Mark S.

If it had been around tax refund time, I wouldn’t have thought twice… of course an engagement ring later this year is also in the cards…. I’m guessing it will be Tokubetsu Hozon level… if I don’t get Juyo, neither does she.

Just email them and ask about your specific blade. I just bought a yari from them. When I asked about shipping, they said it was included in the price they quoted on line for that item. They do respond.

Ishihara Kanenao

Love the tiger and moon as well as the mountain scene with hut and farmers. ‘Saving’ items from a thrift store is always so much fun, but usually not as grand as this story. Well done!

I will add, if you can go to some shows, or join a club to see blades in hand, it is the best way to learn. Study enough to know WHAT you like and WHY.

Do YOU like it and why? Can YOU afford it and think it is a good deal? Can YOU own it and not care what anyone else thinks of your collection? Are YOU ok if you find out later you might not get your money back or it will be difficult to sell? Does it make YOU happy no matter what anyone else thinks?

Check the Dealer section here at NMB

PM sent

With all the things that could potentially go wrong during a cut and the chance to devalue or ruin something that can’t be replaced… what’s the upside?

Breaks my heart…

Original E-Bay listing Nagasa: 38.0cm Sori: 0.4cm TOTAL length: 59.0cm Age: Muromachi (provided by the seller at katana-boutique) - no reference information provided in the listing.

I assume there is story behind this? If there is an old thread on this one, please let us know... or has been requested, pics and a story PLEASE!

So it would appear that the reference taped to the shirasaya was a mei comparison reference. Still interesting. Yari in the article is a standard yari, mine is a jumonji yari. I do appreciate all the help in the hunt for the information. Just the idea that I could have purchased something that was referenced in one of the NTHK articles was interesting. See below for the standard yari mei in the article vs my jumonji yari mei.

Thank you so much Michael! The NMB (and the people here) never cease to amaze me. First, the resources we have available, but second, and more importantly, how generous so many of you are with your time and information.

In case you want to see how it looks:

Usually a sayagaki is written (and signed) by a trusted 'expert' in kantei whose sayagaki written opinion will be known and respected by others who trust that person's reputation. Format I have seen is: attribution, description of quality (why blade is important), date of blade, length, date sayagaki was written, signature of scholar. There is also what is know as an 'inventory' sayagaki. This can contain any information you wish. One (old one) I have is: attribution, zaimei or mumei statement, and length. I would think adding blade date (if known) after length would be in order, but usually that information should probably be on the nakago or at least on the papers, otherwise it is a bit of a 'guess' (my opinion only). If you ever find out the blade is a different date, it's not like you can erase it and change. I suppose you could make note of the Hozon paper, but that is probabaly getting to be too much info. Once again, my opinion, but I don't think the calligrapher should sign as they are not 'authenticating' anything other than their written artwork.

You are both AMAZING! Thank you Mark & Jussi. Went to look at the link and found Volume 611 pages 25-30 is titled (translates to): Genealogy of Yamashiro no kami (Governor of Yamashiro Province) Shige Hyakukoku Nyudo / Yoshitaka Mori / p25-30 So I believe Kunishige worked in Yamashiro and did receive the “Yamashiro no kami” title. Not sure if I will be able to obtain copy of article to see if this yari is referenced specifically or if there is information about the smith.

I know this is a longshot. Recently I purchased a jumonji yari at the Chicago Show (shared in a previous thread). It came without papers. Seller didn't think he had papers for it (owned it a long time) but was going to check his archives just in case he was incorrect, but I haven't heard back yet, so I am assuming no luck. Per the attached image, taped on the shirasaya at the bottom is a reference tag. The Heian Jo Fujiwara Kunishige matches the mei. I'm just wondering if the last line matches anything anyone can think of? I read it as NTHK 611 P27. The seller did not know/did not remember what it meant. Did the NTHK ever publish any information like a journal or other publication? Just wondering if the P27 is "Page 27"? 611 could be June, 2011 or a publication number? The "P" is a little blurry, but it doesn't look like a number so I don't think 611P27 is a serial number to a NTHK Kanteisho Paper (the blurry "P" being a number instead of a letter)? Does anybody see anything else? This will probably remain a mystery, but if you have any thoughts, I would appreciate it.

WW2 Era. I believe Seki smith.

When nothing new that you pick up impresses you enough to give you a feeling of enjoyment. Sometimes we pick up things we can't afford... but we still 'collect' knowledge. The collecting stops when the enjoyment stops.

I see it now... thanks! I hope this isn't too too basic and definitely not questioning how much you know, but I figure more info is better than less...Mihara smiths were centered in Bingo province. Every so often you will also find some references to Bishu. Bishu is a larger area made up of Bingo, Bitchu and Bizen. You may also find references that the provinces are located along the "Sanyodo (Sanyoudou) - The Sunny Mountain Road". I was a bit confused when I first started researching, which is why I bring it up.

When being condescending is the real “marrow of the bone”, being gracious and ‘helping’ really isn’t a consideration.

Sometimes it's helpful to be nice to our new members and answer their questions.

Years ago, my first 'real' nihonto purchase was a mumei Kai-Mihara katana that the NTHK-NPO (Miyano Sensei, may he RIP) had attributed to Den Masamori. My second blade was an inexpensive mumei wakizashi I came across at a show that had very similar attributes to the katana and I thought would make a nice companion blade, although I wasn't sure which school it was. At a later NTHK-NPO shinsa... yep... Den Kai-Mihara Masashige. I guess I had an eye for Kai-Mihara blades. Since that time, I have always liked Mihara blades, although I would like to start saving/looking for a much earlier time period Mihara blade someday. I know the later school isn't looked at with as much appreciation as some, but they still speak to me. Hard to tell from pictures, but I would have expected to see a bit more kaeri on this blade? It may be there... I just can't see it. Here are just a couple Mihara references you might be interested in... if you haven't found them already. https://markussesko.com/2013/09/04/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-bingo-smiths/ http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mihara_Nihonto.html http://www.sho-shin.com/sanyo13.htm

VERY!