David Flynn

Just a note for reference. I noticed when I was in Japan, that they generaly class Gendaito as post war. Hand made blades before and including the war, they class as Showato and Oil tempered etc, they class as gunto. I discovered this to my ire, as I'm principly a Gendai(Showa) collector.

Beuatiful, sigh!

pretty good Bazza

In Australia, one of our states, Victoria has enacted a similar law to the English. I was wondering if one of our Southern Brothers(Victorians) have any problem importing Nihonto? I know they are not prohibited by Australian Customs, so who checks the imports?

Showato as in Arsenal stamped blades?

I checked the signature against the one in John Sloughs book. Your one does appear to be gimei to me. However, I would compare more signatures first before I dismissed this sword. P.S. A gimei Sadatsugu was submitted at the Sydney Shinsa.

I use singer oil or Castrol general purpose oil. Supermarkets, usually sell one.

One thing I have learned for sure about Japanese swords, is there is always exceptions

I'm a little slow, but I finally got it. Lucky it's not a race

from a quick glance, this looks like a civilian Showato. these swords usually have a seki stamp on the nakago. As I have said, this is from a quick glance. If it is, a civilian showato, then it is worth the price. If on the other hand your looking for a traditionally made Japanese sword, I wouldn't bother.

Alf Tan states in the Ad that the blade is stainless steel.

Adrian, myself and few other Aussies had dinner with Dr Gordon Robson, when he handed over the Origami. He appologised for the length of time that the NTHK took to process the shinsa. As Adrian has stated, there was apparently a problem with the paper supply. The paper for the origami is a special order and supplies ran out. Also as Adrian has stated, the origami for the Kodogu and Koshirae still isn't finished, though Adrian was assured that now that the paper is forthcoming, the rest should be finished soon. Fingers crossed Thanks everyone for their patience and again, sorry for the delay.

Hi Philip, yes I made it home in one piece, thank you. The "Sadatsuga", wasn't close. I believe I actually saw it before the shinsa and commented to Adrian about being not the quality one would expect from Sadatsugu.

From the paper, this appears to be from the NTHK npo and not the Yoshikawa grp. NTHK. Why they have papered a sword with a seki stamp, I don't know. However, the Yoshikawa grp, definately wouldn't.

I have seen a wartime produced Gimei Gendai. It was submitted to the Sydney shinsa where it pinked. Whether or not it was originally in a gunto mount, I cannot say. This sword was supposedly a Takahashi Sadatsugu.

I don't want to come across as sexist, however In Sydney , ladies are allowed to sunbathe on our beaches topless. :D

The other Aussie sitting next to Adrian Schlemmer is me

Could it be YOSHIHARU, there were two producing during the war. Some come with a small w stamp, whilst some are just 2 character signature and some have dates.

I have been told that some swords with showa stamps removed, have passed shinsa. I haven't seen one myself, except for one oshigata in John sloughs book, where it states, "Stamp Removed".

(Yuki) MUNEMITSU, page 119 John Slough's book. Though it is signed the same, some characters and the shape of the nakago don't match. However, saying that, some smiths had more than one person signing their signature for them.

If this is a second chance offer, I would be very wary. Most second chance offers on ebay are scams (fell for one myself, a few years ago). Ebay washes their hands of the whole thing if one gets stung.

I wouldn't go all Gung ho on this being Koto. There's every chance that it is Shin Shinto!. Notice the Hada! I'm not saying it's not Koto, but without holding it in my hands and checking it out for myself, I wouldn't be too hasty.

I think the next NTHK shinsa outside Japan, will be in Sydney Australia in 2011.

The Chinese are definately getting better, Yikes

Hi Moss, here is a site for you to look at http://www.sydneytokenkai.com. Tom here is the name of Someone in Melbourne. Barry Thomas warlord@iinet.net.au