Jussi Ekholm

I've been bumping into lot of really nice ones lately. Here is a historical copy Atagi Sadamune (now missing meibutsu) by shodai Yasutsugu And here is a modern copy of Kokuhō Heshigiri Hasebe http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords5/NT329704.htm

I think you are asking really important question JP and that is one important aspect of kantei that you try to use your knowledge to try to "see" the sword in original form. The sword (bare blade as whole) is called tōshin that includes the blade & nakago. While sori is used for curvature between munemachi and tip of kissaki there is also nakago-sori that can be measured. I wish I would be good at drawing it would be easier to explain than with words. But at least I tried to make a few pictures. Of course the scale of those is bit off. Different sori and nakago-sori will have a huge effect on the overall sugata of the sword. When you calculate blade curvature you can take two measurements. Regular sori and also from the butt of nakago to the tip of kissaki. With swords of very large nakago curvature this will of course produce large overall curvature to the sword even if the sori is small and vice versa swords with very big sori but small to none nakago curvature will not produce a pronounced difference when measured like that. The name for measurement from nakago butt to tip of kissaki is called zencho 全長 but I am not aware what the full length curvature measurement is called. But here is a picture showing how shortening will also affect sori as measurement point moves upward and it affects the overall curvature even more. I tried to fit in my drawing that when shortened enough neither of the holes remaining is the original one as it has been lost with the signature. One thing that I feel is important when it comes to shortened swords that you search information how are the surviving swords in original or near original length made by that smith/school. Yes for some there are very few if any references left but it is very valuable information. Also you can find examples that vary a lot within the works of the same smith. I have so many things about this subject running in my mind I can't really type it out as an easy post. I've drawn just for fun some full sized sword pictures up to scale, might be fun to make 1:1 picture for example 90 cm tachi that goes through few shortenings and ends up as 65 cm katana. I know you can make up stuff like this in photoshop etc. but I think it is nice to have 100% sized picture in front of you. And of course I can spend that time studying swords while I am drawing.

Reviving an old thread as I happened to accidentally stumble to Koryū-Kagemitsu utsushi by Yoshihara Yoshindo. Woweh... Very good quality picture in the link: https://heiseimeitokai.com/blade/384_1.jpg Also last year at Samurai Art Expo there was the Kogarasu-Maru utsushi by Sadakatsu: https://japanartexpo.com/exhibition-highlights/ I can't really explain why I find these extremely fascinating.

You can find his address and number from All Japanese Swordsmith Association: http://www.tousyoukai.jp/chu_shi/(but someone like Paul would most likely be of lots of assistance) What bothers me I can't seem to find another example of his signature anywhere on the net now. Here is the same tanto at Yahoo Auctions: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j552837124

Some very good points thrown from both sides. Long discussion like that with examples and references and various views... that would make a heck of a Youtube (or any other platform) video too.

Yes of course I agree what you are saying Ken. I believe some years ago Kunitaro posted here in a thread how he was using his sword for cutting and had been doing so for a long time, and after he would retire the sword from cutting practice he would get an art polish done on it. I think that would be a nice way to treat a modern sword. And to note if it was not clear I have been talking about using modern swords. I wouldn't recommend using an antique as I feel those are for preservation. I know some koryu people who use antique swords for kata and I do think it is ok as they have dedication & skill. However they cut with Chinese replicas and not with their main swords that they use when practicing forms.

Unfortunately I don't have any info on him but I believe Paul Martin might be able to help you (Takaichi Tadafusa): http://www.thejapanesesword.com/services/swordsmiths/Ehime/ehime.html

I am bit surprised about the negative attitude in using modern Japanese swords for cutting and iai/kenjutsu practice. After all many of the newly made Japanese swords are perfectly suitable for use. Even though I am not a practicioner anymore I would have bought a modern sword from Giheiya at Samurai Art Expo last summer if I would have had free 3k€ lying around in my account, they had really good deals and I would have avoided the darn 24% tax we have here for modern stuff as the swords were already in EU. And I would have used that sword for occasional cutting and some form practice. There are hundreds of perfectly good modern Japanese made swords being sold in Japan for martial arts purposes in mind at any given moment. Of course I agree if you are going to do some serious hardcore cutting then get a 300$ Chinese made through hardened sword you can beat the crap out of. But traditionally made Japanese sword should be perfectly fine for regular cutting practice.

Ray I think it might be 應永廿(八?)年二月日 Ōei 2(8?) nen 2 gatsu hi (1421) Like Stephen said it looks interesting and I would like to see more. It seems to date earlier than any blade by this Norimitsu I've encountered so far. 1430 is the earliest date I've seen so far.

I've never been in US shows but I am wondering aren't the shows really close to each other as there is about a month between the shows?

I'd guess shirasaya text is 直大身槍 - 相州住助広 (old hiro kanji). I'll have to hurry to work but I can try to take a second look in the evening.

So far I have documented 200+ named swords pre-1450 (will be adding more than few to that number later this year). There are some that are only Jūyō, and many have passed onto Tokubetsu Jūyō. Majority of named swords are Kokuhō, JūBu & JūBi, or have established solid provenance by other means like Kirill wrote earlier. Those that might be available for purchase probably are discussed behind closed doors by top tier collectors/sellers/museums etc. (or at least that is my guess).

Thanks for writing the sword blog Yurie. It is interesting to read, even though I haven't commented much. It was nice that you included the San Fran show too.

Should arrive to Finland any day now, Ray is a great seller and I can highly recommend him.

Thanks for this fun game and explanation Uwe. I was really surprised to see the answers and having seen 5 of the good swords in hand I did not recognize them and I was way off with some of the makers that I thought they would be. 2. Nobukuni tachi was the last sword that was brought to lineup at NBTHK meeting at Samurai Museum Berlin, it was a spectacular sword and I was amazed by it. 3. & 8. Rai Kunitoshi were probably the 2 Kunitoshi swords that were for us to look at the meeting? 13. Unji was Paul's addon to lineup for us? 20. Rai Kunimitsu is a spectacular sword and it was a joy to view it in hand. I really liked the signed Nagashige and Sa Kunihiro too. Although they were in display case during the meeting like the Kageyasu. Enjoyed this one a lot it is always nice to see games like this.

I believe the signature of the second sword is following. Omote: 源元興於東武芝金杉営精鍛焉 / 安政五戊午年二月日 Ura: 太々土壇場同年三月十三日於千住 / 山田吉利門八後藤利影試之 Smith is Minamoto Motooki and sword is made in 1858. I struggled a bit with the cutting test and when I had it almost correct I found really similar cutting test on another Motooki sword that is NBTHK Hozon: http://www.sword-auction.jp/ja/content/as151023-%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE%EF%BC%9A%E6%BA%90%E5%85%83%E8%88%88-%E5%AE%89%E6%94%BF%E4%BA%94%E5%B9%B4%E4%BA%8C%E6%9C%88%E6%97%A5%E8%A3%81%E6%96%AD%E9%8A%98-wakizashi-minamoto-motooki-cutting-test Unfortunately I am not well versed in cutting tests. I am getting some help from Aoi's English literation of the cutting test on their site. It seems that on the sword posted in here Yamada Yoshitoshi & Goto ??? as the test cutters. Taitai is a cut through torso at shoulders in Yamada terminology. And I think the cut was on earth mound dotan.

What a great game Uwe, and with wonderful pictures. I will pick #3 for the Tokubetsu Jūyō and I think my personal favorite is #18 (I like how Kirill thinks with this one and I'd too guess it can be work by rural schools which I often like). I'll try to look them with better time over the weekend as there are many interesting swords in the mix. But by quickly browsing those two caught my eye the most.

Sold

It is interesting sword, caught my eye and interest. I think Michael gave a good info package there above. I'd give bit more leeway with the age. I'd see anything from Kamakura to early Muromachi as plausible options. And as I can not say anything about details in the blade I am just saying that there are few other Yoshitsugu smiths aside from Aoe. There is for example Muromachi Yoshitsugu from Sanjō, Bizen Yoshitsugu from Kamakura and Nanbokuchō, Yoshitsugu from Hokke during Nanbokuchō, those are some lesser known Yoshitsugu I have documented. Will be nice to see better pictures of the sword when you have it in hand. And if details of it point towards Aoe or something else. Hopefully you can get lot more measurements too, curvature, width, thickness etc. I am also throwing up a possibility of long early Muromachi katana out there. There are some strongly curved and long katana too, of course there can just be a false signature added on. Interesting sword to study.

On hold

Well I have not really even thought about selling this sword as it is the best sword out of my 2 that I have. But Ray just happened to list a sword that got me hooked as I've been on a hunt for a wide sword, so I must think something in order to raise funds for it. So here will be a chance to get a signed Nanbokuchō period tachi in your collection. I have enjoyed this sword for many years and I am sure the potential future owner will too as this is quite nice and elegant sword with ver graceful sugata. Just to note if that sword that I am saving for gets sold I'll take this off from market. So this is a limited time offer. This sword has NBTHK Hozon which confirms the signature, 国信 Kuninobu, the paper has Kuni fumei / province unknown and places this to Nanbokuchō period. The Japanese dealer put this to early Nanbokuchō in their sales ad but personally I might put this to late Nanbokuchō. Jigane is tight itame hada and there is one section that has o-itame hada. Hamon is suguha based midare with good amount of activities. It is bit funny how the Japanese dealer stated "there is a little hada-are" while in reality there is quite nasty looking portion that I will show in picture. Other than this flaw I think the sword is in very good condition for as old as it is. The sword is probably a very slight machi-okuri but nearly in original shape. Fumbari can be seen at the base of the blade. The shape is very slender and graceful this is very light sword. Kissaki is quite tiny. Pictures will probably tell more than my words will. As this ad is done in bit of a haste after I got home from work I can't take any pics today as it is night now but I can take every type of picture potential buyer wants when I have time and daylight for it. So I'll use pics taken before. Sword has shirasaya and nice gold foil habaki. Nagasa: 67,2cm Sori: 2,0 cm Koshi-zori Motohaba: 3,05 cm Sakihaba: 1,65 cm Motoshinogikasane: 6,8 mm Motokasane: 5,6 mm Sakishinogikasane: 3,4 mm Sakikasane: 3 mm Nakago: 18,7 cm Nakagokasane: 8 mm Nakago sori: 0,4 cm Overall curvature: 3,6 cm Toshin weight: 574 grams You can ask all the questions you like and I'll answer them as well as I can. I strongly believe this will be the cheapest signed tachi from Nanbokuchō period that you'll encounter in a long time, that is actually in good condition as can be seen from the pictures. I've seen few (by less known smiths) in quite bad condition going for much more than my asking price. I've had this with me in several nihontō displays and meetings in Finland, and I brought this to Sweden for NBTHK Scandinavian meeting few years ago. Kinda sad to let this one go but in order to gather up some funds for making a change in my collection it is a must. Asking price: SOLD

That boshi makes the difference in attribution between schools?

Pretty amazing collection, both the swords & armor.

Perhaps you could post a better picture of the signature? From the latest pics I am guessing 播磨大掾藤原 / 越前住 - Harima no Daijō Fujiwara / Echizen jū Granted really the only smith that the mei would fit is Shigetaka but it is missing the last 2 characters. As the picture does not show mei well it is very difficult to say anything but I think the signatures on both sides look different based on that one picture. As you are in Sweden I think you could also contact Scandinavian NBTHK branch for some help. I know they'd be happy to help you with all the questions you have. And of course we will help here at NMB as much as we can too.

Like the ad said it is signed 豊州高田住忠行 - Tadayuki lineage comes from Bungo province, they span roughly from 1700 to 1860. I just looked at the Bungo Taikan, and the mei on the sword for sale looks very different in style of the Tadayuki examples in the book. I don't think I have any examples of lesser known Tadayuki generations though. But I would be cautious with the signature.