Daso

Sword Sold. Thank you everyone

First off Thank you everyone for the comments. I have enjoyed owning this sword and pleased to say that it sold (Not on NMB) today but will miss it as well. Hi Ed, As I most importantly stated, I am no expert, but a slow learner (and easy forgetter) who has now been collecting for a while. A few things stood out to me when looking at the sword. While healthy with no real flaws, the sword has obviously had an older polish from the past if not more than 1. While I do not expect it had very deep carvings the main horimono was clearly deeper originally, I would also think that the remnants of the Bonji character on one side would have likely been deeper (I doubt one polish would have gotten it to that level) and that in combination with the wakizashi being suriage and cut down to one character of the mei lead me to feel that this sword also had a shape more in line with the curvature of earlier blades. That is all and just a judgement that fellow members at my local gathering tended to think as well. Noting scientific for sure and an opinion which I am fully willing to be corrected on. Regardless of it being Shinto or older, it's just a really nice blade I have enjoyed so far. Regards, Darius

Hi Ken,you are correct, papers were lost before I purchased it from Nihontoantiques. Sori is approx 10mm

Hello All, Really Fun Wakizashi I've enjoyed for a bit but looking to buy some others. Original description from when I bought it below. From examination, I believe this sword is older than Shi $1,000 + shipping and I'll cover paypal fee. You can email me directly at dariussolomon@yahoo.com This Hira zukiri style wakazashi looks more koto then Shinshinto but was attributed to a later generation of Tsunahiro. It comes mounted in an older shirasaya with sayagaki. The sword is O-suriage and still retains a soshu kanji at the bottom. It is classic Soshu with horimono of a dragon entwined around a ken engraved. The sword is classic Soshu with an undulating notare with ko-gunome. There is much activity seen in the hamon. The kitae is of mokume with masame. There are remnants of a bonji character on one side as well. This sword looks to be Koto but had been thought later per ninteisho for which papers were lost. A beautiful old sword to maybe restore and enjoy for years to come. NINTEISHO DEN GÔDAI (Later Generation) TSUNAHIRO Mei inscription: So (The rest is cut off) Length: 1 shaku 3 sun 1 bu Kitae: Mokume and masame nagare Hamon: Notare and ko-gonome Bôshi: Sugu(ba), saki hakkake Horimono: Omote – kurikara, Ura - slight amount of bonji remaining Nakago: Two mekugi ana, yasurime is katte sagari Remarks: Sagami no Kuni, around Bunka (1804-1818)

Yet another Beautiful piece Ray!!

Stephen, thanks a lot.

I wasn't doubting you at all. My knowledge of Good Tsuba and Bad Tsuba is not very good. I trust your judgement. I didn't know that you have purchased from them before. Now I am more confident that it is good. Thank you for your help.

Bazza, I figured so, but wasn't sure. It looks like a nice variation of mine and not a bad price at that (if real)

Joke or serious and which one ? ????

Good find. I'm tempted.

Tsuba is one area that I haven't yet given the attention to detail that I've been trying to build with swords. I guess I am visually more attracted to the youshindu listing without having a good critical knowledge of what is oood or not. I appreciate the input Any thoughts on this one?

very interesting, the second link you sent is about $830 US dollars in that listing then on Ebay US below, it's the same Tsuba at $2,100 wonder if it's the same seller or someone trying to sell then buy in Japan. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tsuba-Japanese-Samurai-sword-Katana-Koshirae-guard-the-mouse-pattern-Antique-/262859918189?hash=item3d33ac0b6d:g:9hsAAOSw5cNYME1O http://yushindou.com/tuba-03-560/

Rats are cool too, Thanks :)

Hello All, I've been looking for a nice Tsuba with mice motif and have not come across anything particularly pleasing. I do want a quality piece, but don't have budget for a museum piece for now. Thanks

Hi Ken, I never did and actually stayed with my wife's brother in Mandeville across the pontchartrain causeway. So with limited time in city and vacation mode decided to eschew the sword hunt and just drink and be merryly full of NOLA food ????

I also Have to say that I miss that Muffuletta, I just haven't been able to find a truly comparable on here in NYC, but I haven't really tried either. I've re-learned my lesson, Max half sandwich, no more

Brian, Lukes has an amazing Lobster Roll, but you must visit "Mary's Fish Camp" next time and have theirs, It's a must have in the NYC Lobster Roll hall of fame

Guido, Thank you for the clarification

Hello All, isn't a Kai-Ken a very small pocket version of a Ken and this a Tanto or ko-gatana? Or is the term Kai Ken for any small blade? Sorry to digress on the main point of post.

Darcy, thank you for your in depth perspective on the topic. I understand now more than ever that the category leaves one with many options of what might have been done or ways the blade might have been intended to be mounted or used. I really wish I had a few to compare in hand. I do have to say that had I not taken the chance obtaining this one, I could have never known how much I actually appreciate the form.

Had a bit of a stomach ache due to eating the whole thing, my brother in law lives there.

Franco, you make me laugh (in a good way) Thank you. For your tenacious thoughts. You remind of a teacher I had at the Lycee Francaise NY. I still mean in general design and shape. I have no problem believing some changes were made to it, may not as much as you. I'm holding the sword in hand, am I not? So give me some advantage in perspective for that alone.

Jussi, I absolutely understand and taking into consideration (Based solely on a in hands feel) I feel that Kunisuke must have taken this into some consideration when designing it as a pole arm as it has converted so nicely into a sword (at least in this modern age). When you hold the sword, you will understand what I am trying to explain. I am by no means a warrior type (I'll leave that to the comic-con people, but I highly respect those that take the study or swordplay seriously, please do not confuse my statement) and might have swung my Katanas once or twice (pure fantasy) to imagine what the mechanics of swinging these blades are like. I actually am signing up for a Kendo class for fun and the learning experience. What I can tell by feel is that my Katanas are nimbler swords, but holding and looking at this blade in person, most would not look at it and automatically assume it was a polearm. It holds well as a Wakizashi and although I was scolded by a board member for my liberal use of the words "designed for a brutal attack" Historically, broadswords in medieval times (I collect as well) were not nimble things, they took more force and did more damage upon impact with much longer recovery. In a much lesser version of this Idea, this wakizashi (or Nagamaki, or modified naginatao naoshi) is still a balanced and easy sword to hold and swing, but it is more of a one handed affair and I would anticipate that it was intended to go through armor or leather with more force behind it. I'm not a swordplay expert and far from the experience that people have here but i am learning quickly and this piece is really quite a pleasure to hold, look at and handle. Again, the one big curiosity one off my good acquaintances on this board brought up was the mekugi-ana position. I have not seen one in its original position as this is and either it was mounted on a very long tsuka when shortened or with the peg at the bottom which I ask the NMB members , would that be odd or not that odd? At the end of the day, I feel that it still has a sword dynamic although the length of tsuka it had originally been mounted in would play heavily into how it was used. Regards, Darius

Jussi, This conversation has gone so far beyond my blade, I'm not sure if you are referring to my original post and blade. If so, what I can say is that the sword has an incredible amount of heft, especially for its length of 22". It outweighs my Kiyomitsu Katana at 27". That being said, it feels extremely balanced with no odd weight to one side. Heavy and neutral would be how I describe it. I also think the heft of the blade plays into that feeling of balance.When I pulled it out of the shipping box originally and just felt the weight in its shirasaya my first fear was that it was going to feel unwieldy, I was happy to be wrong.

Based on the color of his hand as well, I suggest he see a dermatologist, too much polishing? (Sory for digressing from the topic)