Harry

Many thanks. I agree it seems like a classic example from Sendai. I am glad I posted this, and the other Tanto also. I have learned a lot. I like the monkey menuki also. I am glad I asked about cleaning Koshirae. Two hours with some metal polish and a detail brush and that rascal would really shine. I will resist the urge. Thanks again to all for the help with these two. Harry W.

It is unsigned. On the upside - the spot on the blade just before the Habaki I thought might be a forging flaw is just a deep scratch.

That is interesting, The seller mentioned that it was a Yoroi-Doshi style blade but that just bounced off me as the name is meaningless to me.

This is the second of two Tanto I recently added. Probably another beginner piece, at least based on price. It also came without a Tuba or Seppa. I found a suitable Tsuba but the Seppa I paired it with has too small of an outer diameter and will need to be replaced at some point. I bought this one because I thought it was an antique and authentic. I hope someone here will tell me if I am wrong about that. I like it. It is probably low-end but has an "all-business" blade with a Motokasane of 9mm. The Koshirae metal is Suaka (a copper alloy). I think both the Mumei blade and Koshirae are Edo period. The Saya is lacquer over wood decorated with imbedded copper and glass (?) bits. Comments welcome. TIA! Harry

Hi Jean, I am surprised at the responses I have received about this one. I bought this thinking it was an entry-level example. I only cared that it be authentic and antique. I am at least a year or two from having the experience and confidence I need to make a serious investment. This Tanto and the other half dozen pieces I have bought were all acquired at an entry-level price from someone that seems to have a significant amount of experience with Japanese edged weapons, so it seems unlikely he will make a mistake and sell me something nice at an entry-level price. When I learned that the mei was a fake I figured this was a "throwback" for sure, but I like it and others seem to also. I feel confident from what others have said that it is indeed antique and authentic. That's all I ask right now. I will focus on better quality pieces once I am sure I know the difference between keeper and throwback. I made a lot of mistakes with my Islamic collection and prefer not to do that again. Many thanks to you and others for the help! Harry

I think it is plated, over copper or a copper alloy.

Hi Jean, I am not sure. It seems solid but it could just be plate. I'll post some better photos later today. I think I could see what's under the surface by scratching the inside if that is not a bad idea? I have those from time to time.

Thanks Kiril. That bit of transition between polished steel and nakago is suspicious. Maybe done to hide a flaw or other signature? Ken - you are absolutely right. I will make a better effort to use the proper terminology. Harry

Here are a few photos of the fittings. The knife came without a Tsuba, Kogai or a Kogatana. I figure I can add them later like I did the Tsuba. It may take a while to find a good match. I think the fittings are Shakudou with gold highlights. I am impressed by the fine miniature detail. I've a couple antique Indian Dhal (shields) with excellent miniature gold and silver work, but this rivals or bests that. Thanks for your help! Harry

Thanks folks. I wonder if this is an old blade that someone has added the signature to in order to increase it’s value? It does not seem new, but I have been wrong many times before. I will post closeup photos of the fittings later today. The Tsuba is not original to this Koshirae. I bought this and another Tanto recently, both without their Tsuba. This replacement Tsuba I paired it with seemed a good fit. Hopefully I am not breaking any collector guidelines by doing that? Kiril, I don’t see the cutout you are referring to on the nakago. I suspect that I don’t have enough experience to see it. Both sides of the nakago have writing and I am not sure which is the signature? Would collectors consider it a fatal flaw? A mutual friend of ours (Alex C.) pointed out a forging flaw near the hilt which I noticed but did not consider significant. Is that what you are referring to? I have much to learn here. I must say that I am relieved it is not junk. I have bought a couple of other blades from this seller and would be worried about them also if this one was junk. If this goes the way my other collection has then I won’t develop a real sense of what it is a keeper and what is a throwback until I have handled many more pieces than the few I have already. One thing that helped me a great deal was establishing a relationship with a trusted and respected dealer. Studying the pieces I bought from the dealer, which I had confidence were authentic, made all the difference for me. I would like to follow the same path with this collection. Anyone know of a dealer that they consider dependable and trustworthy? Thanks again for the help! Harry

Thanks Ray. I did not know that. The maker wasn't a consideration in purchasing it. I just like the knife and thought it was authentic. I am a newbie though and could easily be completely wrong about it. If so, I hope someone will let me know. No need to hold back.

This is a recent addition. Most of what I know about it comes from the seller who described the Mei as "Yamashiro Koku Seitin Jyuu Umetada Myoujyu Saku Kanei 3 year". And he thought it ~395 years old. I've included a screenshot from the sword smith DB which is the closest match I can find based on name. Any help with the translation is much appreciated. The Fuchi, Kashira, Menuki set are Shakudou with fine minute gold highlights. I invite comments. TIA! Harry

Thanks folks. Ken - I do mean just wiping off old oil and adding new. Ooitame - excellent idea of using the colored dessicants!

Any other midwest US collectors out there? Anyone in Ohio? Harry Wagner

A couple more newbie questions. I am displaying my Japanese pieces in their scabbards inside a glass display case. How often should they be removed from their scabbards, cleaned and re-oiled? I also keep my other collections (Ottoman, Persian, etc.) the same way - inside scabbards and inside a display case. A light cleaning two or three times a year is sufficient to maintain their condition. Should the same routine work for Japanese blades, or should I be cleaning them more often? I am at overflow capacity in my display case so something will have to be displayed outside of it. I am considering removing the Japanese blades. They seem like a good choice since they do not have much silver that will tarnish quickly, and the general consensus among collectors is to not clean them. On the other hand I value my Japanese blades more than my other collections, which seems a good reason to keep them inside the case and remove something else instead. I am curious what other collectors think? TIA for any help! Harry Wagner

Also good advice. Many thanks! I am glad I asked.

Thanks Ray! Good advice. My books offer similar advice for blades but say nothing about koshirae. The few pieces I have now look fine and don't need cleaning but eventually I will buy a "bargain" covered in a couple centuries of dust and grime. Is this something left to each collectors own discretion or is the general rule to not clean or "improve" them in any way?

I just got started collecting Japanese blades and am uncertain how much cleaning, if any, I should do to these pieces. I have been collecting Islamic blades for a couple of years now and I clean those, usually several times. I use silver polish, brass brushes, steel wool, oil and rust remover and am fairly aggressive using them. I think they make the pieces much more attractive when displayed and easier to sell. Not everyone agrees. What are other collectors doing with their Japanese pieces? I’ve been afraid to do anything but lightly oil the blades (but not the tang). TIA for any help! Harry W.

I am curious what type of knot other collectors favor for a sageo? Harry

Good advice. Many thanks!

Thanks Ray. I am a newbie and would not dream of attempting this myself. I would likely spoil it if I tried, and I don't want to be that guy. Can you recommend someone experienced at this I can contact? Thanks again for your help with this and the registration paper! Harry W.

I have an old Tanto in Shirasiya that I would like to purchase Koshirae for. Getting the hole cut in the tang in the right location seems to me to be the tricky part. Has anyone here done this before? TIA! Harry W.

I see lots of Japanese knives that are sold with a paper similar to the attached. It does not resemble the NTHK papers or any others that I have seen. Does anyone know if this is a judgement paper, and if so which organization issued it? TIA! Harry

Many thanks to all who responded. I appreciate the help!

Greetings, I am a complete newbie. I've read three books on Japanese swords but have only handled a few. I took a chance on this Wakizashi and would like to solicit comments about it. All I know about it is what I have read and what the seller provided (he thought it was Edo period). Any help will be much appreciated. Please don't hold back. If it is junk and I have made a mistake (I do that a lot) then it is best I find out now! Harry