DoTanuki yokai

I think you have a problem because you make the cut at juyo, how many Nagamitsu are kokuho or other cultural status that exclude them from Juyo. Maybe Rai was not good enough to get their blades to Tokubetsu Juyo. It is nice to see the Numbers but to really understand its meaning some more must be put in consideration i think.

I think I see what you mean and maybe it is the result of decarburization that was not grinded away. Could also be some failure while etching the surface like not cleaning the blade properly.

I answer the “what is this” questions everyday on Reddit in most cases the questions are “is it of historical relevance and how much value”. Most of the stuff are abused sad conditioned swords bought for a few $ Yesterday I thought about telling someone that they buy uninteresting crap and I don’t understand why someone would spent any money on it because their only reason to buy it was that it is authentic Japanese. I did not because even this people put money into the Nihonto world and that is a good thing, most will be happy with what they bought anyway. They don’t care what they have, they don’t understand it and maybe someday when they understand they will laugh. It is not my money that is burned. I stopped to judge them because it will make everyone depressive. I don’t even looked at the Naginata but I’m sure Jacques is not totally wrong. One of my friends bought a signed Tadahiro Naginata with TH for around 4000€ and I would say that was a much better deal. So I wouldn’t tell someone to buy a thing that is uninteresting for the majority of collectors where he will most likely have problems to sell it again because people with knowledge think it is uninteresting and people like him don’t believe him what it is because he is not a Japanese seller with a nice suit.

I don’t see any Jinie on this kind of pictures while my 1st pictures shows a little of it around the reflection of the light. So what I can see is in Kirills picture is a folding pattern not the Hada. I think the Jinie is one of the most important kantei points, it is the difference between some regular koitame or konzis or nashiji. Also I would want a picture of a split nashi at the beginning of every book where it shows that nashiji Hada looks like the fresh cut inside of the nashi and not the Ji of the nashi, the Ji is from the blade

The double hamon is called Nijuba but there can be triple hamon where it is then sanjuba. Nijuba is mostly associated with Yamato school and Uda got it roots in Yamato tradition so I think this is a good guess for what is visible.

I would also guess the Ken wasn’t very old, it lacks the typical wear(from polishes) on the edges that gives the old ones the “hourglass” shaped blade in my opinion.

I respect the work and quality of your pictures Kirill but I don’t think your pictures really give me much. They are high quality everything visible but simply not as I see blades with my eyes. I also tried to make pictures like you do but then I decided that a more natural picture serves me better in showing the blade. In the end a video is much better because of it change in angles that can really show the Jinie what is impossible in one picture no matter how good it is. So I switched my complex photo setup to a more simple and closer to the real life experience setup. I have seen in other threads that your pictures seem more popular than mine but I would like to understand why that is the case. But im also the guy that says that Hadori is a reflection of classical Japanese society behavior and definitely the better polish then Sashi Komi. Here some pictures that I have made with my phone and could be much better done with a camera but this pictures show me much better what I can expect from a sword in my opinion.

To be fair, I think they had a much better chance to find a sword in a shrine attic then I have in my grandmas attic.

I would say you should experiment more with the lightning and angle at which you look or photograph the boshi. It is common that the boshi does not get the Hadori polish and is harder to see. I posted pictures that shows how much the light and angle have an impact.

The nominal designation of Kamakura-Tsuba comes from the fact that its carving style is similar to Japanese wood engraving folkcraft "Kamakura-Bori". So, it has nothing to do with the name place "Kamakura" in Sagami Province (present Kanagawa Prefecture) and also nothing to do with the Kamakura period (1192 - 1333) of Japan. from https://tsuba.jyuluc...m/KamakuraTsuba.html I can’t guarantee for the information as I don’t know much about kamakura Tsuba

Maybe I overreact but when I read some experts for antiques say this rust is old I’m done. In my opinion it just looks like it was stored in a high humidity environment for some weeks or months or maybe a few years depending on the surface condition. I also maybe misinterpreted you comments because we see here so many people that refuse to accept advise that start to argue with opinions of non accepted experts in the Nihonto world. I’m sorry and I definetly don’t want to start a fight or stop you from learning about Nihonto it is just frustrating from time to time.

Another one Just to summarize: you come with a “strange shape” (your words) Tanto and everyone is telling you the shape is strange because it is made in China and I show you evidence but I can’t convince you. If I accidentally try again to help you remind me pls that I waste my time.

The blade looks unshortned Ubu, the Hamon clearly starts directly at the Hamachi. The polish also does not really look right, maybe it is some kind of Hadori or acid etched but not Sashikomi in my opinion. What you see before the Hamon could be some kind of mizukage, also the Nakagojiri does not look like a typical shortned one.

Bruce if you expand the description you would find this "The hilt has on one side of the blade the gold inlaid signature of Masamune and on the other side the gold inlaid signature and monogram of a member of the Hon’ami family of sword appraisers, who attributed the blade to Masamune."

Just some messing around with hydrogenperoxid

Maybe i wasn't clear about it but im sure it is one of this chinese Tanto i linked because i also own one that was a gift from an martial arts equipment store where i ordered something. I have modiefied a lot of things on this Tanto but i think it is clear that it is from the same factory. Look at the Hi and the Hamachi and overall shape, i could change the Nakagojiri in a few minutes if you are still not convinced.

I got this one https://www.aoijapan...gned-grape-design-4/ I think they have a lot in common but I don’t know more then what is written on the Aoi page.

Maybe 左 Looks like an interesting blade.

I would be interested in seeing this blade pictures

What color does a copper Tsuba have ? I have expertimented with the patination of copper with heat or Niage (Rokusho) technique and the possibilities are endless. I cannot say anymore from wich alloy a Tsuba is made

I did not know Kotetsu signed Wakizashi with Tachi Mei and another guess is that the blade could be Mumei when it was tested

It is made in China and exists in many variations from different sellers with or without hamon or folded steel but all of them have the same shape and Hi Etsy

I would say don’t sand it and keep your brain cells https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Red_lead

Hardned steel is more resistant to corrosion, one could say that the Habaki removed the rust but i think what i see fits better in the picture. EDIT: I wrote Hamon and Jacques you are right that i dont really see the Hamon.

It depends on the shape how much it will get narrower but it will. Actually the Hi is nearly flat at the end of the Nakago on the left picture. The Hamon runs into the Tang, the disappearance of the Hamon in the Nakago is not the end of it but it gets lower like the pattern that can be seen on the rest of the blade.