Jean

You make my head spin, Ray...

That’s a real head chopper.

The tsuba looks stamped? Does it often happen?

To come back to this sword, because of the kissaki, I will lean toward Uda

O suriage modified nakago, it is. (Master Yoda)

The nakago picture is really weird

Right, Stephen, My bad, it is Minamoto

1939 as in Japan, the first year is year one, 1926 is year one and not 0. Fujiwara was a famous Kamakura Clan. So : Masauji of Fujiwara clan has made this (saku kore)

The second picture shows the date which is easy to find: begins by Showa http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/nengo.htm The first one is the smith name: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/kanji1.htm F.. M...U...(Fujiwara Masauji)

It seems that there is a consensus. My modest opinion is that the sword is strongly influenced by Norishige, so I will go to Nambokucho, either Uda or Tametsugu, Shitahara is also a good call due to its origin, difficult to say without other pictures. Nice sword.

I draw faster than my shadow

Mine

http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Shinsa_Fee_Schedule.html

Put it to shinsa Bob, it is worth it

I think you mean « sought » after, Luis?

Different parts from different armours assembled to form an armour

Just to add and illustrate my above post: 7 to 10 years ago, there was a tanto for sale by Aoi Art. It existed only two tanto recorded from the founder of the Ayanokoji school, Sadatoshi, one having disappeared. This tanto was Tokubetsu Hozon. What is the gap between this tanto and the one dicuss in this thread. Even if this tanto does not pass juyo, what is worth this tanto compared to some Kosori juyo? This means also that Juyo is not the graal and they are some swords which will never pass Juyo but which are far more precious than a kanteisho

One must consider that a Hozon blade can be a future Juyo or that at TH you have a wide range of quality blades, blades of high quality which will pass Juyo, others which are of same qualities which won’t pass because Juyo shinsa has become a competition rather than a passed criteria exam, others which are very good swords but not juyo competition level and others which barely/merely pass TH... samegoes with Juyo... As says Darcy: « Tokubetsu Hozon similar supports all levels of desirability to the maximum.« Read this article: https://www.nihonto.ca/ha/?p=540#more-540

I remember now, Stephen, this is the sheer moment where I lost my innocence, realizing someone had stolen my baguette

I ❤️ when NMB community is unanimous )

Yes, Ken, I was innocent once (however’ can’t remember when )

When I was young and innocent, I bought this book. When I read it, I knew I had been conned. This is the wortheless book I have ever read on Nihonto. You will find very general infos on Bizen, easily uploaded on any Nihonto website, then the list of Bizen smiths listed by Hawleys. That’s all. Nothing worth about Ichimonji, ko Bizen, Osafune, Soden.... NEVER BUY THIS BOOK.... Stephen is 100% right

For 700$ you can get a full Nihonto library, András. Markus Sesko has written a Kantei serie of articles accessible for free which are fantastic

What is the price of an Hasebe Kunishige daito? 430 000¥?

I have solved this issue Guido, I only have Bowen loafers . The leather is very souple and it’s like having slippers. I have given up Tricker’s due to my toes, leather is too rigid