Ooitame

Very nice find.

Good show, congratulations to the winner.

Its possible, unless there is something more.

Wrong section?

What do you all think? http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/node/3862/bids_list

Hi Jussi, thanks for the time put in. You are correct, turning out to be much harder than anticipated. I will see if I can find that part from Nagayama. Hello Luis and all, I have found one more link about the smith http://jssus.org/nkb/nkb.php Research yet to be done, research how wealthy the area was during this time to determine if they were able to purchase the best Tamahagane, if demand was enough to have the ability to attain and maintain a level of expereince, and compare other areas and their wealth to that of the swords produced (price/quality/time). Account for skewing variables and find other data inputs. Having a much harder time finding photos or drawings of his works. The images I think will be my most valuable tool to answer my questions, any recomendations?

going out bid! out bid!!

Different sites have diffeent bid schemes that you can enter an amount and it auto increments should you be outbid, until your max is reached. As far as a program that can do this, I dont see why not. Either from the seller seeing auctions or possibly increasing bids to reach the minimum, or a bidder who created or uses a bot. Looking at the time stamps it appeaers to be a bot of some sort. It looks like the bet 116.00 17 Jan 2018 at 8:44:09AM, out reached the bots max, triggering a new max from the bidder; maybe $164. Intersting at the end you can see increases of $10, possibly bidding increment logic change... just a guess though.

Celebrating the rebuilding of the restoration, a masterpiece given to the Muko Marquis from the Shimazu Marquis in the Meiji 5 Attachment Dedication Swords Shimazu family crest silver inlaid

Different period swords, that seem to reflect the style of fighting on the battlefield of their respective times. Could be wrong, but the Kunifusa seems lighter and thinner for faster movement and quick precise striking. More archers and horse back during this time , I believe. While the Kinimichi is much wider thicker and heaver, for more infantry and a slower moving armored combat style. Just thought it was intersting and wanted to pass along.

Sorry for the bad pics, but figured the NMB might enjoy and see the difference in the swords; and a bonus piece.

Luis, thank you, hopefully everyone will walk away from this with more knowledge. Peter, thank you, you raise some very interesting points. Hopefully this project will shine some light on it. Jeremiah, thank you, I will try to reach out to Markus, and see if has a book or direction he thinks maybe useful. I might just take you up on the offer Ken, awesome link thank you! Using it I was able to quickly find my smith and add to the research regarding Hawley, and TokoTaikan ratings. I will continue to comb the site for more data. https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/MAS1588 Grey, thank you for the link! That is an impressive site you have; quite the knowledge base. Many thanks to Andrew and yourself for all the hard work. However, it seems that the references are about Shodai, and Nidai. Sandai seems to be missing. But, to confirm this I will try to track down excerpts from your index. http://www.jssus.org/ijsl/?&display=entry&table=smiths&page=1&id=1263 http://www.jssus.org/ijsl/?&display=entry&table=smiths&page=1&id=1264 Update*** http://www.jssus.org/ijsl/?&display=entry&table=smiths&page=2&id=1258 Contains Sandai, but dont think it's the right smith, will try to confirm with aforementioned method. Starting to get the feeling this is going to be way harder than I originally expected... I suppose most projects of this nature usually are . Again thanks for the help so far, please keep it going

Hello everyone, I have been trying to answer a few questions about a recently purchased blade and the smith who made it. Ultimately, to answer my questions I would like to build a knowledge base of his works hopefully in order if they are dated, or possibly by the blades characteristics (grouping), and be able to compare them. However, I am having trouble finding more info on him and his works. I know he is ranked as 'Chu Saku' by Fujishiro, so there must be other works I can use to help build a knowledge base. However, I do not own this book. If anyone can find or has links, references, excerpts, images of his works or anything really and are kind enough to share, it will be much appreciated. Smiths name: Oshu Aizu Ju Miyoshi Masanaga (3rd gen.) , Miyoshi. -> Toshiro Ichikyūemon Findings so far: http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17539-%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE%EF%BC%9A%E5%A5%A5%E5%B7%9E%E4%BC%9A%E6%B4%A5%E4%BD%8F%E4%B8%89%E5%96%84%E6%94%BF%E9%95%B73%E4%BB%A3-wakizashi-ousyu-aizu-jyu-miyoshi-masanaga-3rd-generation https://books.google.com/books?id=46IYtI0nkiEC&pg=PA357&lpg=PA357&dq=Miyoshi+Masanaga+wazamono&source=bl&ots=BRCc38WXMs&sig=-ii-mI6Ra5_bqY6-hKXaOh4ezQw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiezYXH8Z3YAhWJKiYKHSYlAIoQ6AEIPTAG#v=onepage&q=Miyoshi%20Masanaga%20wazamono&f=false http://www.nihontocraft.com/Three_Shinto_Cutters.html http://www.sho-shin.com/shinto-iwashiro.html Should this endeavor prove fruitful, I will consolidate all info and add it to the forum under a different title.

Hello all, My sincere thanks for your time, thoughts and advice. You have given me much to consider. I will be sure to let you all know the results of shinsa at which ever level I submit. Thank you, Eric

Hi Chris, I can understand why some would think this way. However, I did not buy to trade. This is my first nihonto and I intend to keep for quite some time and enjoy. I am also using this blade as a learning experience. I would like to learn as much as possible not just about this blade and smith, but nihonto in general and what makes a great sword. As a matter of fact, as I write this sentance I am sitting between and studying Uda Kunifusa and a 2nd gen kinimichi. Eventually a Masanori cutting test will arrive, all three previously listed are not mine and the owner is gratious enough to let me handle and study these. When my blade arrives I can compare all in hand and get very good hands on learning. I am paying the extra for shinsa, shirasaya, tsunagi, and habaki, to ensure enjoyment, appreciation, and longevity. If I were to just flip it for a few extra dollars, I would only consider hozon wait a little bit and then flip. Even with Aoi's record, should I ever need to sell, I do not see why I would have an issue at a later date. Of course I am a newbie and could be wrong as I have no experience with the sellers aspect. I am always trying to learn from those with more experience, what makes you feel trading would be harder?

Hello Luis, I would like to have a great togishi go to town on this item. However, funds are all but depleted for this item. This sword will have to fight as it stands now through shinsa. Hopefully the swords character and spirit prevail and I can use the remaining funds on possible sayagaki. Hi Jussi, thank you, I agree this blade looks to be a good starting point for my daisho and/or collection. Although the koshirae will be hard to pair should it become part of a set. You maybe correct about market price. However, I am not sure Aoi would go to paper a sword just to up the price. He seems knowledgeable as to what he has and their value. Now does oragami make an item more valuable yes and no, but it sure makes them easier to sell.

Hi Luis, forgot to mention I am also having a tsunagi made as well. I would get a kozuka and have it submited, unfortunetly funds for this item are all but gone. Saving the little bit that is left in hopes of a good shinsa and the funds will go to sayagaki. If not, the it gets rolled over to the next item.

Thanks for the link good information. I asked the agent about getting sayagaki once the shirasaya is complete and was told Tanobe Sensei was currently on hold for sayagaki. Maybe once the habaki, nbthk shinsa, and shirasaya are done I will re ask about sayagaki. Of course this assumes he is willing and my blade is indeed worthy of his time.

Very good to know, I have learned quite a bit about dates and some of the meanings behind them. Also, Ray, thanks for using the word description followed by the word in parenthesis; much appreciated. The sword is being submited for shinsa. But it is my understanding that the oragami, unless Juyo or higher, does not offer much inisght from the judges perspective. Would love to see what the experts think and feel as to some of the items submitted.

Hi Jean, thank you for the additional knowledge. That is interesting I have not heard about the month in relation to the quenching water temp. I am no smith, but it does sound like it makes sense. Is it common to see works after an attributed shotoku?

After further research I have found that you are right his Shotoku was from 1711 - 1716, his death was in 1726.

Thanks Jeremiah and Bazza, learn something new every day. Very nice pieces enjoy!

Very nice! In the second one I am unfamilair, what are the two holes for?

Thank you Ray, for the quick reply. I will do some more digging on this (shotoku and death) and get back with what I find. Thanks again, Eric

Bazza, cool post thanks.