OnTime2Day

Great feedback, thanks all!

Decided to practice on my old, worn mumei Wakizashi. Fits like a glove. Here are a few pics through process. I will go thicker next time. Thoughts? All started with a copper pipe from Home Depot. Next is the Shirasaya, which is half done showing in background of last pic ( several blanks of Ho wood secured from Japan)

Exactly my thoughts. Have been looking at Sika antlers all week. They seem to be more upright and suitable for this purpose (plus are Japanese) so speak to the spirit of the project. Fortunately there are a few vendors out there.

Great ideas and feedback all! I’ve settled on my design (see my poor attempt at a pencil sketch haha). Base will be mahogany two stacked rectangles with a small legs on each side. Already picked up a nicely grained wood piece and, found a really nice antique 8” wood plane (another lucky antique store find, ha). Already sharpened the plane and in use on the rough cut side of the wood. This will also be very handy for all the Honoki wood already ordered and on the way from a Japan for my Shirasayas ...another project. Dimensions 2’x 6” x 1 5/8” bottom 18” x 4” x 1 5/8” top 6” x 1” x 1/2” legs Welcome any thoughts and suggestions as always.

Thanks for the feedback and great ideas all! John, that set-up looks nice!!

Hi all! Going to build a custom sword stand to honor the family heirloom swords I inherited plus the very old Tanto recently discovered. I can make a traditional style or one from Deer antlers (actually easier). Would love to hear your opinions. Please see the attached vintage examples from Japan. Keeping traditional Japanese beliefs in mind, does using antlers in this way go against any cultural/spiritual norms or diminish honoring said swords? Thank you!

Thank you all. I truly appreciate all of the amazing guidance. Also wanted to offer my appreciation for your patience as I learn more about Nihonto. I am collecting, learning and appreciating the art/history of Nihonto with no intentions to sell my swords. I have a tremendous respect for the Japanese culture and hope to visit one day. It all started with a random, worn-out Wakizashi purchase on eBay 15+ years ago. Who was the smith? What battles caused all of its battle scars? Why weren’t the last owners more respectful of the blade’s upkeep? Etc... When my grandfather passed his WW2 katana and wak to me, it rekindled the need to learn more. Learning that Akimitsu made the Katana in 1943 and that the Yoshihiro wak was much older was amazing and humbling. The stories that the blades carry are much bigger than a name or it’s possession. We don’t seem to really own them in my opinion...we are simply responsible for treating them honorably until they are passed to the next person responsible for their care. So much to learn. Very nice to meet such a great community! Ryan

Hi all. Considering getting Shirasaya for my Katana and two wakizashis to better preserve them. Anyone have any suggestions on who to consider? Good quality, low moisture, not lacquered, etc... Thanks

Perhaps NAG324 1441-1457 famous for his Horimono?

Thank you. Based on this Mei, looks like it must be one of the Bungo smiths from the 15th or 16th century? Lucky find. Was literally in with bunch of used fishing knives/ pocket knives. Just a bit of surface rust here/there. No deep pitting. Will be in better care.

Hello! I appreciate any assistance on Mei and any other thoughts on this Tanto. Shame about the Habaki...it looks to possibly be gold and has interesting fine details, but some redneck must have used pliers on it to get it out of mount. Tanto came in shirasaya. Nagasa 21.5cm Nakago 10cm Munimachi 0.5cm Motohaba 2.1cm Thanks!

My sincerest apologies all. Here is a post with pics consolidated. Easy on the rookie. Odd that one side of blade, darker Chi-Suguha temper seems very evident in the right light. Other side, the polish highlight overwhelms it making it look like a Notare? Maybe a stylistic preference by polisher? 2 Kanji Mei more common in older blades?

Thank you Ken! Any takers on smith they think this 2 Kanji Mei May belong to?

Nagasa. 63.5cm Kissaki. 4cm

Thank you Steve. Seems pretty old, seen some battles. Shinto covers a lot of years. Has been fun learning more and more about Nihonto. Ryan

Ok I did the homework on this blade, hope more info helps. Thx Ryan Nagasa 44cm Nakago 11.9cm Kissaki 2.5cm Sori. 1.8cm, largest curve point is 14.7cm from munimachi or 33% of way up munemachi Motokasane .6cm Sakikasane. .5cm Motohaba. 2.5cm Sakihaba. 2cm Hamon: looks Chu-Suguha then goes to Hoso-Suguha closer to Kissaki, hard to see Hada: not sure Mune: IoriMune

Thanks all. Took me a bit, but here is some info and couple better pics. Thx, Ryan Nagasa: 44cm Nakago: 12.8cm Kissaki: 3.1cm Sori: 1cm, deepest curve 17cm from munemachi or 39% of way up the Nagasa Motokasane: .6cm Sakikasane: .6cm Motohaba: 3.1cm Sakihaba: 2.3cm Hamon: temper looks Chu-Suguha, but polisher looks like he used a Notare highlight? Hada: can’t tell Mune: Iori-mune

This is my grandfather's other sword handed down. A Yoshihiro wak that was in Gunto fittings during WW2. 1. Older Blade? 2. Which Yoshihiro? I don't see any in the Nihonto Club listing that uses only 2 mei.

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I have posted on this, one of my grandfather's 2 Japanese swords he brought back from the Phillipines after WW2, once before but now I am asking for confirmation of what I believe to be true related to the signature and smith. In a past post, I was told the mei reads: Tesshushi Akimitsu, with real name Igarashi Masaharu. The following information I dug up from a person with a sword from the same smith/signature shows the smith to be listed as Ikarashi (Igarashi?) Akimitsu from Niigata under Japanese Sword Index working for the army forge (star on tang), but ultimately achieved "jo saku". Sword seems like it is in very good shape. Few questions: 1. Ikarashi Akimitsu sword? 2. Does this sword seem to be a true hand-made sword, not stainless? 3. Based on this smith, would this sword be of any value? 4. What are the green letters painted on the tang? 5. Did I really just go down the rabbit hole on this one with all of his aliases? ha Thanks! 鉄収子昭光作之 Tesshushi Akimitsu Saku Kore Tesshushi Akimitsu Made This Real name: 五十嵐正治 Igarashi Masaharu A "Jo Saku" level smith; Japanese Sword Index lists him as "Ikarashi Akimitsu (2)." The (2) reference is his level: Second Seat, 準國工 [Jun Koku Kō/ Quasi National Work] Google Translation: TetsuOsamuko [wife says it should be Tesshushi] Akimitsu; real name: Masaharu Igarashi; born in 1911. He was the descendant of Murakami clan patronage blacksmith Tesshin-ko Teruinochi, he "entered the gate" [apprenticed] of Hikosaburo Kurihara, 1942 to become an Army contractor swordsmith. After the war he was a swordsmith in Sanjo City [famous for iron] in Niigata Prefecture. He was an Army contractor swordsmith at, [okay, I'm stopping here] Army saber technology encouraged Chairman Award, such as the new Japanese sword Exhibition gold and silver Cup we are taking a number of awards. Army and is contractor swordsmith, and received the Army examination, passed the person of swords to be delivered to the Army supply of material in the system that fully received is, the review is pretty strict, quite of the sword that is issued to the examination sharpness, it is not broken, the strength that not bend was required. This sword is, there Width, piled thick, flat meat also has a figure which was dignified with plenty, trained to checkmate small cross grain skin, per Chinie, in the eyes of each other with a uniform head, clove and Pepper, foot enters well long, Nioi-guchi bright, but is a sword that was created as a saber, it is good to be of fairly. There are some shallow rust marks and shallow blade spilled under Yokote, of course blade out, not blistering, etc., exactly the figure and if Dasa to sharpening ... Quotation Source: [Noriyuki TetsuOsamuko Akimitsu November 1943 Date] modern sword Army commissioned swordsmith saber 拵入 two ... Quote:鉄収子昭光は、本名を五十嵐正治、明治44年生まれ、村上藩御用鍛冶鉄心子照命の裔といい、栗原彦三郎の門 となり、昭和十七年に陸軍受命刀匠、戦後は新潟県三条市にて鍛刀しており、陸軍軍刀技術奨励会会長賞、新作 日本刀展金銀杯など数々の賞を取っています。 陸軍受命刀匠とは、陸軍の審査を受け、合格した者は陸軍に納入する刀剣の素材の供給を全面的に受けられると いう制度で、その審査はかなり厳しく、審査に出される刀にはかなりの切れ味、折れず、曲がらずという強度が 求められました。 この刀は、身幅あり、重ね厚く、平肉もたっぷりとついた堂々とした姿をしており、鍛えは小板目肌詰み、地沸 つき、頭の揃った互の目に、丁子交じり、足が長くよく入り、匂口明るく、軍刀として作られた刀ですが、かな り出来のよいものです。 多少浅い錆の跡と横手下に浅い刃こぼれがありますが、もちろん刃切れ、ふくれ等はなく、砥ぎにだされれば全 く姿を... 引用元: 現代刀 陸軍受命刀匠 【鉄収子昭光之 昭和十八年十一月日】 軍刀拵入 二 ...

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