Jussi Ekholm

清次 Kiyotsugu, real name Sakai Magoichi 坂井孫一 born 1897 died 1971. Worked at Seki during wartime http://www.jp-sword.com/files/seki/gendaito.html Unfortunately that is all the info I have on him.

I think the signature might read 関小川兼国 - Seki Ogawa Kanekuni

I PM'ed John a good sized chunk of various published Tadahiro mei by different generations, most of them by NBTHK. There are a lot to study for and should help out a bit. For Karl Peter, do you know for example how 2nd Tadahiro changed his signature over the years? NBTHK explains this in quite easy to understand manner. That is probably the reason why I among many others will rather trust NBTHK than this mysterious Hizen smith code that must be kept as a secret. I'm not trying to pick a fight I'm just trying to say that you need to explain your smith code in way that people besides yourself also understand what you are talking about.

I think modern classification is sometimes too strict when it comes to "borderline" things, as I don't believe it would have been a big deal back in the day if your sword is 59 cm or 61 cm. I picked 10 swords from Kantei-Zenshu that were listed being used in katate-uchi style by NBTHK. Here are the blade lengths, and 3 of them are wakizashi but the few cms wouldn't have mattered back then. 66,8, 66,3, 64,8, 64,3, 62,3, 61,8, 60,6, 58,3, 56,5, 53,3. Here are portions of the description of swords that are 56,5 cm and 53,3 cm. Now that was the actual portion that I had data to backup, next one is recreational own opinion that I don't have things to back up as I am not a koryu practicioner nor any martial artist. 60 - 65 cm is a very short sword for two handed use. I have a Chinese replica of katate-uchi which I custom ordered to my specs, and it has 61 cm blade and 20 cm tsuka. I've used it for cutting (+ trying to do some iaido kata from memory) and in my opinion it is best suited for one handed use.

I think you'd enjoy Uchigatana-goshirae book by Tokyo National Museum as it has lots of detailed info about this type of thing happening. The book also features how the tachi koshirae declined in use during Muromachi period and became only formal. Like Darcy said before there are many famous swords in Uchigatana-goshirae book that later on their life got mounted in katana koshirae. Then I'll also jump in the terminology train. :D I have quote from Uchigatana-goshirae book and NBTHK Issue 663-665 as the sword was kantei blade. 1. 拵は柄の寸法が短く片手打用となり。 - This is from uchigatana-goshirae book and I would understand it (with the help of translation by Markus :D) meaning short hilted koshirae for one handed use. I searched the book through pretty fast and they were usually described in similar fashion. 2. 室町後期の永正︙大永頃によく見られる片手打ちの打刀姿です。- NBTHK kantei (Markus also has translated this in his Kantei-Zenshu), I think blocky translation would be Late Muromachi period, Eisho to Daiei, typical uchigatana sugata of katate-uchi. Markus has more fluid translation in his book where he just describes the sword as katate-uchi which is easier to understand. Also you must take note that NBTHK describes also another form during late Muromachi, to diffrentiate from katate-uchi. Sword that was meant to be used two handed, morote-uchi, which I believe are usually more towards Eiroku - Tensho, as the sword size was evolving again. Both of these swords are uchigatana but special terminology will help to understand what we are talking about without longer explanations.

I'll say the same advice as I said last time, Scandinavian NBTHK will help you a lot. We had a great meeting today and I was hoping that I might see you and this sword. Our experienced members can give very good advice when they see the sword in hand.

How old are you looking for? It will be pretty tough to find original koshirae that is early Edo or before that.Here are few that might be something you are looking for from Uchigatana Koshirae book. 48 - Sukesada blade dated 1524 but the koshirae was made between 1598 and 1604. This was a sword Kuroda Yoshitaka carried a lot before that but the koshirae was made during that time. Sword is a kazuchi-mono by Sukesada and it has hikae meguki-ana. Koshirae has two holes so it was mounted through both. There is also a later copy of this koshirae featured the later copy koshirae just has a single hole as mounted is the famous sword Heshigiri-Hasebe. Both swords were own by Kuroda Yoshitaka. Nagasa 61,2 cm, nakago 15,5 cm, tsuka 21,9 cm, overall length of koshirae 91,6 cm 63 - Kiyomitsu blade dated 1514 but the koshirae was made around 1661 and 1704. This sword also has hikae mekugi-ana, you can find plenty of swords around the 1500 that have this backup hole at the end of their short nakago. Koshirae is not as old as the sword but still pretty old. Nagasa 67,5 cm, nakago 17,5 cm, tsuka 22,0 cm, overall length of koshirae 95,3 cm

I'll also jump in the sue-Soshu train. As you are in Czech Republic you might want to hit up: http://nihonto.Japan.cz/Having experienced collectors giving you personal advice would be a good thing. Don't try to polish it by yourself. Members of Czech nihonto club can teach you a lot, so it will most likely be a very fun experience to meet with them. As far as polishers in Europe I believe Massimo Rossi (Italy) and Tony Norman (UK) have both gotten nyusen in competitions. I've never been in contact with either of them so I do not know their background more than that.

Going bit over my own level here but I'd guess that might be 2nd gen Yoshitake who is listed working at Kyōhō (1716 - 1736). I am thinking this as the first generation used to sign Izumo no Daijō. I don't think your sword is o-suriage but it's little shortened from the bottom. I can't say if the mei is genuine but it does start on the position where Yoshitake signatures tend to start. However in your sword there seems to be a strange looking bump, which makes me think that machi has been moved bit more down the blade. So the sword would have had a tad longer blade length originally, or that's what I think. Can't help you much with this but if the signature is genuine the smith is quite good. Definately could use a look by someone more experienced than me.

Thanks for the writeup Dirk and amazing lineup of items. I need to get myself to Bonn too as I've been planning attending one of the meetings down there for a good while now. Seeing the items and some familiar faces makes me want to grab a flight so badly...

I must say I am really torn... That sword has a lovely sugata, it's somewhat perfect for my collecting taste. 87,7 cm, 3,8 cm sori and wide and strong sword, signed and dated... I will say I don't know how Morisuke ranks in the hierarchy among Bizen smiths but for me that is not a big deal because it's more important for me that I like the sword. But then comes the but... You can find so many amazing swords in this price range. That is the really tricky part as I think the sword is amazing and I think I could look past the flaw but when I'm thinking about the possibility of investing that much money into a sword it gets really complicated. So I'm kinda balancing between the things Thomas and Brian said before. I'm with Thomas that sword in overall would be almost perfect for me collecting wise but I also share the view that Brian told about wanting a sword in best possible condition after certain price. I can't even dream of shopping in this price bracket so it will be irrelevant for me aside from dreaming. The answer to original question, yes I could live with a flaw like that on the diamond of my collection.

I think 相模守藤原国綱 Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Kunitsuna.

There are few that are being sold by Japanese dealers. I'm not sure how appropriate it would be to link them but you can search 古青江. Darcys stuff is always top notch, and he can definately get you geared in these rarer items.

Fredrik you are in luck as Scandinavian NBTHK branch is based in Stockholm. I will PM you emails of 2 of our members. Stockholm is good place to live for a nihonto enthusiast.

I would second Steves guess of 四. I checked Kajiharas glossary and there are listed varieties of mokkogata tsuba form names by the number of "lobes" they have.

Sign me up too.

I think Dirk summed up pretty well how I feel about this thing. I like really old stuff the mostly due to the history attached to the pieces. Swords made during the modern age do not have the same historical importance in my view yet they have other qualities. What Thomas said is also true, we need new makers to keep the tradition alive. Likewise we need new collectors & enthusiasts to keep the tradition alive who collect new stuff as well as old stuff. In short the newer the sword the better condition of the sword would be important factor I'd guess. Seeing as tameshigiri would be about the hardest use swords of modern day will have to endure, and most precious modern blades will probably not be used at all for cutting things. So like Dirk said above, flawless typical work of the smith would be of highest importance, or that is how I believe. The debate about "power relations" between smiths old vs. new - new vs. new I'll leave to more experienced folks.

The most important thing is that you like the sword, I don't think anything else really matters. As you are buying it for yourself. I will say that the "Hizen smith code" by KarlPeterSmith is bit controversial subject and it is a research in progress. See more here -> http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14763-tadayoshi-waki-expert-help-on-mei/page-4 How long are you staying in Sweden? There are people who have great nihonto knowledge in Sweden and also on Hizen swords. I am not personally that fond of Hizen swords, and I don't know a thing about them. Still I'm guessing I should have around 100 Tadahiro signatures (various generations) scattered across my books & magazines. I think I could gather bunch of them up for you if you'd like. Like others before me, I would be leaning on gimei. I also think John at Nihonto Australia seems like a good guy, I've only exchanged few emails with him.

I will keep my hands down as I can't stand Namban style tsuba. I was lucky to attend NBTHK Scandinavian meeting where Namban tsuba were one of the themes of the meet and I got to see some good quality Namban items. I understand the skill needed for some of the items and how they might be something that someone collects but they definately are not for me...

相州住康春 ^ what was said above ^

Very sad news. Unfortunately I never had the pleasure of meeting Kjell but he was very influental person in Scandinavian nihonto community and I have heard many good stories of him from his friends. My condolences to family and friends.

Guess I don't yet have enough books, as I hit bit of a dead end. This is the closest signature I could find in my books and it's from Kotō-meikan. It is listed as Kanenori (Tenbun 1532 - 1555). However I'm having difficulties matching it to anyone in Seskos Swordsmith index. Some my own remarks why I picked this one. In Kane character it has short upper stroke similar to yours and it has a small "window" (many Kane have big "window"). Nori character is not exactly the same but this was closest 2 letter combination in Kanenori signatures I could find. To explain my point in pics, here is Kanenori, which has long upper stroke and large "window". http://www.tokka.biz/sword/kanenori5.html San'ami school in Mino province seems to have been the the home for many Kanenori smiths as I think Kanenori lineage is listed as most important of San'ami. But I'm having trouble matching that above signature from Kotō-meikan. In 1500's Seskos index lists 3 Kanenori 兼則 (all from San'ami) as Eishō, Tenbun, Eiroku and Mino-to book by Cox lists these three smiths as Eishō, Tenbun, Tenshō. However there are signatures for all 3 of these smiths in Kotō-meikan, and the signature I added to pic is to a 4th one who I think is not listed in neither of these indexes (as Tenbun smith in these both indexes is the one who moved to Echigo). Maybe those with access to more books of Mino smiths can find this particular smith. This stuff is going above my knowledge but trying to do some detective work is always fun.

Hello Anders, welcome to the forums. You can send me your email by pm and I can hook you up with contact info of Scandinavian NBTHK. Our meetings are in Stockholm so depending where you live it might be easy or hard to get there. Your tanto is in my opinion signed by Kanenori 兼則 from Mino province. Unfortunately I don't have access to my books on Mino swords at the moment but there are 10 Kotō Kanenori 兼則 in Mino listed in Seskos swordsmiths. I have Kotō-meikan on my phone and I think the closest 兼則 signature in there is the one working Tenbun (1532-1555). And I think late Muromachi is also fitting the shape of the sword. I'll try to look more into it tomorrow when I get home and can access my books.

I had to join the ebook crowd as the prices were absolute steals. Now I can understand how easy to access the ebooks are as I have them on my PC and on my phone. So I can read them on the go. I would strongly recommend getting Koshirae-taikan: http://www.lulu.com/shop/markus-sesko/koshirae-taikan/ebook/product-21676093.htmlThe pictures are amazing and you can zoom in. With this book I am really getting sucked into ebooks.

I think I can donate some books. I will group these into a package and I can slip in Hawleys leaflet to help starting with translating mei (even though resources are now great online it's still nice thing to have as backup if you don't have many books). "Beginner set" Clive Sinclaire - Samurai The Craft of the Japanese Sword Fuller & Gregory - Miltary Swords of Japan Cutting Edge - Japanese Swords in British Museum Hawley - Japanese Sword Inscriptions