ga31

Does any one know of any reputable people I can visit in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, or New York Area, that can appraise a few swords I have? I am having trouble finding anyone. Thanks in advance.

Needless to day, I am very excited. I will try to take better photos of the koshirae and post it on that board. Thanks for the tip. I hope I can find someone in the Connecticut area to bring them to, to have them looked at in person. Thank you everyone for all the help so far!

Thanks for the heads up on signing my posts. The Nihonto bug has definitely bitten me, but it still has to get in line behind all the other collecting bigs I've already been bitten by. Does anyone know of someone I can take them to in the Connecticut area? I am very interested in finding out as much as possible about them. Thanks Geraint

Thank you for all the info. Yes, I measured it from the tip to the notch. Regarding the second sword that has a prawn design, do prawns have any special meaning in Japanese folklore or art? I know enough about antique swords to have a healthy fear of do any cleaning or restoration myself. Do you really think it would be alright to lightly put some oil on the blade? Thanks again.

That is very helpful thank you.

Sorry, I meant Wakizashi. Thanks for the correction. Thank you for the other info as well. The one you think might be a boy's sword, I thought might have been cut down during the second world war. That's according to something a friend told me, could that be true? The other thing I found odd about the 'prawn' sword are the two holes on the nakago, any logical reason why this might be?

Try this: http://s300.photobucket.com/user/gabbatemarco/library/

Hi, I am new to the forum and have been trying to decipher the markings on three swords I recently acquired. I don't know much about Japanese swords, just what I have read in the past couple days, I hope I get the terminology correct. The First sword I believe is a Waribashi, the Nagasa measures about 13". The nakago is unsigned, but it is signed on both sides of the Tsuba. It also has an Umabari on the Saya, which is also signed, the other is missing. The Second sword's Nagasa measures about 28.5". It is signed on the nakago. Some of the kanji are difficult to read, and even more difficult to photograph. The Tsuba, Fuchi, Kashira and Menuki all look like bronze and have prawns depicted on them. The Third sword's Nagasa measures about 21.25". I have not found any writing anywhere on it. I would guess it is from the WWII era. Here is a link to the photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/10692390 ... qdHTmPn8cQ Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.