cju777

Thanks Brian and John. Brian-I talked to a few pharmacies by me (in Thai) but they only kept the shelf stuff. I might try one of the hospital pharmacies next time I am over there. Latest word is the State-owned school supply chain might sell them for science projects. So that will be my next stop. John- that's exactly the one I got, it's ethyl based, but more or less similar for our purposes. Will give it a go tonight on one. Cheers

Hello all- I used to use 90-99% isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean the old oil and such off my blades back in the US. However since moving to Thailand I've only been able to find the blue dyed 70% ethyl. I think by law they have to dye the non-consumable alcohols. I've read the old discussions on the types and percentages, but my question is if the blue dye agent makes it un-usable to clean the blades? I've been hesitant to use anything that contained additives. Wasn't sure if anyone in other countries that mandate the dye have used them. I could always Amazon a small bottle over but APO/DPO frowns upon "hazardous chemicals" and didn't want to run afoul of them. -Cheers and thanks. (Admins, I used the general topics but move wherever fits best)

Thanks JP! I’ll try and get some better photos in or more detailed descriptions of the activity up over the weekend when I have time. See what I can do to narrow it down!

Hello all, Companion post to the gunto mounts I shared in the mil section. With many thanks to another member I was connected with a nice set of gunto mounts with an older blade. The focus was on the furniture and the details of the blade an added bonus to practice my own study skills on once it arrived. The blade was thought to be Shinto Mino-den, but I think it might be older based on the sori, feel, and nakago patina. Mr. Bowen on a FB group thought maybe late koto Bizen. I recently moved and my books are enroute... my photos aren't the greatest and as a novice having my own trouble trying to pick out some of the details in the metal in its wartime polish. I’m struck how narrow and slender this one feels in hand and don't mean that as a pejorative just descriptive. My other two blades are Shinto and a bit heftier. Nagasa: 62cm Sori: 2.5cm Hamon: ko-midare? I'm not sold on it and the pictures don't help. Working on assessing the hada and details in the steel Would be happy to hear any thoughts. I'll be (slowly) working through my own study and post any observations. It has some small chips and rust, not sure if its "financially" or physically up for a new full polish but looks nice with the mounts. Adds a nice bit of recent (and old) history to my collection. Cheers, Chris

Hello Mil Swords Section, With many thanks to Neil (IJASWORDS) I am excited to share with the group my first gunto mount . I mainly own and have studied Shinto and earlier blades, but the mil historian in me wanted to have a gunto in the collection, and finding one with with an older blade helped meet both interests. Neil's recent slew of sale items and having recently moved to Thailand, being around some of the vestiges of the Pacific Theater, pushed me to get one for study. Neil was great to purchase from, connecting me with a perfect set for my interests and it arrived well packaged. I've read up on some of the history, but welcome any additional comments. A complete Type 98 set, nice fittings marked "54", with leather saya cover, and company grade tassel (my favorite grade since afterwards lies the misery of staff assignments...) Guess I'll need to spend more time on this sub-forum! And maybe make room for more Cheers, Chris

As the folks above said a good kit can be very simple. When I was starting out... which I still very much am, I modeled my maintenance kit off the one Darcy provides to his Juyo clients. Most parts can be found off Amazon and other retailers, any case will do. Plenty of discussions on the forum on the various oils if you search. I went with the Okamura Heibei Shoten brand choji oil but might switch once it runs out, but I have been happy with it. Darcy's kit - https://blog.yuhindo.com/a-better-way/ My setup is in the photo. Costs more than it needs to but part of the fun was the scavenger hunt to piece it all together. Case, microdear cloth, choji oil, smaller cloths for oiling (tissue works fine too), mekuginuki, sword pillow Hope that helps! Cheers, Chris

Hey all, Appreciate all the discussion! Especially as a beginner its easy to get focused on a specific "era" and forget that in reality things shifted over the time period and it isn't always so black and white. I wasn't intending to imply anyone was wrong or misleading, so hope that I didn't come across that way -- just my own curiosity to get a better sense of how to go through a self-kantei, and mainly help me narrow down on where to look for info on the generation of Ujinobu that I have. Especially since shinto and Edo cover a wide range of time. I enjoy the history aspect that comes along with owning a specific nihonto. Really helpful comments and thanks for your time to chime in! Tom D. - I did get it from AOI, but sent it to shinsa after purchase. He couldn't guarantee the mei, but it all looked pretty legit from what I saw in the pictures and not someone I'd suspect is a gimei target so gave it a shot. I am enjoying it so far, was just curious how folks are able to narrow things down and focus my own further study. Cheers, Chris

Found this on AOI's historical page, papered Hozon to Edo Higo, lot's of similar design and themes, thanks for pointing me that way gents!

Hello NMB, As noted in the introduction thread, I have a signed Noshu Ju Ujinobu katana that recently passed the December shinsa for Hozon as shinto era. Tsuruta-san at AOI estimated Muromachi period around Eiroku era (1558-1570), but the December NBTHK shinsa put it at shinto, as also did Ken on the intro thread as well based off the sughata--so think that is probably a good bet. I'm trying to narrow down when might be a better era estimate now and I've tried to walk through my own kantei based off Markus Sesko's series... but I think a lack of experience and lack of hands on other examples is not making it click for me. I also have not been able to find any good comparison mei for Ujninobu that are close to mine. Any thoughts on when in shinto, within probably Edo it might be from? Or thoughts on how to narrow down the generation. Or even ideas where I might be able to find some comparison mei, although I assume its not one likely to make any major books. Some of the measurements I took-let me know if you think I am off anywhere: Tsukurikomi: shinogi-zukuri Nagasa: 70.3 cm, but about 1cm machiokuri and a few cm suriage Kasane : 0.67 cm Sori: 1.5 cm, toriizori (I think) Kissaki: chû-kissaki Thanks for any help and appreciate anyone who takes a look at the thread. My photo skills leave much to be desired but can try specific shots if that helps.(It's the lower of the two on the stand in the photo) Cheers, Chris

Mauro, thanks for pointing to Edo Higo. I'll read up on that. Geraint, the seppa does stand out. The other one isn't like it at all and the pattern is not found on that back. Also thanks for pointing out the mon, there are actually three different types on the fuchi - the Sakai, a variation of the Sakai (with indents on the 3 wings) and the blacked out one, five circles surrounding a center circle (which I knew at one point but I am forgetting at the moment). One is repeated at the end of the kashira. I also was able to photo some of the other details. The tsuba feels legit, some of the other parts seem mis- and match and of varying quality. Also think there are two kanji on top of the fuchi. I don't know Japanese but from I know of Chinese they look like, 明 or 朋 and 久. Appreciate you time. Cheers, Chris

Good afternoon all, Last last year acquired my first nihonto which passed shinsa in December. Most of my time has spent researching the blade side of things, without much time for studying up on tosogu. The sword did come with a koshaire and fittings, posting here to get the groups thoughts on if they are much of anything, and if there is any place I could start to get an idea of what they are. Not expecting much on them, but figured I'd try and find out what I could. Appreciate your thoughts. The blade papered to Hozon shinto mei NoshuJuUnjinobu but know fittings can change throughout the life of the sword. Cheers and thank you, Chris

Thanks Ken. Stored in shirasaya in cotton bags, I know better! (yes, with oil, built a handy little care kit based off Darcy's blog) That was just for the photo. Shinto isn't bad, at least it papered.

Hello all, Been lurking and learning here for awhile and finally thought I should introduce myself. Greetings from northern Virginia! New to ninhonto, but acquired my first two over the past year, which much help from the NMB. Forgive my photography... The katana is a NoshuJuUjinobu mei blade that passed the December shinsa as shinto era. Although AOI and my sori read thought late Muromachi, but I haven't found any good mei to compare to that matched so probably a fair call. Came with a kosharie but I have not had a chance to dig into the finer points of tosogu. Fun sword to start off with. My nicer piece of the two is a Dewa Daijo Kunimichi mei long wakizashi from Danny. Certainly stands out when you get the right lighting on it. Stand was made by a friend, his first attempt at something for a sword. Thanks and look forward to seeing everyone on the boards. Cheers, Chris