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You might be on the right track. My answer is lotus roots. -Donovan

Ford might be able to shed some light on this. Strange thing is that if mounted, then you wouldn't be able to notice/see the marks at all. They don't appear to be punched, but actually chiseled out. Maybe it was a scrap peice that someone used for practice But i doubt it. -Donovan

My eyes will take any "candy" they can get . No harm, no foul. I just posted something on your forum in response, but you mentioned something here that i didn't touch on. I rather enjoyed the picture of it in your hand. Not only does it give the viewer a better idea of size and perspective, but the dragonfly and stone both appear less "flat". I am envyous of your work, as always. -Donovan

Hi Ford, You finished it! Just amazing work, as usual. I was wondering if you would do anything with the underside. I would love to see some high res pics. Considering the time, and thought, Ford put into this particular peice, it would be quite the expensive mouse. -Donovan

*just downloaded Firefox at work (for the 2nd time)* Even being IT, we get yelled at for using it..... I really like your sword. I do not have the time, nor resources here at work to compare the mei, but at first look it appears to be well chiseled. Hopefully the more experienced can chime in here about this. The hamon does appear to have some choji midare within the gunome, probably a bit easier to tell with it in hand. I am really drooling over this. I envy you. This is the Sukekane i recently purchased. I believe it belonged to a NMB member, but i do not know who. http://www.nihontocraft.com/Yokoyama_Sukekane.html -Donovan

http://www.japanesesword.de/menue/schwe ... 1/001.html This is absolutely beautiful. I really need to hit the lottery or something..... -Donovan

I would say that it is completely safe to say that they experimented on other styles. From what i find the typical for the yokoyama school is going to be choji gunome midare. But i have found several examples of the later generations working in other hamon styles. I make an assumption here, but the time period probably plays a major part in the "experimentation". On Danny's page he makes mention that I beleive i put this link in a previous post. But i will post it here for ez reference. http://www.japanesesword.de/menue/schwerter/002/002.html as a side note. Any and all references for later Yokoyama smiths would be much appreciated. -Donovan

Thank you Nobody, and Jos. I rather enjoy being incorrect, typically it means that i am learing something. I try to rarely speak/write in absolutes as i am still 3 years new to these subjects. I do wish i had more examples, and references of the later Yokoyama works. I have found a few, but you can never have enough IMHO. -Donovan

I am days late on this post, but figured it worth posting my opinion. Just in case it goes back up for sale. If i had ebay from work, i probably would have replied 3 days ago. The first thing that tipped me off here was the fact that the seller wrote "Tomonari 58th genaration". One could easily follow the link that Jean posted below from Nihontocraft, and tell that the mei here is all wrong. Being that i have that wakizashi i can say that Sukekane's work is well above what is(was) displayed on that ebay auction. As i have only seen a handful of other work by this smith, i could be missing lots of information. First opinions: The mei is incorrect (opinion based from comparison, cause i cannot read mei), the hamon looks suspect, and the hada looks muji. Of course it could be due to bad pictures... But my gut says this is a rip off. -Donovan

With my limited knowledge and resources i haven't found much information on any of the Yokoyama smiths, outside of Sukenaga. I have been looking around from more information, and examples, because i recently purchased a shinshinto wakizashi by Sukekane. From what i find, there is some inconsistency in the mei of the shinshinto yokoyama smiths. As well as hamon style. The time period probably plays a large part in this. Quickly, as i am at work, i can compare two made by Sukekane. Here is a good example of the Bizen Yokoyama school. Choji hamon, yakidashi, and other fine examples. http://www.nihontocraft.com/Yokoyama_Sukekane.html Here is another by the same smith. Different mei, different hamon style, but still a fine sword. http://www.japanesesword.de/menue/schwerter/002/002.html Being a novice, if anyone can correct or elaborate on anything here it would be much appreciated. -Donovan

This part is more my speed.

I have been looking at this post for a few days now hoping that people with a lot more experience then me would comment so i could learn. At first glance this looks to be a well made tsuba, and does look as if it was mounted at one point in time. The work itself is clean, and carving appears to be well done. With that said. I want to agree with Reinhard and Brian on this. Something strikes me a bit strange when looking at it. The wear around the seppa-dai points to it's odd shape. The whole peice feels to have an unnaturalness to it. The organic depiction of the tree does fit the theme, but the way the design is forced into the curvature of the circle seems strange to me. Sorry, but i don't know enough to give more then my opinion. Which, in this case, is more of my personal artistic taste. -Donovan

It is hard to tell by looking at these pictures. Photographing hada is elusive at best. It almost appears that you have similar hada or kizu that i have in my mumei wakizashi. There are 2 or 3 spots within the hada that appear to be either shingane poking through or O-Itame. Being the novice that i am, i can't make solid judgement... But i fear that it is most likely shingane showing through. -Donovan

Hello everyone. I just posted some less then perfect pictures from my trip to the Walters Museum in Baltimore, MD over on Ford's wonderful forum. Here is the link. http://followingtheironbrush.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=391 There was so much more that i wished i could have photographed, but i am sure everyone else knows that it is really hard to get good pictures with museum lighting, and not being able to use a flash.... -Donovan

*slaps self for not signing* Not being into Kendo myself, i will assume that Wiki is correct in saying that bugo weren't used till early Edo period. That being said, you can't really tell age from just design in this case. The description puts the material as Bronze, would this be accurate? Can bronze patina to this dark of a color? Looks more like shakudo to me. -Donovan

Novice that i am, i have to agree with Ford. I have rarely seen genuine tsuba where the design runs into the seppa-dai, but i believe this is something that is not typically done. Tsuba does look to be iron. The inlay/lacquer work looks suspect, and i am not sure what to make of the speckled gray areas. If i were you, i would trust Ford *edit* and Brian's */edit* opinion on this. -Donovan

Being the n00b that i am when it comes to most things Nihonto, i figured i would present this. I ran across this set while looking at antique Netsuke. Seems the dealer doesn't know much about it as the description is lacking. http://www.zentnercollection.com/items/752873/item752873zentner.html I cannot even begin to read mei, and do not qualify myself as being able to identify good tosogu. Please share any ideas/enlightenment you might have. I am not looking to buy this, but thought it might be worth pointing out. -Donovan (sorry, i usually don't forget)

Hello Tim, How long ago was it that you emailed him? I was in contact with Danny via email last week. -Donovan

Looks like it has been in the hands of someone who decided to clean off the patina 8( -Donovan

I like the over all look and effect of the shaded/transparent windows over the more colorful background. I also like your choice of picture for the background. A lot of your photography seems to be embedded in my brain. Something still seems a bit off though. It might be the split window look. It is hard to say without seeing different styles for comparison. Also, the scrolling seems a bit rough. Not sure what can be done about that. Just like Carlo, i too cannot wait for your next book. -Donovan *edit* using Firefox 2.0.0.12

What are the dimensions? I can't be any help in reading the mei. The only thing that stands out here to me is that it is suriage. The reshaping of the nakago-jiri looks extremely well done, which answers a question in a previous post.

It is interesting how clean the Ura side of the nakago is when compared to the omote around the mei. Seems to me like something has been changed/done around the mei. All i know is that the ji-hada is beautiful and the hamon has loads of activity. I would love to have it, but i don't have $$ like that -Donovan

Someone with more experience would be better equiped to answer this with more certainty, but... I would say that it is a possibility. I have a mumei Wakizashi that is Unokubi-zukuri which gives you the felling that it is nakamaki naoshi or naginata naoshi. Yet the nakago appears ubu and is futsu kuri-jiri. The sword i mention shows no other signs of being cut down though, so it is really hard to say. And i don't know enough yet to make even a semi accurate guess. Maybe you could post some pictures of the nakago and get a few others opinons on it? -Donovan

My experience is limited to only 1 instance, but my opinion is that if it wrapped correctly and has a koshirae or shirasaya there should be no problem. I received my first wakizashi via UPS ground (if i remember correctly). The box did look a little beat up. The corners were smashed in, some more then others. The sword however was completely undamaged. Packed in a tight wrapping of heavy bubble wrap and it seemed like it would hold up to anything the shipper would throw at it besides maybe standing on it directly. I would either chalk you experiences up to poor packaging, or just some really bad luck with shipping services. If the first package was shipped state to state within the US, i think someone really screwed up and this is a worst case scenario. With shipping bare blades that would be a greater challenge. And i believe i saw a post around here while searching for something else titled "Shipping bare blades" or something to that effect. bugei.com has a few posts about their packaging on their forum site too. I have read several rave reviews about how they package their swords before they send them to customers. (If you register there, register under your real name. Board rules) *edit* Found this on the bugei site. Posted by moderator, togishi, bugei sword inspector, and all around knowledgeable gentleman Keith Larman. "Bugei has a larger, double-walled box that was custom made for their swords. They also have a full foam insert. Not small pieces, not tiny little rings of foam, but a full, box-shaped foam insert with a diecut-katana shaped insert. The insert comes out, the sword goes in." Of course this is probably more then what the average person would do. But there is no substitude for good packaging. This quote is just after he mentions how Hanwei uses regular boxes with just foam rings that suspect the sword in the box. Foam rings only shock absorb 4 of the 6 sides and swords packaged this way do get damaged. -Donovan

I am not an expert, and i do not claim to be one by an means. But white oak is commonly used for bokkens. Now i agree, there are plenty of woods that would do a better job. I mentioned Ipe and Purpleheart for instance. But if you find a nice white oak with a tight grain pattern, it should hold up very well in the dojo, and resist cracking or splintering. I picked my peice of oak pretty carefully. Very straight grain throughout, no knots, and the tightest grain i could find. Now you do bring up a good point when you mention that oak is high in tannic acid. I was a bit hesitant to mention using white oak for a tsunagi since i know certain woods are not choosen for saya due to the fact that they are corrosive to metals. I probably whould have researched before posting, but im at work and i try to not slack off too much Thanks for the info/pointers. There is always more to learn, and i welcome any help. *edit* I guess it should also be noted that American white oak is a worse choice when compared to Japanese white oak, which is traditionally used for bokken. (or so i have read it is a softer wood and more prone to splitting). My bokken will not be for dojo use. If i were to make one for actual use i would probably pick a better choice of wood. Hickory at a minimum. -Donovan