Red Sun

Thats a shame- didnt mean to rub salt in the wounds! Agreed the hada looked a little coarse in a couple of places but still very good for that price. I was going to bid for it myself before something else caught my eye. Thanks for heads up in OP as I was following that seller.

Hopefully Rob this is one of those cases when you eventually find a Naminohira which makes you glad the other deals fell through. I have a Waki with old papers that state it is a Naminohira - I have some doubts that is correct but either way it is one of my favourite blades with really large and obvious Nie. This one sold last night - I am a little surprised that the price did not go higher = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NBTHK-Attested-NAMINOHIRA-gt-420Yr-MUROMACHI-Japanese-Samurai-long-Katana-Sword-/282338466248?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=hsrtavNmBhaWKwPboc69Vg1lqj8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc They are interesting blades - shame you got messed about - good luck with the hunt.

I placed my order on 20th January - estimated arrival keeps getting extended - now estimated 31st March!

I am going to go for Yosazaemon Sukesada Katateuchi. I also now have a headache

Thats a solid tight healthy blade - i suspect in more "traditional" koshirae it would have started at a higher price. I personally wouldn't need more than AOI's estimation but either way enjoy - nice purchase

Regardless of the authenticity of the name - it does otherwise look correct to be a genuine nihonto if that is the sort of opinion you seek. The World would certainly be a better place if it was resurrected from it's current condition. But chances of a hidden treasure are slim. You will be kicked from pillar to post for wanting to polish it yourself. No matter how naturally good at fine craft somebody might be it is a VERY specialised skill. It is the wrong way around to do things. For example without studying blades in full polish how can you even know what end result you are trying to achieve! Blades are lost forever to history because of amateur polishers so you will find justifiably strong opinions on the subject. Many will tell you off for having a go at polishing - but we have mostly all been there i suspect

Hello Peter, I strongly suggest that you buy a blade in full polish from the outset. Little can be learned from a rusted out blade. You will get much advice here to read and study hard - which is totally correct - but the study is much more fun with a blade in hand to compare against what you are reading. The search is part of the fun - the sales and wanted section here is a good place to start.... happy hunting

The tang causes some doubt, I think that it has been cleaned making aging difficult; but more than that it has exposed relatively crude looking file marks. But i'm going to stick my neck out and suggest have a genuine wakizashi approx 250 -300 year olds. Fittings mostly of same period I suspect. If that s the case then 200 euros is a result! It might be worth paying for a polish if there is enough meat on the blade to take it. Would look good in polish and with that tsuka rebound I reckon.

Hi, I really like T202 which i think was withdrawn from sale - don't blame you, but if you ever decide to part with it please give me a shout. Thanks

Thanks - food for thought - Kunisada's sosho writing is not typical of the usual sosho script it seems. I will need to look for more verified examples of this cross over period signature for comparison. The sword mentioned in OP post has now sold I see - I did like the koshirae, all be it worn Edo as observed, it would make a great sword to give a horse lover! Such a shame about the koshirae on the a.o.i Kunisada mentioned above - that blade really deserves better in my opinion. Cheers

Really? Im happy to be contradicted I have very little money into the sword. It has not been to shinsa, all my own amateur kantei! Are you saying that is not how you read it - or that it is is gimei? Thanks

Sosho mei.... (

If I am catching the drift the a.o.i. sword is forged by second generation but signed by first? It even seems to have a poorly struck chisel strike on the 'Kun' kanji indicating his failing eyesight = almost cliched Kunisada which in some circumstances might be a concern - but that a.o.i. blade is fantastic. The photo I posted above is I believe the opposite - forged by Oya Kunisada and signed on his behalf by Shinkai. I will probably be able to post a photo of the mei a bit later if relevant. Regards Neil

Aggressive....stubby....all business = Kunisada!

For that sort of money I would suggest something like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wakizashi-Muneyoshi-Aged-Koshirae-Saya-Hiratsukuri-41-1cm-/252611945436?hash=item3ad0d863dc:g:ah8AAOSwXeJYD3Be Its genuine, nice, signed but not guaranteed. You could get it in hand - get a nosebleed and several headaches learning all the terminology to describe what you are looking at. Read about the alleged swordsmith, compare it to the sword, make up your own mind why or why it not the blade fits the signature. Boom your a nihonto addict! Seriously, a cheap way to start with a genuine antique that is not going to depreciate and a chance to find out if this could be a deeper hobby. If you really want to minimise your risk (or if your are set from buying from USA) then I suggest buying on this forum is your best bet

I had a close look at this one because I rate first and second generation Kunisada blades a lot. It is representing to be a second generation with Shinkai jishin mei. I have to say the signature does not look too bad. However appraising the sword and ignoring the mei is the only way forward = even if it is a genuine signature the blade does not have the aggressive, stubby, all business, geometry and overall feel that I would look for in a Kunisada. In the very last picture you do get this impression slightly, however it is not convincing enough for me to part with my hard earned. I do like the the tsuka design however! Regards Red Neil M

Thats great Mauro - thanks. Neil M

I will try and narrow down my query - this tsuba feels quality in hand, but is unlike any others I have..... and one of the few things that have bought outside of Japan. This was purchased from the estate of the film director Elmo Williams following his death last year - but that is as far back as I know its provenance. I realise that the horses are of a commonly seen style/type - but does the tsuba overall fit a known school/style? Given it's origin I wondered if it had been seen before on the American circuit. It is tanto/waki size = 6.2cm wide 6.5cm height 0.4mm mimi I realise the photos are poor - new camera on the way! Any feedback negative or positive is welcome. Regards, Red Neil M

Inspired by a thread from Hamfish earlier today I have realised that I need to look beyond the blades and study the Koshirae as well. It is always easier to research an item in hand so if anybody could help get me started with info on one of my tsuba that would really be appreciated....... Thanks Red Neil M

Ah, so "early" Hozon papers are a bit darker and did not have the punched holes - I never realised that before. Live and learn, thanks. Red Neil M

Kicho Token perhaps Red Neil M

It is a little bit hard to tell due to the reflection on the photos (not being critical - I am having a nightmare trying to take decent blade pictures!), but no it is not uncommon to have differing hamons on each side, but the "true" hamon and the currently visible hamon are not necessarily the same thing. Bringing out the hamon as the maker intended is part of the reason you hear of professional polishers having to study for a number of years. Look for the crystallization as the harder steel merges into the softer steel to give to give yourself an idea - acid polishing will ruin much of this finer detail unfortunately. Plus some of the hamon may have been lost altogether due to the removal of steel over the years - hence the observation above that the blade is "tired". With the nakago cleaned and these photos it is hard to be absolute - but overall i like it - when you take into account the standard of nihonto in the UK its not that bad. Red Neil M

I really enjoyed those, thanks for sharing. Red Neil M.

Not easy to fake - but easy to not be with the true sword that it was meant for. Some images of the blade will help others on here give you an informed opinion, you may well have something very cool. Red Neil M

I can't reliably help with the translation sorry, but in terms of historical context this looks like it may well be Kantei Kofuda - an early type of appraisal origami issued by the Honami family for swords worth up to five gold pieces. However there are much more knowledgeable members here that I expect will be able to help further or correct the above. Regards Red Neil M.