Alex A

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.

Presented with a good sword by Enomoto Sadayoshi, I don't see how the NBTHK could deny it TH. (especially worthy of preservation) Aoi Art...……….."a very famous swordsmith designated Mukansa". If you see one of his good blades in hand, you will get it.

A dealer In Japan did mention of a rumour there are new judges at NBTHK, whether that has anything to do with it, i dont know

Good to see, I like his ko-itame.

True, and not to go off on a tangent, but the UK is becoming ridiculous https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/asda-knives-bans-sale-removes-supermarkets-knife-crime-stabbings-a8815126.html I have a sword with customs at the moment, such a worry these days.

A very old Katchushi tsuba, a tsuba with reverence. Excellent Provenance, the real deal. To be honest, I cant describe it any better than the gent I bought it off, and have had another excellent opinion from an acquaintance here, both consistent. I can go into detail with anyone interested. A link http://www.shibuiswords.com/KDdragons.html The nakago-ana obviously altered at some time. Possibly fitted to one of those heavy armour smashing type of weapons or perhaps yoroi-doshi, hard to be precise Remnant lacquer still clearly visible. A good size at 8.4 x 8.5 cm 0.2 cm thickness at the seppa dai An interesting tsuba with a story to tell. SOLD Ask for a price regarding shipping. Pics at low res again, also, should have re-sized, apologies. Reach me here or alex.aspinall@sky.com

Lets face it, no iron tsuba collection is complete without one. A very good, strong and surprisingly heavy Saotome tsuba. For me, the classic Samurai tsuba. Good ones like this dont come up for sale too often, and dont come cheap. Around the year 1600, Momoyama to Early Edo Well forged and balanced, and with a very nice patina. 96.77mm at largest diameter, 7.26 mm at the mimi (feels massive) SOLD Pics in low res, only noticed camera setting after uploading.

Il drink to that , to all the friendly folk that openly share what they know, often without thanks Cheers.

Kirill, I suppose we could could talk all day about Naokatsu and his works features, and I thank you for staying interested lol Going to leave this subject for now. Would be good to know how and why Fujisjiro came to a few conclusions, but Im looking for info that would need a time machine to answer, as is often the case in this darn hobby. StIll, not a total dead end, picked up some useful info, so thanks all

Some folk don't like Shinshinto, the steel is often described as bright and featureless. I like Koto blades, but often tired, the downside.

Will have be brief Kirill, but you demonstrate my point above clearly. You cant judge a smith by one blade, or even more. He worked in a variety of styles, O hada, Osaka type hada… Ive seen better. Cheers

Thanks Arnold, as informative as ever. Il take a look at the Ekiyo smiths, interesting that you say they were made in peaceful times. Reminds me of Eisho Sue-Bizen, often read that swords made then were a decent bunch, but that takes me onto a topic we see too much of As for Fujishiro,s. I don't know if anyone else feels a little stupid regurgitating other folks research, but not knowing much about how they went about it ?. I know they were polishers/appraisers, but 1500 smiths?. Maybe someone can enlighten me?. Did they polish a great number of swords from each smith?, the best swords of that particular smith?, from the smiths prime. That's lots of swords to look through. Take Naokatsu (sorry to keep bringing this up) as an example,i see he is JUYO rated. Now then, is it not possible that the Fujishiro family missed the best blades?. Is it not possible in this modern age we see more examples in polish than there was back then ?. From memory, pretty sure Toko Taikan has a different take on this line of smiths, Naotane, Naokatsu and Naokatsu2 pretty even, Naomitsu surprisingly ahead, but I would have to take another look. I see some sellers (dare I say it) ignore Jo-saku and add another Jo. Now Jacques, this is not DK, its just another informed personal opinion on the sword/smith. I don't use Fujishiros anymore. I find looking at Aoi museum et al much easier, the images are far better than Fujishiro,s, for me. Be interesting what ratings the NBTHK could one day come up with, in this modern age, but a mammoth task, god knows what it was like back then. As mentioned above, a lot in Fujishiro,s is validated, but there will always be questions. just an early morning ramble. cheers