acoyauh

Thank you, Steve! No Shigehiro in Seki, that I can find. Now, Seki saw a LOT of swordsmiths come through, not sure if there is a comprehensive list. Tosho aside, Seki made only Manchurian steel swords, right? No actual tamahagane pieces came from there? Maybe I should stop whishfully looking for a Gendai Tosho here =)

Thank you, Tom! The only Ujihiro I have references for is from Hizen Tadayoshi school (1600's), nothing to do with this. Can someone recommend some index or source for showa/gunto swordsmiths?

Maybe. There's apparently no yokote, but cannot tell now if it's how it was made or if it was ruined by a bad polish. I've seen several Seki, Manchurian steel swords that omitted a yokote. Not sure I've ever seen a gendaito shaped like this. But I'm not big on gunto, so...

Adjusted, thank you for the advice.

Ouch. Sorry about that. The problem is I don't have a better picture yet, the sword is still on its way... will try to update then, if necessary, but it's going to take a while. I was hoping to research the author in the meantime.

Hello, Please help me with this mei. Transliteration would be enough, any additional info on the tosho would of course be greatly appreciated. This blade is in gunto koshirae, although there does not appear to be any armory seal. Maybe 'gendaito'? Thank you!

Hello, forumers. I have this blade in my shop. I have never seen this kind of etching on a Japanese blade. Maybe if I can identify the author / blade info I can look a bit deeper. So please, can anyone help me with this mei? Any opinions on the blade also will be very appreciated, Thank you!

Sorry, what does that mean? For all, thank you so much for your guidance!

Hello, This sword does not seem to have gunto koshirae; however, it does bear the seki mark. I will appreciate your help with the signature, I would like to lookup the swordsmith if possible. Will also appreciate any opinions and feedback you wish to share. Thank you!

Yes, GregD. Tojiru is used to get a hazuya/jizuya started. Also to use an uchigumori, so you don't apply 'bare' stones to the sword but have some slurry from the start.

I prepare and use tojiru (water or oil based) for sword finishing, fresh for every sword I work with. It helps give shine to the blade and brings out hada/hamon beautifully. I recently saw a vendor on eBay selling tojiru flasks and he translates it as "sword juice". Is this true? I always understood it to mean something like 'close' or 'detail' for fine finishing. Just idle curiosity, I'll admit, I just found this translation kind of funny.

Thank you, John!

Thank you so much, Bugyotsuji Can you read the date? I've been searching for the format translation on the web, but have been unable to find any... Also, does anyone know a link where the registration numbers can be verified?

Sword is a perfectly good edo nihonto, no problem, those I know well, plus it does come from Japan. China is not surprising for the koshirae, the tsuka had fake same and synthetic silk. I suppose they dedided to "dress it" cheaply for selling, or something. I really appreciate your feedback, as always. I'll go check Chinese forums online and see if I can have it translated. It probably says something like "Gotcha, fool!" =P

Thank you so much, Guido! BTW, is there some source you can suggest where I can check the meaning of the rest of the card? I assume it's a standard document, right? Just to have the complete picture... Thanks!

Hello again, forumers I realize this request is not as simple as a sword mei and other requests, but I will really appreciate it if someone could translate this registration card for me. I am sorry if the quality is not optimal, my sword came with this photo instead of a flat copy or scan, so I have what I have... Thank you in advance for any help on this! demonsword registry.pdf

Hello. I have this tsuba that came from Japan with an Edo sword, though I believe it to be showa. Please, can someone help me with the transliteration of the mei? With a little luck maybe I can find something about the author and clarify the age... Thank you!

I am very curious about this stamp too. Here is a sample from eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Shin-Gunto-Signed-KOA-ISSHIN-MANTETSU-SAKU/132449500465?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140725133649%26meid%3D02878c3513844c7e9556a5048a82309c%26pid%3D100276%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D302577711351&_trksid=p2060778.c100276.m3476 A Koa Ishin Mantetsu Saku mei with the W more or less under the habaki.

Not ruined. I did practice on China blades first, then Oaxaca swords for full re-shape practice. The NCO's were just my first works on rusty blades. One was recovered fine, the other had rust pitting going side-to-side and, even with good shaping and polish, looked - well, ruined. Of all those early blades I ony keep one Oaxaca just as a memento, but it's not on display with the others. Of my koto, all have been restored to mint or near-mint status, except for one muromachi that also has rust pitting in the hammon. Rather than do away with all of it, it was polished to a point where pitting appeared in its minimum. It was a sword for a practitioner friend, not for display, so he did not mind the flaws very much, it performs beautifully and is kept as a family treasure. And it is. "Oops" meant, I bought them as junk, and then sold them again nearly as junk, since they were "not nihonto"

Thank you, guys. The sword is definitely a Muromachi, with a validated swordsmith signature and, of course, no armory stamp. Two kantei experts have confirmed this and also notified me that it is "fatally flawed" since past polishes did away with the boshi. You make me wonder then about the lacquered number on the nakago... Not much into gunto so far, my collection is all koto and a couple of NCO's I used when learning to polish. Too bad, I see they keep rising in value now in the market =S oops Thank you, Peter. I am not far from the embassy, I might try asking there, although I imagine other collectors have tried this before. Have a nice weekend!

Hello, Forumers I'm hoping someone here can give me some pointers. I have a muromachi sword in gunto koshirae, and on the nakago on red lacquer there is number 91. I understand these were given when someone enrolled (or was drafted?) with their family blade. I think it is noteworthy how small the nimber is... My question is, does anyone know if there is a registry somewhere, where I can see the name of the soldier that enrolled with this sword? I am trying to piece together its story, and this was its last Japanese owner - and could give me the family name to trace back... hopefully Any pointers or suggestions will be very appreciated. Thank you!

My opinion is, although the signature looks ok (thank you for that thanslation), it is suspiciously well preserved compared to the corrosion (NOT rust) of the rest of the blade. It is so corroded all over you can't possibly tell what you're buying. This is not how a rusty blade corrodes normally (I restore antiques for a living). What the frogs could they have used to "clean" it and not leave a trace of rust? I need a gallon of that Thank you all for your feedback! I've been restoring blades for a long time, but I am embarrasingly ignorant on anything kantei. Trying to correct that, though. Nowadays, you don't have to just study nihonto, you also need a masters degree in China forgeries =/ geez!

Hello again, I found this sword that seems to be a candidate for my padawans' restoration practice - only if it turns out NOT to be nihonto. Under the rust it seems of poor manufacture, but does not seem to be showato since no armory seal is visible. Can anyone kindly help me transliterate this mei, so I can research the tosho and see if the signature matches. I post on the gunto section because it seems to me to be either showato or Chinese... Any feedback or opinions will be deeply appreciated here. Thank you!

More likely Chinese than gunto, huh? Thought so...

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