nagamaki - Franco

Dragon tsuba http://e-touken.com/?p=2142

Hello, In the meantime, looking back, learning nihonto vocabulary and correctly connecting these new words to visual images and storing them to memory is an important first step in a beginner's journey. Will add that learning what kantei is about falls next in line.

Hello, Should someone have success in contacting Maeda, whom I do not know, further information posted would be appreciated if she is still legitimately selling items. Thank you. Some years ago I tried to purchase an item from this website that very sketchily and abruptly fell through. Which came as no surprise based on being forewarned and the seller's controversial reputation.

Collecting nihontō – what, how and who? http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/Collecting.pdf 1. There are any number of reputable dealers http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/sites2.htm , but, it's as much if not more of the buyer knowing and understanding what it is that they are doing. And that just takes time, study, books, shows, lectures, looking at a lot of good swords, kantei, kantei, kantei. 2. yes, usually. 3. back to answer #1. 4. yes, and yes. 5. imho, generally speaking auctions are for the experienced. There's no harm in looking, land mines come with bidding. Your budget should allow you to buy a very nice sword. How nice, full value, still needs to be answered. Take your time.

Something you might like to look at for comparison ..... http://www.nihontocraft.com/Bizen_Morinori.html

For emphasis, breathing in a number of these toxins make them far worse, do not throw caution to the wind.

Greetings, Yes, this is the auction/sellers forum. However, there are sometimes other reasons to point out a blade FOR VIEWING, and not necessarily for promoting.

Hello, A quick look at the number of O suriage Koto blades that pass Juyo shinsa in any given year should spell out the significance of kantei and O suriage blades to the collector. Which effectively makes a statement about mindfulness regarding following, not ignoring, the NBTHK guidelines for certification as well. On the flip side, shinsa failures need to be carefully understood, too. The 2nd step in kantei is evaluating quality according to Sato sensei.

https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-aoi-mon-yasutsugu-motte-nanbantetsu-oite-bushu-edo-saku-kore22nd-nbthk-juyo-paper Worth a look ....

This blade tired, hmm.

Hi Henry, In the close up image of the head/eye/snout it does look more oxen like.

Uh, while I could be mistaken, that ain't no horse tail on upper animal, my guess would be a cross between an ass and horse.

Hello, 1. these things should have been corrected by the polisher. 2. crack, if that's what it is, is there on scanned file, click on 2nd file to expand/zoom in, easily seen. 3. My thinking is that with the Bungo Takada smiths known for being quite adept at copying other schools, we're seeing a blade that someone's wishful thinking may have been hoping for a main school attribution. Requiring thought as to why it isn't. 4. koshirae is loud, just say'in.

Hello, By the time all is said and done it would be best to either or; 1. buy an old original koshirae for itself. 2. buy fittings and have them made into koshirae for the sword. 3. buy a sword already in koshirae. To do otherwise will be testing your patience, tolerance, and pocket book for certain.

It might be worth mentioning that I've seen quite a few of these tsuba for sale over the last few years, leaving me to suspect reproductions. Just saying ....

thoughts, 1. this tanto is trying to be old, old, imo, however, I believe that I'm seeing slight uchi-zori and if so, plus shape, hints at only old copy of old, old, muromachi quite possible. 2. Kagemitsu, keep in mind that although the mei might be valid, elgible for hozon paper, this very well could be a mass produced signed school piece = lower quality. 3. polish, while perhaps tempting because of price per inch, that's still cost per inch that could go towards a more promising piece. 4. before taking further steps, it's always wise to understand exactly what you have and more importantly don't have and might end up with, consult a good polisher.

Hoah, Do not see a nambokucho curvature-shape, more of a muromachi type, perhaps, even a shinshinto copy. Cannot say more or conclusively without seeing details in hand. Shapes become clearer when known swords are set down side by side from different periods. Leaving you to wonder how is it that you couldn't see the obvious but subtle differences before.

Hello, Thoughts for what little they're worth, 1. Not convinced this sword could be any older than the muromachi period, if that. 2. Boshi, certainly looks to be cutting it awfully close to the edge, although the turn back appears to widen. I would extend these thoughts to the entire cutting edge having been raised, too. The hamachi is certainly shallow supporting this idea. A broken tip, previous chips along the edge, a frequent problem seen with many swords would explain these things. 3. Fittings, yes, look to be of good quality.

Hello Marc, A Waki Goto school tsuba would be my guess.

1. O suriage 2. no books!

Hi Stephen, 1. No worries, thanks. 2. Looks to me like the hi does run all the way through, even though it tapers off due to curvature. also, It could be as late as early Muromachi.

The hi not running all the way thru the nakago, hmmm.

Yeah, yeah, patience grasshopper , one of my cats walked across the computer key board and not only deleted a sword file, but managed to empty the waste basket, too, . New pics coming soon. previously owned;

Hello, Although unfamiliar with Chikuzen Kongobyoe Moritaka, am I not looking at a very Kaga-ish nakago jiri? Or am I totally confused?

Hello, When you consider that the habaki is a prelude of what's to come as the sword is being drawn out of the saya, a Brian san habaki makes the journey that much more eventful.