Alex A

Franco/Dwain, yes i guess much easier to see in hand. Usually, the first thing i look for on O-suriage blades is signs of the hamon running down past the hamachi. Sometimes easy to see, sometimes difficult to see as it can vanish with the heat during the process. The sword above stood out. If you roughly follow the line of the hamon then i see no reason why it should end where it ends (if blade shortened), looks intended to taper off past the Hamachi. It just don't vanish away like I would normally expect on an O-suriage blade. Heres an example of what I would normally expect, don't think Ray will mind. http://swordsofjapan.com/project/shimada-naginatanaoshi/ Anyways, just thinking out loud, appreciate your input. Ps Dwain, but back in the day I would have gone for something different, too much hamon makes a sword brittle, but that's another topic.

Im guessing you think the nakago is not O-suriage Franco?, or you thinking re-tempered or something ? Or, on closer inspection, you think the hamon and blade are not original length. If so, I never seen an hamon that bright and with that style end so swiftly, without a trace.

This caught my eye, and have been back once or twice to have another look. Almost Katana length, the nakago obviously looks cut short but the hamon and blade looks original length, not something you see too often. The original owner may have witnessed quite a bit of tsuka envy. https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-mumei-shimada/

Well done Bazza, and cheers Ray!

A very good sword, in polish, signed and dated, a great deal at that price!. If it dont sell this time John, will get back to you when im not so skint.

2 signed and dated late Muromachi tanto in shirasaya, with Hozen https://www.touken-matsumoto.jp/eng/product_details_e.php?prod_no=TAN-0118 https://www.touken-matsumoto.jp/eng/product_details_e.php?prod_no=TAN-0116 Maybe put your own koshirae together at a later date ?

All 3 for less than $90, i have a vague memory of seeing connoisseurs at $250 whilst it was out of print, grab it whilst you can

Good starter book Henry, and cheap https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/4805311347/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1538055058&sr=8-1&keywords=the+samurai+sword+a+handbook+by+john+m.+yumoto

Im saying that im not suggesting any of the sellers above are selling anything fake. Be wary around Ebay, every so often I see a sword for sale with papers, and it just don't add up for one reason or another. You would be better buying books and learning more from this site and others, before you buy. (its been said a million times)

Sometimes cheap certified swords appear in the sales section, keep an eye on it, but be quick. Your doing the right thing trying to avoid Ebay as a beginner, I see gimei (with hozen) quite regularly. ps, not talking about any sellers you have presented, not looked at them.

To me, a difficult question to answer as not seen enough. Recently though, ive become interested in works by Enomoto Sadayoshi from the Gassan school.

Yes, thanks Robert, ive corrected it, cheers!

Thought id crack this in an hour whilst the Misses was at the shops, that was Saturday, anyways dont laugh. 1) Bizen Suke Fujiwara Munetsugu, Shinshinto (circa 1860). Originally thought one of the Suishinshi school pupils, Naotane or Naokatsu maybe. 2) Inoue Shinkai, Edo (mid to late 1600,s). Difficult from pics, but sure I see Masame in the Shinogi-ji, originally was thinking Hizen. 3) Rai Kunitoshi, Kamakura (1300). This one was the most difficult. The hamon is interesting, seen it before but cant remember where. looked at everything from Awataguchi to Naoe Shizu, but finally settled on Rai, mainly because I read of the mix between midare and suguha.. Wish I could give a better explanation as to the answers, but the reality is 4 hours of muddling through internet and books

Only just noticed all this, when does entering close?

No worries Stephen

Your right Greg, first pic, just looked like a bo-hi, give up judging from pictures. Would still go with 1700,s onwards though As for the markings Roman, im clueless

Don't get to carried away, I know I said £3k, but what they ask for and what we ask for are two completely different things. You did ok though.

Just observations Stephen, as I pointed out, not critical Your right though, a true carried Samurai sword. I know a place that would polish this up and put a £3000 price tag on it.

Hi Roman, your sword is out of polish, which makes things difficult. These are just observations. Antique koshirae, good start. Nakago dont look too old, mekugi-ana clearly drilled, and the Bo-hi stops where it should do, so im suspecting its perhaps a late Mumei sword, 1700,s onwards. I find it difficult to see grain in the sword, which is a concern, but maybe just tightly forged?, think I see a little open grain. Bit of a nasty rust spot, otherwise seems ok. Nice Seppa Asi said, just observations from pictures which isn't necessarily fact , sorry cant be of more use.

I was just thinking about this, I will only ever scratch the surface and never have in-depth knowledge, been making me feel im p----- in the wind for quite some time now.

I was thinking maybe its just the quality, I don't know. From Shibui "The later tachi-kanagushi show influence by the ko-kinko to such an extent that the two styles have completely merged in some cases." http://www.shibuiswords.com/tachikanagushischool.html Nothing ever seems straightforward in this hobby, im confused on a regular basis.

These always seem get thrown into the Ko Kinko bracket, but they obviously found something special about this particular example, be good to know what? Is there anything that stands out to you Grev? Would they be wrong?, having seen so many....

I couldnt be sure what the metal was, but thought yamagane late Muromachi/Kokinko Spent 5 minutes wondering about the shinsa result, size?, nakago ana size?, mass produced, perhaps they feel there is no evidence to suggest it wasnt sat on a Tachi at some time

Now i look at the nakago on an HD screen, i see what you mean Ray.

Difficult judging just from those pictures, but maybe your right. Its a gamble buying blades out of polish (as you know), hope it works out for you.