Alex A

Better under the eaves of a roof, or similar place, but out of direct rain. You need to check it on a very regular basis as rust spots start to appear quickly. Wipe with a cloth when you see surface rust develop, don't allow any serious rust to develop! Not a quick remedy and I would only try this with certain tsuba, it will also take a few years or so to develop patina. Not really something to do through winter either. You will end up with a natural patina...………..eventually.

Hi Steven. Nice to see someone new to collecting go for a later katana. Its very wide at 3.4cm, and looks well made and nice that its fully signed with papers. The pictures for me are not clear enough, obviously much better in hand.

Check the depth of the hole with a bit of wire, for tsuka and saya. By coincidence, i have a tanto here with what seems like overly large tsuka/saya but after i checked depth and fit it seems they were made to fit the blade Im also curious, so if anyone may know?

On the other side of the coin I suppose also that there are many Edo blades with punched ana for one reason or another Vision of Smith to apprentice...."For gods sake, just punch the bloody thing"

I see, so difficult to almost impossible to tell from images, on the rare ones I mention, cheers Ken.

Hi Ken, as often in this hobby, you will always find those blades with questions. Once spent a bit of time looking into this, in books and online. I was quite surprised to find some very old ubu tachi (as early as late kamakura), with papers, but with one seemingly very neat round hole. Since then, I just accept that an obvious punched hole is an indicator of age and is always nice to see on older blades, but im not as concerned should I see one that is perfectly round. I think sometimes, punched holes maybe were done so well that you just cant tell, especially from images,

On the subject of judging age by the holes in the nakago, I sometimes find it not too straight forward. https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-bishu-osafune-tadamitsu-2nd-generation-hikobei/

Hi Chris, funny one for me carving on tsuba. Sometimes, I look at a piece that no doubt needed a lot of skill to create, but still is empty of life. If you look at some Goto tsuba, think you might get what im trying to say.

Lots of useful hints on the internet Stefan, just one http://to-ken.uk/resources/kantei.html

Nice Stefan, all looks to be in good condition.

Reminded of shinshinto Bizen Yokoyama, with the suguha start to the hamon A few examples of what i refer to https://www.aoijapan.net/tanto-bishu-osafune-jyu-yokoyama-sukekanemeiji-2nenn-february/ https://www.aoijapan.net/tanto-bizen-osafune-ju-suketada/ Nakago don't look too old either, perhaps a start for school, you will need to look further into it. I wouldn't mind one given to me

Yes, Budget, that's why I guess a lot of us have to go for wakizashi in the quality department. Some good TH about at the moment and at fair prices.

what Ken said.

Not wanting to sound pedantic, but think its for a tachi. Interesting piece, they didnt hold back with the mother of pearl. Not sure when it was made, that usually ends up with default meiji or later. (just a guess) Also, and may well be wrong. Something about it reminds me of a kake I used to own, but that was made in China.

Hi Gary, have the Tadakuni been to shinsa ?

That is interesting as ive been looking into Koto Kanefusa recently, didn't know the lineage continued on so far. https://japaneseswordindex.com/kanefusa.htm

Is it my eyes or is it kind of convex?, like this one http://www.japaneseswordbooks.com/Tsuba.html

https://www.nihonto.com/about-swords/major-koto-schools/ https://www.nihonto.com/a-brief-study-of-bizen-blades-of-the-muromachi-era/ http://www.sho-shin.com/sue5.htm

For a minute there Jacques, i thought you were questioning the knowledge of the NBTHK

Its at the better end of the mass produced swords, nice that its signed and dated and has Hozen. It all depends what you want. Its a decent first Katana, for similar money you could get a wak with far better workmanship.

How much you spend depends on whether you intend to keep the sword or not, but would always use antique decent menuki.

I suppose this topic could become bit of an issue should you not do your homework and go out and have a dragon tattoo.................like i did as a youngster. A few years ago I asked a tattoo guy what he could do about the dragon with 5 claws, he said "I could put a black square over each one" then he started laughing, along with me and a few others that worked in the shop.

Read this thread a few times and cant help a wondering that if someone wanted to fool folk with a gimei mei, then why put so much effort into making the mei look decent, but then make the mistake of inscribing it on what is most of the time, the wrong side ?

Looks great Ray.

Sold, thank you.