the case Best

Whilst being slightly drunk lol, my feelings over the last few years regarding worn ito, totally should be preserving Ito, if possible. I like nothing better than antique koshirea, even if mediocre, Should be left alone. Happy new year!

Horimono looks a little worn, possibly Koto?, dunno. Cant see any way of repairing the ito, which is a shame, as new ito on an antique koshirae does not have the same appeal. New ito $150. You might want polish, not sure what that costs your end, not cheap Usually with old saya and new polish, would recommend shirasaya made to store the blade, $300 upwards. If hes asking $2000, im guessing hes had it valued. If he doesn't want to sell, maybe hes asking an high price? I would aim low or not bother. At that price there is just too much about, in perfect polish and without secrets. Good luck.

Kaneteru is a master polisher, would doubt unintentional http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=Kimura Maybe ask Malcolm (website owner), hes familiar with their swords, and think hes a member here. Also, the school has an English speaking representative (if memory serves me right), maybe ask there.

Hi Tom, the "rule of thumb" regarding good or bad. I ask because I would expect horimono from these guys only on good blades. If I understand whats written below correctly, the mei can on occasion be the other side. From Nihonto.com site.HORIMONO: Umetada Myoju, Munenaga, or Yoshinaga made all the horimono for the Shodai Tadayoshi. Bo-hi and futatsu-hi are rare. The name of the horimonoshi often appears in a soe-mei. It should be noted that when the Shodai Tadayoshi added horimono to his blades he customarily put the more elaborate horimono on the side that he signed. In the case of his katana, this is the ura or tachi-mei side of the blade. Of course, when the horimono is present on only one side of the blade, the mei is put on that same side. This is an important kantei point for Hizen blades.

Hard to say for sure, perhaps Tadayoshi, Tadakuni (see quite a few with cutting tests) As for the horimono, who knows, may be original or added by a later owner (ato bori), I cant say judging from the photo

I read somewhere, cant remember where and I may be wrong, Tadayoshi did sign tachi mei, but when horimono is only present on one side of the blade, he signed that side.

Was thinking Tadayoshi, but would expect mei and horimono on same side, this appears to have a cutting test in the way. Is there possibly a more elaborate horimono on the other side?

Hi Chris, the bottom horimono looks like Rendai. https://markussesko.com/2015/03/18/kantei-1-sugata-4/ Also, page 79 of connoisseurs Not sure what the two bonji are though