Jussi Ekholm

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.

Well I went with the Japan route, I've been buying way too much books and magazines from Japan... I thought I'd try my luck as I am just missing few years that are important for me. I've gotten more picky with my magazine search and I'd rather buy just full 12 issue year. I think I'll offer a generous 50€ per year + the postage. It's much more than they go for in Japan but I'm hoping to get some from Europe. Hoping to complete my current collecting goal for these magazines. Sure these years will eventually pop up for sale in Japan too but maybe I'll get them sooner this way and fellow NMB member gets some cash. 1991 - Issues 408 to 419 1986 - Issues 348 to 359 1985 - Issues 336 to 347 1984 - Issues 324 to 335 So 50€ per year for those 4 years.

Nuri-saya in general means lacquered saya. Usually the type of lacquer used is applied before the term.

By looking at the sayagaki quickly I think it has Bunroku/Keicho as the approximate age. You've chosen well with Markus as he can easily provide the full & correct translation to you

I think Fred means this set: http://www.legacyswords.com/namban-futokoro.html

For Bungo the appreciation is generally for Sadahide & Yukihira being the absolute top tier for Bungo. Tomoyuki the Takada school founder comes behind them. Unfortunately after Tomoyuki there is a huge gap in traditional Japanese appreciation as Nanbokuchō / Muromachi gap is considered being so large. I think Taira Nagamori is one of the few Taira-Takada smiths that fills a bit of the Japanese appreciation criters. I do have the Bungo Taikan book and it features few other bit more famous Taira-Takada smiths but they are generally not too highly regarded. The book has a lineage of Taira-Takada smiths. You can also find shorter version of Takada lineage in Seskos book that has lineages of schools. I believe NBTHK has various types of attributions they can give to mumei Takada. I'd consider highest being attribution to Takada Tomoyuki, which would point the sword towards Nanbokuchō and skilled maker. I have documented few other NBTHK attributions to mumei Nanbokuchō more unknown Takada smiths but they are really rare. As my personal intrest starts to fade after early part of Muromachi I haven't documented the Muromachi Takada swords too closely. I know there are at least attributions (Takada), (Taira-Takada) and for Shintō there is (Fujiwara-Takada) for mumei blades.

They are quite rare but so far I have documented 11 of them. I know there are more of them but I currently lack the data of them in form I want it.

Did the Ko-Senjuin tachi have illegible signature (fumei)?

Had great time at the Expo last year and I'll be there next year too. I've said it on few occasions that I think broadening the scope a bit is a great idea and hopefully will bring in lots of interested folks. Got myself registered, any idea if 3-day pass like last year might be available for next year too?

I was doing nightly browsing of the Tokubetsu Jūyō books I have and there are some incredible swords passing some of which feature koshirae. Here are few interesting ones. Sorry about bad pics but it is the middle of night in here. Yep we have midnight sun in Finland during summer but still bit darkish at my apartment. I chose few that I found interesting. Long tachi from Heian almost 77cm, Hoki Sanekage and tachi koshirae Signed Hōshō tachi by Sadaoki and koshirae it has Meito tachi Mutsu Shintōgo Kunimitsu and koshirae Katana attribution den Masamune and I believe this papered together with the tachi koshirae it has It is rare occasion that sword papers together with the koshirae for Jūyō or Tokubetsu Jūyō but it happens sometimes. Of the above 4 I think the den Masamune sword is only one to pass with koshirae in paper while the koshirae are just mentioned for others in the entry. Latest to sword to pass Jūyō with koshirae seems to be mumei Rai Kunitoshi tanto in session 50. Sword & koshirae passing together was definately more common in early shinsa yet it was still rare even back then. The Yoshimune set Michael posted earlier is just incredible, it was on display at Samurai Art Expo, stunning.

I think it's a preference thing. For me the Sue-Sa on Nihontocraft wins hands down. I think it is great sword, too bad it's about 10 years too early for me to think of a sword at that level... Like you I've been checking that page probably few times every month. While other swords are nice too, I cannot compare them without bias as I like that Sue-Sa so much. Sa school swords often are wide in profile which I like a lot. This one is very attracting to me and I think it is better in quality than some Sa school swords that have passed Jūyō. Sue-Sa generally means broader attribution to late Nanbokuchō Sa school and they don't attribute to a specific smith. There are plenty of Sue-Sa blades that have passed Jūyō.

I think one thing that we might have skipped over is the historical value of item instead of artistic quality. Finding Kamakura - Nanbokuchō - Early Muromachi koshirae is incredibly rare and they have significant historical importance regardless of their quality. At least to me they easily top even the best much later koshirae just because of their age. When you visit Tokyo National Museum (or another Japanese museum with great display) and get to see some of the most treasured complete koshirae that remain to this day, I think that has certain prestige that you cannot take away just because koshirae might be plain etc. Then of course there are late Muromachi - Early Edo koshirae that have provenance to famous people, which should carry extra prestige too. There are also the rare occasions that a sword and koshirae have passed Jūyō together. They are very few in number. My own personal taste is toward very plain and utilitarian koshirae I really like plain old tachi koshirae compared against more elaborate ones, and same thing with katana koshirae. I dislike too fancy koshirae and would not really want to invest money on that. Of course I wouldn't break a ready set but high level of koshirae would most likely make it a pass for me.