DirkO

OK, how about our favourite shape-shifter - the tanuki?

Big congrats Ford! Thoroughly deserved

Here's what the Bishop museum in Hawaii thinks (no idea where I got this .pdf): Urushiconserving.pdf

Hi Martin, They use it merely as a selling point, but it's more nuanced probably. Seeing the blade belonged to someone important at that time, doesn't mean by definition that it's a good blade (although one can expect a somewhat higher standard - the Daimyo addage is made purely to this effect)

Isn't a Daimyo Toroku (sho) just a torokusho with a very early low number? They call it Daimyo because the first ones to have their swords registered this way were the nobility at that time. More info: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/sword_law.pdf

Very interesting! Thanks Morita-sama

Stunning, I absolutely love the contrasting textures You continue to amaze us, even though our expectations of you might have become unrealistically high!

@ Morita-Sama, Thanks a lot for the kao! Even the new book by Markus Sesko about the Hon'ami family doesn't have those

Hi Morita-sama, That explains why I couldn't find a match, my list of kao only goes up to Koson. Do you perhaps have a good scan example of his kao? (for future reference)

Here's another one which might be helpfull: scanning nihonto.pdf

Hi Robert, is there a stamp on the other side located at the same position as the kao? Would it be possible to post a larger picture of the origami? The 2 kanji just above the Kao seem to indicate Hon'a and it's dated the 3rd day which is also correct. I couldn't find any match for kao though.

Thanks Chris for the reply - Tomosada it is then.

Hi, Can someone tell me if my translation is correct? Not sure about the tomo kanji: Kashu Ju ?Tomo?-Sada Saku 加州 住 友定 作

Jean,John, Isn't the swastika the other way around on the kozuka?

Is the hitsu-ana also changed from the original square form? Seems to be filled to some extent...

My guess would be Kyo Tamba Nidai (2nd gen) - can you please post a better (clearer) picture of the mei?

Hi David, Sorry, but that's all the pictures the auction has : http://page11.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n104401809 I ran it through Google Translate and it clearly states ivory.

Came across this on Yahoo. Seeing you don't see many of these, thought I'd share:

Tanobe-san touched this subject in his Nihonto Wo Miru. It was an essay about mei forgeries. I've gathered the relevant data for Masahide, hope it helps!

Originally his asking price was 2500$ on eBay -> it rose to 5000$ after some posts on this forum -> and now it's 8500$ :-)

Seeing I have a blade by Tango no Kami Naomichi (his earlier mei) I wouldn't mind some pictures of the blade itself

thx Moriyama-san, I overlooked the other side of the nakago! Then of course, the mei is not that unusual

Hi Chris, so the person who shortened it (o-suriage? or was the mei removed?) inscripted the mei of the correct smith. But isn't this rare seeing it doesn't state that it was shortened? I've never seen it done in this way.

Hi Edward, Would it be possible to post closeup pics of the mei? That way we would be able to compare...

Seems someone is getting rid of his entire collection of books, and it's a very nice one at that: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Sword-Book-Collection-25-Years-Collecting-/250989145819?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item3a701e6edb Although I think he would fetch more money if sold seperately, there are some very interesting books in this lot. PS: I have no affiliation with the seller nor the sale, I just thought it to be interesting. EDIT - apparently if you ask him he'll mail you the entire list + the prices of the books if you're just interested in buying one. I've had a look through it and it's quite the discount you get!!! Seeing I don't know if it's ok for me to share that list, you'll have to contact the seller yourselves.