Heringsdorf

Had this posted on eBay. The winning bidder flaked out in the end, claiming he entered the wrong amount... Excuses. Well I'm going to offer this now here for only $1450, for the next few days.

Yes looks like the same blade. This sword was purchased by a friend of mine, from an eBay seller "kanetoyo2666" for $2500. It failed NBTHK shinsa, but the seller told my friend that the NBTHK considers the signature authentic but the hamon is not consistent with this smith. To me this sound like a bunch of bull s***.

I need some help with the meaning of an inscription on a katana nakago. The first character looks like 'wakizashi" to me? Thank you.

Markus Sesko has also some good books with signatures. I would say that your blade is authentic Japanese made. The nakago (tang) looks like it went through fire damage. In its current condition it's hard to discern any features in the blade itself.

For swordsmith signatures you should look at Grey Doffins website: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books Most signatures you won't find online. So good books is the way to go.

I found in my kogatana book this mei for kunikane. Looks quite similar in my opinion.

Posted it on eBay since I had no inquiries here over the weekend. But if it sells here I would end the eBay auction. I need to raise some funds very soon, so I have to move this pice unfortunately.

Only discount, rock bottom price. $1650 shipped within the USA (no PayPal fees on my side).

Bump

Thank you Stephen. It really is a nice set.

I'm offering for sale a very nice signed Fuchikashira set with NBTHK Tokubetsu hozon and NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho certificates. Mei: Sakai Yoshitsugu Shibuishi ground with gold and silver inlay. This set has been professionally restored by Ford Hallam. Asking $SOLD.

Hello, Has anyone been in contact with Jihn Tirado within the last four days? Last time I got a text from him was on Tuesday and since then he hasn't responded, which is unusual for him.

Thank you Peter for the information. Eric told me that this kogatana was part of his collection, and that he got it years ago in Japan. It was polished then and the mei side had a slight clean up only no polish. He said that the condition before the polish was already very good. He also mentioned that this might be 11th or 12th generation kunikane. The jihada is ko-itame.

Ken, What specific details do you see on this kogatana that point towards edo period vs. gendai?

Maybe the mei side was polished / cleaned also?

Hello Ken, I was thinking that it might be gendai because of the exceptional good condition this kogatana is in. I have never seen a edo period kogatana in such good condition.

Hello, I saw this kogatana for sale by Eric Molinier. He says its made by Sendai fujiwara kunikane during the edo period. To me it somewhat looks like a gendai blade. Is this actually an edo period kogatana, and is this gimei or shoshin? Thank you all.

Bill Tantana is the guy who is doing the website for the "polisher". I know Bill well, he is a nice guy. Goes to the same dojo as me, for Shinkendo and Toyama ryu.

Thank you both for the translation. Very helpful.

No his name is Joe Robbins

He answered my emails within one to two days always.

There is a new self taught "polisher" in Arizona. Kotoswords.com site is not complete yet though. This guy started to polish swords by himself about two years ago, using sandpaper and acid. He now claims to use only "traditional" methods though. I find it sad that so many self taught "polishers" work on antique blades, and more often than not wind up ruining the blades. In my opinion these people have no respect for the actual blades, because if they did they wouldn't "polish" them without having been properly trained. So the conclusion should be, if you have a blade that needs to be polished, you should only send it to a reputable properly trained polisher. If you don't want to pay what a correct polish costs then it's better to just leave the blade as it is.

I need some help with a text. This is glued on the inside of the cover of a Fuchi Kashira box.

Hello Kurt, I have bought from Aoi art many times, and I always call them or send a direct email when I'm interested in something. I I just send an email I usually get a response within 24 hours. Keep in mind that they are always closed on Mondays, so that might be the reason that you didn't hear from them.

Thank you all for the great help.