Mark S.

If you haven’t seen it, here is a newspaper saya tutorial. Safest is to oil blade and leave as is, however in this condition, some clean-up with high quality uchiko is not out of question.

With a nagasa of roughly 35cm and the sori, it really falls in the wakizashi / ko-wakizashi category. Probably old and ‘real’, but seen a rough life.

What defines a true daisho set TODAY? DOCUMENTATION Darcy had an article(s) that I believe was labeled “Daisho is and isn’t” or something like that. But what I gathered from his teachings was that the only way to really know if an old pair of blades is really a daisho set is DOCUMENTATION and a clear chain of custody which make a set extremely rare. This documentation will fall into one of three categories: 1) documentation that shows samurai XYZ carried a set of specific blades (matching smith/koshirae/etc, or not) and documentation that proves the blades you have in your hands are the blades that were actually carried/owned (no substitutions). 2) documentation that shows smith XYZ made a pair of blades specifically as a daisho pair to be carried as a daisho pair. I would assume this would be a special order by a single patron. 3) documentation that Lord XYZ, or other owned/stored/kept/gifted a daisho set of blades and documentation that proves the blades you have in your hands are the blades that were actually owned by said Lord, or other (no substitutions). Without verifiable documentation, it’s pure speculation.

If in Indiana, you have a local group who meets regularly. I’m sure they would be willing and eager to help. Research Indiana Token Kai. A member will also probably see this and reach out. EDIT: Also, Mark up above runs a heck of a Japanese Sword Show in Chicago every April (dates: 25-27 in 2025). An excellent opportunity to see blades in hand and learn a lot. While his reputation doesn’t need me to ‘vouch’ for him, I’ll do so anyway. One of the dealers you can trust to lead you in the right direction.

How many of us make regular on-line purchases (especially overseas) that could equal the amount of an expensive sports car or house mortgage sight unseen and assume it’s all just going to work out?

Once again, I am not trying to point out only negatives, but possible it was added later to ‘gussy it up’ for the tourist/GI trade. Speculation though.

Not trying to be negative, but horimono has a very rudimentary feel to it. Of course horimono are not my area of study so I will be interested in opinions of those with more experience, especially with later blades.

So then the paper that states they are worthy of preservation means they are not worthy of preservation? Do tell…

Then why ask us?

I was a bit confused as well. He is either questioning the buyer for spending that much on a questionable mei or questioning the advice he was given here because someone thought it was worth spending that much?

Sad to say I will not be in attendance this year. Went last 2 years. Hope everyone has a great show… I KNOW you will! I’ll see some of you in Chicago in April.

I would reach out to someone like Bob Benson who has lots of contacts with different artisans who may be able to offer advice assuming he doesn’t already have the answer. Not sure if anyone here on NMB has contacts in Japan of someone who might be able to ask Tanobe Sensei directly?

iPhone… I just email photos to myself and it automatically asks me if I want to resize and save. Not sure if android offers this.

What would be interesting to see is how many blades each session are resubmitted blades vs brand new. As has been stated many times, “Juyo is a competition” against other submitted blades and not just an individual judgment. So how many blades didn’t make the cut one session, but passed in another? I know they don’t keep track, and there is no answer. On the other hand, I guess each session ‘starts fresh’, so it really doesn’t matter. I think Darcy once speculated that as you start narrowing down the remaining blades, sooner or later blades that didn’t pass previously might pass. But at that level, great is still great and the path to get to Juyo isn’t easy.