Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini

Considering the weight and lenght, and considering you should hold briddles as well (at least most of the time) I believe such monsters were mostly for foot soldiers.Different lenghts might be for footsoldiers (longer) or cavalry ( a bit shorter and lighter). Reminds me of the European Zweihander. Yeah, there weren't large and tight pikes formation (yet) but still it makes sense. And likely didn't work that well if we consider the short period these swords were used in large number... BTW wheren't they longer but thinner in front of later Tachi/katana in order to save weight ?

As regards Italy, we have extremely crazy laws that label Swords as war weapons. Same as an M4 . To collect, buy and sell such items you need special authorization (even if older than 100 years) and send them abroad (also teporarly for a Shinsa) is a pain in the back. Be assured to pick up serious sellers that knows how to move into this madness.

Chris, the matter is quiet complicated, If you really want to develop this matter I strongly suggest you to read Willliam W. Farris and Karl Friday on the subject. Academic material that might be sometimes in conflict but that is surely very educational.

At this point methink Brian is right. So thiny to achieve an exaggerate curvature. Good fittings tells for a Mamorigatana as well. I wonder if (or how many) hagire sleeps under that poor polish.

TWO swords that a Samurai owned...

Not according to my studies,. This author's opinion on the state-of-the-art of Japanese smithing in Jokoto are far to be supported by academic studies and plainly wrong (Ohmura strikes again...)

I think Joe and Stephen nailed it down. Shinshinto blade adapted to a Meiji Mount. If only it was in better polish...

Great. Really special. Saved all the pages in PDF for my archives.

Wow, it IS of interest ! . Uda seems a good call. Curious what the NBTHK will say.

My 2 cents : genuine, tired, gimei and Shinshinto (originally over 70 cm nagasa considering suriage)

The mekugiana at far right seems deformed (has a flat bottom) like if the sori of the nakago has been altered while the one at far left is oddly placed....Seems no Yasurime. Details of the saya aren't that bad, I don't think is for Ikebana, maybe for tourist possibly refurbished from a longer blade retempered that achieved in the process an exaggerate curvature. .

Life ain't fair. Only 52 and with so much knowledge to share in such a kind way not only here but if I'm right on the french forum as well. Great loss under every aspect. My deep condolences to the family.

Aoi shouldn't sell blade of this level..

A jeweler monocular magnifier with the usual surgical mask are light and use very few space into your pokets...

a well deserved "like".

FWIW : Early Shinto Sugata. Ko-itame hada with very tight grain formations almost nashiji points Osaka, Masame in the Shinogi-Ji. Hamon resembles of gunome with maru kashira and starts in yakidashi (usually) , yasurime is o-sujikai until hamachi. Nedeed to use Magnifier function to have a slightly better vision.

score another one for Izumi Mamoru Kunisada.

Sword Forum international has some fine western smiths that works in Japanese-style. I wonder if O-mimi would participate....

Sometimes I ask myself if we are always and everywhere "the good guys"...

Really a very good blade...

Atari for Rayhan !

In the Museum of Castello Sforzesco in Milan there is an Itomaki-no-Tachi , Tachi-mei even if under 2 Shaku. I whish I had the pics on hand...

world really has gone banana...

Hi John. I meant armor for footsoldiers, Kerai and so on, the supposed primary target for these monsters...

I'm not a Katchu expert so I wonder if contemporary armors got heavier as a counter measure,