Joe Choi

More pics... if anyone is interested I'll post some more.

I do think that occupational swords does exist, and I don't think that slaves were used. Japan occupied ... well whole Asia, you could say. There's very crudely made emergency issue swords and not Japanese made but fine blades with San Mai construction. Typically associated with the logo ( NORI ) stamped on the blade itself, see attatched pics below. Have seen 5 of them so far including 2 that I have. I know of one collector in England that has one and he's also reaserching for this logo, he might have some answer soon, pointing to Korea as it's manufacture. The ones without this logo so far I have seen does not LOOK to be forged. The tangs are crude with alphabets used and some with chinese characters? Anyone with further info would be appreciated.

Hi... Ted Yeah, I do get the weird ones, it all started with Tsuka Hei, thanks to you and Carlos back in 2006. So anything weird / odd in Gunto's I'll try to get. So much mystery behind them. I've been studying a lot but so far staying mostly in Gunto field, since I'm still not quite sure what to look for in Antique nihonto's, I think I have a Rai KuniMitsu Wakizashi in Shirasaya. When I do receive the sword I'll have a closer look, it does look bit bent from the photo. Thanks... Joe

Hello... Gunto lovers.... Just purchased this sword, havn't received it yet, did anyone seen one like this before? This was first for me.... Koa Isshin Mantetsu but with a attribution on the other side, thanks to Nobody San, it was translated as 昭和壬午冬日 (Showa Mizunoe-Uma Tojitsu) – A winter day in 1942 鷹信焠之 (Takanobu kore o niragu) – Takanobu quenched this. And his thought on it, "Though I know little about WWII swords, I found some information about the writing. Takanobu may be Suzuki Takanobu (鈴木鷹信) who appears in the linked article. He was a manager of Mantetsu in 1938. Ref. http://www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~j-gunto/gunto_059.htm" Thanks again for your help Koichi Moriyama san. I think this is pretty rare sword, what do you guys think???

Hi Joe.... I guess it was done that which ever punch they had availalbe at the factory, they've used it. Arabic (which we all use) and Chinese. I have a Naval Dirk which has letters "JUN" stamped on its Seppa. Strange using Alphabets? no? Joe

Little better pic, I hope..... When I first saw it, I've read it as KaneMitsu

Hi.. Ted, Thank You... I learn so much from this site.

The sword is in pretty rough shape, no details can be seen. And I'm still a newbie when it comes to Nihonto so I can't tell if I have a Sue Tegai in front of me. Gunto's I'm pretty good at.... I think. Thanks... Joe

Thanks again for your quick help.... I see there were two smiths signed as 包元 I wonder which one is mine.... Thanks again... Joe

At first I read as Kanemitsu, then it looks like something else, the mitsu part. Any help would be appreciated... Joe

Thank You ...

Thanks Joe... But I don't think its "KA" Here are some pics, but nothing unusual...

Hello... Picked up typical WWll tanto with Hawk Horimono, having hard time translating the following. Thank You... Joe

For the first time I'm seeing hada on SEKI stamped sword. Did Kanefusa made them at least half traditional? Just got this sword from a board member, discussed in "Minotagawa Naval Swords" I thought that SHOWA STAMPED blades are sometimes traditionally made, and SEKI is always machine made. Does anyone else have a Kanefusa that could confirm this?

This is what it'll look like.... please delete if this is taking too much space. I need to make a new tsuka for it, but you'll get the idea. Now I'll have to find a seppa and Kozuka to fit....

Thank You all... Took me a bit, but now I see it clearly. Yeah... maybe I should just mount it..... looks and fits Perfect. Thanks... Joe

Thank You for the info. I think I better find another tsuba for the project. THank you again.... Joe

Hello... Got this on ebay for Nagamaki I'm working on. Trying to find more info on Toshimasa, if it's a valuable work I'll find another tsuba for my project and keep this as is in display. Any help would be appreciated.... Joe

Whew~~~ finally something I can answer. Gwisil Jung In. The last name Gwisil is no longer in exsistence in Korea, Jung In (Taijin) is a popular name, it has a same meaning .... to look the right way, learn the right way.... 'righteous man' Hope this helps.... Joe

Maybe related to this one???? Hosokawa Masanori

Hello... Moving up from Gunto's to Nihontos... Could this be Rai Kinmichi or just another gimei? Any help would be appreciated. Thank You... Joe

You guys...... Cost for shipping ? 2 day via UPS, $97.00. Imagine what could've happened via UPS ground? for a long box over 5 feet. Now, since you all know... there goes my dream of trading it for a Porsche.

Yeah.... It was one of those live auction type, there were only one other bidder (live floor bidder) for this. It's in very good condition for being 350 years old. I'll post some other pics later on, I think the pole was made during edo period. Due to decoration. Thanks... Joe

Hello... Just picked up a Naginata with original mounts, listed as 19th Century Chinese Sword on ebay. Is my translation correct? Echizen ju YoshiShige / YOS786 Please correct me if I'm wrong.... Thank You... Joe

Thanks for the link RKG... Just placed an order. Thank You... Joe