mywei

my rough translation Surname Takahashi, died 4th year of Bunka Lived in Fukui, Echizen Prospered for generations from the first generation in Kanei era to 7th generation in the Meiji era. Representative of tsuba craftsmen of Echizen This work uses well forged jigane Two overlapping circles （輪違）are cleverly inserted into the marugata shape Kitaehada appears in the mimi, signed tsuba hope that helps

Incredible Thanks for sharing

Left to right printed text Maizuru Army Quartermaster Department Manufacture date, dimensions Date of handover Name Enlistment (maybe in this context) or registration number

Need to clarify what you mean by a 'good' sword and what you want to collect. Be aware that this is a showato, a different kettle of fish to traditional nihonto. The mei looks like Kaneharu 兼治 rather than Kanenobu

Gunma Imai Kanetsugu March Showa 17

Mid-Edo period Hoei-Genroku Some references https://www.e-sword....katana/1810-1063.htm https://www.toukenko...&katana_A020623.html

This might be your smith, signature looks similar https://ginza.choshu...010/04_yasutsune.htm Satsuma, Horeki era mid-edo Shinto. Wazamono

It would probably be a good idea to at least see the blade in person if possible or at least get closer up photos and videos of the deki and jiba before pulling the trigger That being said I'd agree with Michael in that Juyo 65 was a solid strict session so you know that the quality is there. The shorter length may have influenced the pricing, that being said the Eirakudo blade is similar in length (65cm) but is more expensive. https://eirakudo.sho...katana/detail/602361 Jealous! 👍

That's not the certificate number, just date of issue (month/year/day) format if I remember correctly

The 'utsuri' also looks really fake - likely man made via an acid treatment probably For reference https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/28800-warning-about-fake-utsuri/

I think Uda and Ko-Uda is one of those general attributions the NBTHK uses to put all the blades of a certain type i.e those that look like a northern region work with some Norishige characteristics but not good enough to be Norishige/Tametsugu/Sanekage Uda would suggest Muromachi period, generally inferior to that of Ko-Uda I think this attribution is most commonly just 'Uda' or 'Ko Uda' without a specific smith from the school

No it is this one from Koyama Seki lineage (even though the kanji are the same) - https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/YOS607 Few online references I could find for you https://auctionet.co...2-tenbun-tenmon-1555 https://www.e-sword....tantou/1510-3021.htm

Fyi for anyone interested Sengo school wakizashi. For some reason the hallmark identical hamon on both sides has always been kinda appealing visually to me. Must be the feeling of symmetry that it exudes https://www.nipponto...swords9/WK330205.htm

I think this is signed from the blurry pictures of the nakago. The papers also state that it's signed Yoshinaga. I'm not familiar with Koyama Seki but assume it's a branch of Sue Seki It appears ubu, but can't make out any more than that from the photos. Fittings are pretty ordinary. Normally I'd say that 8000USD is over priced in the normal market but obviously its inflated for the domestic market as you say. Depends what you want. Is the goal just to collect a period blade in koshirae regardless of quality so you can display it or do you want to collect a piece to learn and move on from?

Doesnt look like kazuuchimono imo - interesting less common shape, deki looks tight in the photos provided, nengo present etc Worth a professional polish I reckon

Looks like its shobu zukuri? Unless the photos havent captured the yokote

Given the period (late koto) and smith, the length and shape could suggest a katateuchi However, the jigane looks quite rough to my eyes, and there is no nengo, making it unlikely to be a chumon-uchi and more likely kazu-uchi mono unfortunately Depends what you are wanting to collect (quality/quantity/period etc) and the price asked ofc My 2c

伴入道風一作之 Ban Nyudo Fuichi saku Date is maybe Tenna 天和 (cant make out the exact year) February

@SteveM 耳の平_ _ に　maybe?

Omori Teruhide Not sure if he ever signed this way though?

Signed Bishu ju Masatsugu (no papers) http://sinogi.dee.cc...u-w31886/w31886.html Signed Masatsugu (Fujishiro papers to Bingo Mihara but Nbthk not as sure) https://www.e-sword....1110_3012syousai.htm

My guess is 水心子正真（？改） Suishinshi Masazane

looks like 華湘公司 to me It's a Chinese sounding company name (華湘) but could be Japanese also.

Thanks Paul for sharing your experience. Wise words in regards nihonto and other things also to not easily dismiss out of preformed ideas or prejudice I think! I guess smiths like the Sukesadas that made kazuuchimono also made custom order work for the Daimyos so it was not like they lacked skill!

Yes you're right Heian is the old name of Kyoto, and Jo means castle Its likely your sword is much older than ww2 by several centuries. Im sure more knowledgeable members on this topic can elaborate further on your sword but there were quite a few smiths that signed with Heianjo over the centuries (e.g. those of koto period Yamashiro-den Heianjo school, or those who moved to Kyoto like Shinto period Shimosaka school)