Jussi Ekholm

I think it's Yoshihide 義秀.

Thanks for the meeting report guys.

Funny how you worded it like that James. I mean ever since I was little I've been doing the crazy thing of picking one unattainable favorite from a list like this (picking a favorite without any limitations). So by just seeing the attribution/signature and basic measurements what would be your pick? I know it's crazy to pick a favorite without even seeing a single picture but at the same time it's quite fun. I knew what would be mine when I browsed through the list.

Do you have more pictures of the tang? My guess might be that the sword is shortened by the distance of holes (maybe 6-7 cm?).That would put the original length around 73 cm. Majority of Kiyomitsu smiths from Osafune were active From Tenbun to Tenshō 1532 - 1592. Blade length of 73 cm would be well fitting for that era.

Hozon paper says 無銘 (長船清光) Unsigned (Osafune Kiyomitsu), length 2 shaku 2 sun - c. 66,66 cm

Bizen Kiyomitsu? Kaga Kiyomitsu?

It's a fun question to think about. I think my small collection of couple swords might be slightly different if I couldn't take off tsuka on either one. First of all my both blades are signed and in shirasaya. So it's easy to figure out that signature is important to me. I think in my collecting mindset sugata the shape of the sword "overrides" everything else. When I see a sword that has shape and features I like, after that I check if it is signed, and then comes the all important condition. This is generally ass backwards thinking when you consider the usual advice to collecting and for everyone I would definately say that they should focus on good condition. I just think I kinda know what I want to focus my collecting, and currently the condition is the part where I have to be accepting with my focus. I think if I couldn't remove the tsuka I would be much more focused on quality and condition. Now I am more willing to own a signed sword by lesser smith but if I never could see the nakago it would be all about the quality and condition. My swords would still be quite curved as it's the curved tachi sugata that I desire but I think their quality might be a notch higher. Of course I would have to give up on my desire to collect signed swords.

Paul said pretty much what I was going to say. Go for the sword that you like the most. You might get "more quality" for money invested in wakizashi but they are not as "desirable" as katana or tachi like Paul said above. However it might open some doors financially that would not be possible with a longer blade. It all comes down to what you want to collect. Also collectors have various collecting preferences and people might have differing opinions on prices of some particular swords depending on things the appreciate. It's very hard to give any set prices as it's so much based on unique items. Someone might think a sword is worth 5000€ but for another person fair price in his mind might be 3500€. Question would be how is the condition of the unsigned Koto blade and who is it attributed to? Likewise with the Showa wakizashi, condition is one major thing.

Green book is Meito Oshigata Shu - Koto 1 You got some excellent books there, very nice score.

I think it could be 義忠 Yoshitada.

Sorry I can't find the pictures of some of the more rare sageo types anywhere. I have 30+ variety types that I can't find pictures of... I have the kanji for them but Google gives nothing. Here is the Facebook of Nakamurasho (that Thomas suggested earlier) and it has a link to their homepage. https://www.facebook.com/nakamurasho1893 You could also try contacting Hans Koga. I saw some of the sageo he had made on NBTHK meeting some time ago. I can't really remember the weaves but Hans will surely know more than me. I made some basic sageo styles many years ago. It's pretty fun but for me even this basic weave was pretty time consuming as I ain't no craftsman. I always used cheap cotton thread but I got some decent results. Kumihimo skills are very nice, and of course the more complicated weaves are pretty awesome.

Both are stunning.

I think it is 長州須佐住宮内藤原清重作 Choshu Susa ju Miyauchi Fujiwara Kiyoshige saku

Forgive my paint skills as it's 1.45 in here but I am seeing this.

I think I see takanoha yasuri in the lower portion of the tang on the pic (10) of the omote side.

3M Yen in Toko Taikan, TT lists him working at Kanbun. I think he is also listed as Ryo Wazamono in Kokon Kaji Biko. Here is another signature reference: http://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/08309.html

I can try to look more info for you when I've got more time. I have plenty of reference terms in my nihonto encyclopedias for sageo and tsukaito. It's getting 2.00 in here and I need to get to bed. Look for 竜甲組, I read that this type of sageo was popular in Owari koshirae, not sure if it's the same style you are looking for. You'll also find some styles from Japanese wikipedia to aid your searching: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8B%E7%B7%92

I think it is 波濤雲龍図鐔 and the theme might be translated as rolling waves and cloud dragon.

Digitalization is an amazing thing sometimes. Thought I'd search some of these titles from National Diet Library database. 解紛記 - Keifun-ki: http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/2606135 本朝古今銘盡 - Honchō kokon-mei-zukushi: http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/9892696 Mei-zukushi from 1423 that is listed as important Cultural Property: http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1288371

Here are the book titles in that Token Bijutsu article. I'll put in brackets the number in the Wakou museum index. 解紛記 - Keifun-ki (43) 本朝古今銘盡 - Honchō kokon-mei-zukushi (30) 囗伝書 - Kudenshō? , oral transmission writings 倭朝古今銘冶之次第同名乗事 - ??? 銘盡秘伝抄 - Mei-zukushi Hidenshō? (120) 古今銘盡 - Kokon mei-zukushi (115?) 銘図 - Mei-zukushi? (57) 銘尽 - Mei-zukushi? There is lot of interesting information about these books written in the article but unfortunately I can't translate it fully.

Awesome find Randy. There is article on Token Bijutsu 689 about early Edo period sword books. I can't read the article in whole with my very limited Japanese skills but I can at least try to get some titles for you.

Kanetsuna 兼綱 - Tenshō 1573-1592.

It's very fun exercise. I can't really participate as by trying to nail it down I ended up finding this tanto. So I guess I was kinda in right direction but I was still very far actually... In my case it was luck and not skill pinpointing it down.

I agree with Maurice 1. 平長盛 and 2. 肥前国忠吉

Very nice picture Derek. I believe this same exhibition was on display in Tampere about three years ago when I visited it. I'm posting another picture, which in comparison looks like it was taken with a potato... This shows how important the display & lighting are when items are on display. I visited the exhibition with my sister and both of us thought some of the rooms were way too dark as it was hard to get a proper look of some of the items. At least the actual Terracotta warriors that were the main attraction were properly displayed and could be really enjoyed. Not really adding any insight of the sword itself but the displaying of this item seemed to me like day & night, and I thought it would be important to point it out. Seeing this item in Tampere in person and seeing it displayed like that in Chicago, it just makes a huge difference how the item is on display.