Walter

I'm trying to get my very first Nihonto piece. Browsing eBay I found this naginata and would like to ask for the experts opinion: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160216056351&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006 Thank you in advance, Walter

Surely I will keep an eye at this book auction! I'm not big fan of Gunto but few nice pieces + good book won't hurt. BTW - Any decent Kai-Gunto for sale around?

I have the Showato with Seki stamp signed Yoshikane Taniguchi with nice "hamon". Of course it's not traditionally forged blade and hamon is just for the "show". I wonder, how they made the 'artificial hamon" ... acid etched?

Hello Stephen, PM sent. If you happen to have "The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords" available, please count me in!

Andreas, If you still need to contact him, PM me.

Thank you VERY much - what a relief it's not the Chinese "gem"!

Ooops ... Sorry! For some reason I can see the photo - guess it's sitting in my browser cache. Now I understand Bungo's answer ...looks like " verboten "... Have uploaded it to the Photobucket - Here's the picture (hope it will work this time):

Alles klar, Bungo! Danke! He's been told by someone that signature looks suspicious (looks more like Chinese than Japanese characters) but he still refuses to believe since he purchased this sword from so-called reputable dealer... Can you confirm that? I can also post the photos of the entire sword. BTW - How to spell/write in Japanese "Caveat emptor"?

OK - I told my buddy to sign up to the Forum but he is somehow shy, even if I explained him that nobody here will bite him for asking the question. He has the Gunto sword and would like to ask for translation of the signature - Could you help us?

It's VERY interesting and surely worth to be translated!!! Thank you for the links/

Well Brian, you are absolutely right! Even if can "smell' the fake German dagger from the distance, it's still a minefield. I'm also tired of arguing with some people who come out-of-nowhere claiming to be the "seasoned collectors" and offering me single blade - obviously fake - telling the stories how "his father or grandfather removed this particular dagger from dead German soldier in Omaha Beach, Normandy." When I ask what "soldier" would carry the Feldherrnhalle dress dagger into the combat and tell that dagger looks to me more like the Spanish poor copy, I'm always ended called "an ignorant", "idiot" ... or worse. So I decided to keep some of my best pieces and move to Japanese swords area which looks to me for now "terra incognita" - pretty scary, huge field to explore (that's what I love in collecting!).

Thank you Brian and Ichi-San! Of course, before my first purchase I'll do my homework - the reference books are MUST in any collecting area. As collector of German daggers I have committed few pretty expensive mistakes in the beginning of my collecting adventure and still keep one fake piece as reminder how NOT to collect. I learned my lesson in painful enough way that if you don't know very well the stuff, better buy from reputable dealer or people with good reputation in collecting area. In few weeks (or months) I will be ready to buy my first (and hopefully not last) Nihonto blade! PS - Please excuse me for possible mistakes in my English.

Thank you very much! Kojima Kunifusa is the name of the smith, right? (or Kojima is the location?) ... sorry again for my ignorance. No, no other marks on the blade - just the single mark on the other side of the tang (on 2nd photo) - could be the date? Thanks again, much appreciate!

Since few weeks I'm lurking on this Forum and this is my very first post. I collect German edged weapon since approx 10 years and accidentally have purchased Japanese officer WW2 sword. Well, of course it's a Showa-to and as such nothing interesting for you.... BUT! After few days watching this sword I realized a terrible thing - German blades are not that appealing to me any longer! Have purchased another Shin-Gunto ... and another one (still in mail) and ... here's the problem: Now I want a real Nihon-to katana (and maybe wakizaschi too...)!!! Have already started to sell some of my stuff and gather the money for my first Nihonto Also I've started to learn about genuine Nihonto swords and realized that it's close to the rocket science. History, terminology ...etc. makes me want to start learn Japanese language too ... if I only had enough time in my hands. Could you Guys recommend me some good reference book about Japanese swords for newbies (kind of Nihono for Dummies)? Would like also to ask you for a favor: Could someone translate the kanji on my 2nd Shin-Gunto tang? I'm sure it's not the case of so-called "ancestral blade" since can’t find any folding pattern on the blade, but still would like to know something about maker and approx. date of this sword. Thanks in advance! Here some photos: