Alex A

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.

My quick wishful thinking at 5.30am is thinking Koto, whats your wishful thinking?

Naomitsu (Kajihei) was the most famous forger, same line of smiths

Briefly looked at the Aoi sales page, the flaw does not stand out like it does in your pic, sunlight maybe? Signed and dated, Tokubetsu Hozen. Id leave alone, but see what the polisher has to say.

Hi ? If you read Rice crackers restoration info it says they use a variety of levels of polishers. Whether or not they use polishers from the US, I don't know. Someone else will hopefully chime in, but from memory there are only a few, the name Bob Benson springs up occasionally. Japan route can take a long time and be expensive, I suppose that goes for the experienced and few US guys too. On a few occasions ive been surprised at what an experienced polisher can IMPROVE, be interesting to hear what they have to say Remember, there are long waiting times for the top guys and they don't come cheap. No doubt you will eventually ask yourself, is it worth it?, or perhaps that's what the polisher will point out to you, as regards risk. Ps, is this the blade from the other thread?, just to make sure https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-bizen-koku-osafune-kiyomitsueiroku-jyuni-nen-hachigatsuhi/

You would need speak to a polisher about improving it, although im ASSUMING a polisher will tell you that all the blade must be polished too, which wont be cheap. Id leave it.

Hi, not a fatal flaw, https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm

Aye, must be tarnish/lighting, always difficult from pics. Also assuming its a later sword.

Anyone else see Hitatsura?

Hi Curran, I hate buying anything these days unless there is peace of mind. Whilst the buyer of the tsuba above may be dazzled for a month or two with its beauty, sooner or later that crack will stick out like a sore thumb, would for me anyway. The price would have to be rock bottom, for me. It is beautiful though, a pity.

Wouldn't bother me until it was time to sell, then other folk bothering would bother me.

What Ray said, any doubt whatsoever about a sword, then don't buy it.

These really shouldn't fool anyone serious about the hobby. Just looking over the feedback, he got a good price for this one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Ken-/292446327785?nma=true&si=NppRfiIq2FCLRIIx5pu6AdS1wJY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Hi Jeremiah, just a few thoughts. Selling paves the way for new buying experiences. In ten years ive only picked up three items that I think of as "keepers". I have sold stuff that I miss, but have no regrets, it was necessary at that time. The fun part of this hobby for me is in the searching and learning about items, rather than the ownership. I guess most of us are limited to what we can spend on this hobby and cant go on indefinitely without something having to go. Its not just buying more Nihonto, you don't know whats around the corner with one thing and another, so good to know it pays back should it need to.

Good idea, I would only want to see info relevant to the item, no need for prices and talk of bargains. Difficult enough selling stuff (for a fair price) without folk waving past sales pages in your face and saying "look at this". I sometimes let stuff go cheap in order to move on, don't need a constant reminder.

Thanks all for your comments. Good news, the tsuba was delivered in Australia to the buyer on the 16th April As for Royal mail tracking, no updates other than "Your item, posted on 28/03/18 was delivered in SOUTH NORWOOD PDO on 29/03/18." ​Australian tracking still states "pending, no updates yet" All in all, a bit of a mess with the tracking and the staff at the post enquiries were not much use either, but at least it turned up safe. As mentioned in another recent thread, we do have a responsibility in looking after these antiques. I would have been very disappointed to have lost one. Thanks again to the buyer for his patience. ​