Rich S

See my webpage on the Yoshichika smiths. http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/yoshchik.htm Interesting that the first Yoshichika made blades with western steel which have been papered by both NBTHK and NTHK. RIch S

I think it was sometimes done when converting yari into tanto mounts. The yari/tanto I have has this type of cut out in the fuchi. Rich S

Lotus - Both nagasa and sori are measured from the same line. I couldn't show one line and include the names. Nagasa from tip of kissaki to ha-machi; sori from that line to the high point of the curvature (at least that's how I've always done it). Rich S

See my page on blade measurement at: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/measure.htm Rich S

According to ToShow the reading should be "Efu". Rich S

I haven't gotten that email, but I make it a policy NEVER to click on an unknown link sent by an anonymous person or anyone that I don't know. Best way to avoid viruses, etc. Better safe than sorry. Rich S

Also should mention that Hiromitsu and Sukemitsu are two of the common mei that are nakirishimei. see my webpage for examples. http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/promei.htm Rich S

The first sword is signed "Ishido Teruhide saku" (Ishido = family name) Teruhide (smith's name) saku (made). See my webpage on him at: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/teruhide.htm Second sword I can't translate completely: Noshu Seki ju ..... Kane.. Rich S

I'm going to offer an opposing viewpoint (flame away). While I would certainly keep the original gunto koshirae, I see nothing wrong with remounting a gendai blade in Edo period mounts. After all, the Japanese have been remounting Koto blades in Shinto, Shinshinto, Edo, Showa, etc. mounts for hundreds of years. If the cost doesn't bother you, go for it. Just do nothing that would damage the blade, gunto koshirae or the fittings you use to remount. Rich S

Grey - Maybe you should leave it alone and not straighten the barrel. It may be one of those very rare ninja guns meant to shot around corners :-) Rich S

Any aroma from the pouch? My guess would be tobacco pouch. If so, it should have a residual aroma. Rich S

Yes, Tsuba-no-bi website belongs to Marc I. Le Pelletier. Rich S

I've had a dozen or so Emura. I just go by the quality of the blade. Generally, but not a certainty, the long mei are more likely by Emura. Those just signed "E" or Emura, some are by students, although I've seen several blades signed this way that were quite nice. I don't think, at least I haven't seen, a sure way to tell student from master. All sorts of Emura mei blades have been papered, so maybe it doesn't really matter?? Rich S

Yes, definitely Emura saku. One of my favorite gendai smiths. Rich S

You might try putting the Japan URL into Google's translation engine. Rich S

Brian - I have a page on sword flaws on my website. Feel free to use any, or all, of it as you see fit. (Site is down until Tue, due to bandwidth over run). Rich S

Brian - Well done !! (and even I, without Javascript can read it :-) Rich S

Jinsoo - I'm getting by for an old guy :-) Nice to have you back. Didn't realize you were even married, much less had a daugther. Last contact we had you were still in Canada - long time ago. Any way, good to hear from you and that you are still in the Nihonto world. Rich S

Jinsoo - Welcome back to the States. Glad to have you "home" :-) Will you be staying in the States a while or just visiting? Rich S

Ben - Let me try to clarify some of your questions; I haven't seen the sword, so am answering in a general way to your questions. It is a real sword - it was made in Japanese by an actual swordsmith using traditional methods. Therefore a "real" sword. Gimei - a false signature, someone (maybe recently, maybe centuries ago) decided to "enhance" the value of the sword by carving the signature of a famous smith. How does you know that? By comparing to known, authenticated examples of the famous smith's signature (mei). This has been a common practice for centuries and is one of the main reasons for shinsa -where knowledgeable experts can look at the sword, its characteristics, signature, etc and compare them to known authentic examples. Polishing vs leaving in "found" state: this is just a matter of custom of the particular culture and collectors ethic. The Japanese like to see swords in excellent condition regardless of age or how found. Other collector groups, like German memorabilia, Bowie knife collectors, etc like to have things in an "as found" condition feeling the cleaning destroys part of the history of the object. Hope this helps a little. Nihonto is a very complex and confusing area of collecting. I've been studying and collecting for over 30 years and still don't feel I know more than a baby in the field. Rich S

Brian wrote: "we do not recommend a newcommer buy their first sword off eBay, but we do know that you are going to do that regardless of what we recommend...so here's how to proceed anyways....." You are so right. Regardless of all the warnings, admonitions, etc about ebay, newbies still end up there; normally buying junk. Sometimes I wonder why we try Rich S

Brian - Don't know if it would be of any help, but feel free to use any or all of the info in the FAQ on my website. Most is pretty basic stuff; perhaps too basic and doesn't cover all the topics mentioned. I wrote it for the total newbie to try to avoid just what you mentioned - answering the same question over and over - it really didn't do any good that I could tell. Still got the same questions. Rich S

There is a lot of info and oshigata for comparison on my Asano Kanesane page at: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanezane.htm also more oshigata on the oshigata page: http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/index.htm Just noticed you said, no mei, stamps, etc. All Kanesane blades that I've seen have been signed. Probably not one of his. Rich S

Lots of info on Koa Isshin blades, including zodiac date chart at my website: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/koa.htm Also great info at: http://www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~j-gunto/gunto_149.htm Hope this helps. Rich S

Clive - Probably good to email Ron, but since he allowed me to post it on my website to share with the world, I don't see any problem. Just be sure he is given credit which I'm sure you would anyway. Rich S