Rich S

I agree with Brian - likely the front of a katana that has been "cleaned" by someone with no knowledge of Nihonto. It shows some Hamon, forging flaws and a badly sanded(?) nakago(tang). IMHO, it is/was part of a genuine sword. Mihail - Welcome to the forum. You did better than my first buy. Nihonto takes a lot of study and seeing good swords to really appreciate Nihonto. I know that you may not have much opportunity to see good swords in Bulgaria. I suggest looking at the dealer and collectors sites in the links section. Would be a good starting point. Again welcome. You have begun a long, interesting and at times difficult study. Good to have you aboard.

For me, my various collections (and there have been many) over the years have never been an investment. Just groups of things I liked, enjoyed and found interesting. I've bought and sold/traded many thousands of $$$ in stuff over the last 70 or so years. Some I guess I made a little money on, some I didn't -never mattered - just things I enjoyed playing with for a while. The collectibles market is EXTREMELY volatile with various stuff coming and going out of fashion. IMHO, don't ever count on a collection of anything being an "investment".

Johan Very nice work indeed. I especially like the Kinai tsuba design. Did you make the katana kake also? Rich

IMHO, Tenpo on a Saotome plate - quite nice. Rich

Andrey Looks like a wonderful exhibition, even better than the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington.

David Have you looked carefully at the very end of the nakago to see if you can see any indication that it was actually folded over not just inlayed? If you can see actually see a fold, I would doubt gimei; if not ?? Rich

Kanji and date mei. Nice

Brian Minor problem, but new software still won't hold toggle for sections not wanted. Can live with it, just minor annoyance. Thanks for all your hard work. Rich

Brian Couple of problems with update: 1. No invisible choice to sign-in 2. Toggling Sections doesn't hold from one session to next 3. Notifications choices , stop emails, etc.doesn't work Other than those, the update looks good. Thanks Rich

The second generation signed with Kore Saku. Rich

Love those irregular shaped Tenpo tsuba. Just wish I could find one. rich

Dale A lovely daisho from the Tenpo/Saotome school. One of my favorite schools. Great find. Now the question is - how to get them from Tas. to VA.? Rich

RIP Fred - You were one of the old guard. You will be missed. Rich

Looks like a Maple leaf at the bottom.

Yes, I name mine "Rich's katana 1,etc; Rich's tanto #x, Rich's waK #X Willie Nelson named his guitar.

I suspect Heianjo on a Saotome plate also. Good call; nice tsuba. Rich

Bruce I just want to remind you and everyone that my site is now 25 years old and hasn't been updated in years. So please don't anyone take it as the final authority or any authority on any thing ! It's caused so much problems that I'm asking Brian to take it offline. Rich

Bruce What is the date (year) of the RJT document from Morita-san? On Nick Komiya's article is a date of 1943. I'm just wondering if folks are going a bit nuts over a stamp that was only used during the last approx.1.5 years of WWII? What about the other zillion or so swords made earlier since the Japanese re-militaration? Did the RJT regs apply earlier? I don't have any star stamps (no dog in this fight ), just curious. Rich

Sorry Stephen, don't need any cryptic (I like paper and metal money) and my swords or tsuba don't talk to me. Rather, I talked to them "Gee, you're pretty. Are you under $500 (for sword) or under $100 ( for tsuba)??" Worked well for me up to about the late 1970's. Then any Showa period sword was considered a weed wacker and iron tsuba as fishing weights. Times and fashion changed. Oh well, life (such as it is) goes on. But that's getting a bit off topic. Rich

Thank you David.

Just can't buy a good nights sleep Then why have so many RJT, non star stamped blades been papered as true Nihonto?? Going in circles again. There are no absolutes !! Good night again (I hope)

Then why aren't ALL RJT swords star stamped???? I think we are going in endless circles. My brain hurts. Need a good nights sleep - bye you'al

Do we know with absolute certainty that all star stamped blades were made from tamahagane? Maybe a few (or a lot) of star stamped were mis-stamped by accident or intention??? No absolute proof of any of it.

Steve Take this entire discussion about Nagamitsu, substitute Emura and you have exactly the same discussion all over again Rich

Kershaw are good (have several), don't like Spyderco (no holes in my blades:-) More into good old fashion slip joints - esp SAKs. BTW, today you couldn't get near the FBI building with a straight pin, much less a knife! rich