Stephen V

Thanks Stephen The seller was a bit difficult in the end and only wanted to sell the book along with a "fantasy sword" for $100.00. I now know I had the authors name wrong and should have been Yumoto. So I have bought a copy from Amazon instead along with a copy of "The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords" by Kokan Nagayama. Some good reading coming my way I hope.

Hello again folks. I am trying to do what all new collectors are told to do and that is to establish a bit of a reference library before throwing the real money around. :D Is a book titled "The Samurai Sword" by John M Yamotto published in 1974 out of the USA known to any members? Not bought or actually viewed it yet, just have an offer to buy and will be looking at it over the next day or two. Cheers

Hello all again I am still looking into the origins of my Bizen Norimitsu wakizashi. Your invaluable assistance in past posts on this subject (see my original 2 June) has fairly positively identified the smith as Norimistu and dated to August 1465. My problem is that the list of smiths that I have available to me points to two possible suspects. The list I am using is from an on-line site named http://www.sho-shin.com. There is a 3rd generation Norimitsu dating from 1444 (Bun-An) and the other is a 4th generation dating from 1429 (Ei-Kyo). These are both of the Bizen province with the first being rated Jo-Saku and the latter Jo-Jo/Juyo. I am assuming (in my complete ignorance in these matters) that the dates quoted are relating to the earliest recorded blades made by the smiths in this list? Given that I am correct in assuming this, then these would seem to be the only two possibilities. I suppose that this is a fairly difficult question to resolve on line and maybe only one that can be resolved (if at all) when the blade is in hand during a restoration. Anyway, should anyone have any thoughts they would be gratefully received. Cheers

Hello all I'm off to sunny (make that very wet) Vietnam tomorrow for a few weeks. Is there any recognised museums or other commercial businesses that are worth a look at in regard to nihonto? I'm assuming not, but thought I would ask just on the off chance. Cheers

Hello Richard. Wow ! I also love the detailed story carved into the nakago. Was this blade found in Australia or did you purchase from overseas? Very impressive job of restoration. Your posting has re-invigorated my thoughts about having my poor wak (see my posts of 1/6 and 18/6) sent off for some much needed TLC. I really had doubts that mine had enough integrity left to be able to bring out its hidden glory. But can now see what is achievable. As you are also an Aussie collector, can you give me some info on how you went about returning your blade to Japan and the subsequent return to Oz? (export and import hassles etc). I'm only a novice so do not really know any of the pitfalls and regulation that I might run up against. I suppose a PM would be appropriate to save clogging up the message board? Thanks.

Hello Wayne Try this link http://www.sho-shin.com/smiths1g.htm Cheers

Andreas Very keen eyes I've had a good look at the area near the kissaki on both sides of the blade and yes, it does at first look as if the shinogi has been flattened. But after a long examination of both sides I can say that the same effect is visible on both of them. Looking down from the top of the mune as you suggested shows absolutely no narrowing of the blade. Also there is no sign of lack of sharpness to the carving, width or depth of bo-hi. What I did notice however and I do not know if this is common to blades of this era and to blades by Norimitsu in particular is that the top of the bo-hi all along the blade runs at the same depth (distance) from top edge of the blade until you hit the area that is currently in question. At that point the bo-hi looks as though it takes a flatter path towards to the kissaki than the actual curve of the mune. Basically this flattening (straightening?) of the bo-hi gives the mune an artificially (visually) greater up-sweep for the last 10 cm or so. There is no visible shallowing of the bo-hi either at this point. Additionally a shinogi is actually only visible from the point the flattening of the bo-hi also occurs. Up to this point there is no separate shinogi on the blade as the bottom ridge of the bo-hi is representing the shinogi. Sorry, I'm new to this. An I making any sense? If you like I can try and take a picture of both sides of the kissaki with side-light to try and highlight what I'm trying to describe. Cheers.

Hello again I am still thinking about my options in regard to the future of this blade. Would you counsel for or against my initially trying an ongoing gentle clean using an uchiko to eventually hopefully remove some portion of the rust spots? I do not want to do anything that might potentially create more damage to the blade than it has already suffered through neglect but I would like to try and tidy it up a bit without initially going to the expense and hassles of sending it overseas for a full going over. I have had an emailed opinion from a group in Japan (AoiArt.com) and based on the photographic evidence they tend to lean pretty strongly towards the blade not being geimei so I do want to be careful with it. Probably a hard call to make and I know I am putting you on a spot in regard to this kind of question. I supppose really if you say it is, on the balance, not a good idea I will just content myself for the moment to keeping it at least lightly oiled but no more. Once again, your invaluable advice will be much appreciated. Cheers

Hello folks Well, since my couple of posts regarding the lucky find of a Gorozeamonnojo Norimitsu wak dated to 1465 (see previous posts this month) I have unfortunately been bitten by the collectors bug. I have found this Norimitsu wak dated to 1446 which I would presume to be of the same family? as my 1465 blade? I think it would be neat to have a pair of very similar waks from the same period by the same family of smiths. Can any members give me some thoughts on this blade as I am still a very raw novice and if I did give in to my longings I would not like to part with so much money unless the purchase might make up a desirable pair once my original blade is also restored. This is the link. Appears to be a very reputable site and one I am pretty sure regular members to this board are aware of? http://www.nihonto.com/4.1.07.html The sword in question is number D3 To be honest, to my untrained eye I can not make out the swordsmith's name as Norimitsu (cannot see the first character in the name but that is probably just my inexperience showing through). Hopefully the mei is clear enough to be read. Thanks heaps Stephen :D edit link OStephen

Hello again Firstly thank you again to all the members of this forum who gave me much valuable advise and suggestions regarding the blade in question which, with your assistance, has been attributed to Bishu Osafune Norimitsu - August 1465. I have now become somewhat of an enthusiast and have been doing some research into mounts and polishings and am at a crossroads as to whether I take the restoration path or simply stabilise and preserve the blade in its current early 1900's mountings. I did not post any details of the mountings before so have now attached several pics showing it in what I understand to be an early to mid 1930's shin gunto mount in what would seem to be in a good condition. The saya is also relatively undamaged with just two minor dents. As you can see, the tsuba and associated mountings are a matching set and given the number 17. Seems be a rather low number, might this provide any significance as to the date this sword was remounted? With the blade itself, I have previously provided some pics but only one side. I must admit in my heart of hearts that I am willing this blade to be suitable for restoration and have so far only shown the side that is in better condition. I believe the bare blade (outside of the saya) was left to lay in damp earth for some years before it came into my posesssion and there are some pronounced stains in this new pic. I am hoping that they are only rust stains an not shintetsu as some of the marks are over the hamon. Apart from these flaws (and a small chip taken off the kissaki) there are definitely no blisters or cracks on the blade nor any major chips apart from a couple that only are about 2mm deep. I know it is very difficult to provide much advice without having the blade in hand, but would the forum members still consider this a blade at least worth having a preliminary professional clean? If so, can any other Australian members give me some clues as to how and where I might go about this? Thanks again and looking forward to some more shared wisdom. Stephen V

Hello again Well, thank you all for the great information. Stephen asked to see more detail of the blade so I have posted that with this update. As I mentioned in the first posting the condition is not great and in fact there appear to be some strike marks on the cutting edge especially towards the tip. Not surprising I suppose given that this sword has not been touched since being surrendered in 1945. I am pleased to find out that the blade originates from Osafune village in the province of Bishu as my reading on the subject indicates that this was a site where swords of good quality were produced in the Muromachi period. Once again, thanks heaps.

Hi, I would appreciate some help with identifying the signature and provinence of a sword that was brought home from the Burma campaign at the end of WW2. The blade is not in great condition and shows some signs of conflict on the cutting edge together with some discolouration of the polish of the blade. The blade is only 50cm in length which has led me to believe it is a Wakizashi. I have only recently examined the engraved characters and I believe that it was forged in the eigth month of the year 1466. From my investigations I have only been able to tentatively ascertain that it comes from Bishu province? but am not really able to decipher much else except that the the smith's name appears to end in "mitsu". Can anyone help? and is this possibly a blade of some interest?