shakudo

Hi Piers, Thank you so much. All making sense now. Will list blade in General Nihonto now for some learned discussion. My thanks for taking the time. Michael

Hi Matt, Thank you so much great toknow what is there. But can I ask the kanji at the very top? Special order or order or? Many y thanks for your time and thanks for looking in. Cheers Michael

Hi All, On phone so hope pics have loaded fully, fingers crossed. Firstly many thanks to Brian and all involved with this fabulous forum. I'm a regular visitor but rarely post- tech savy -Not! I have been able to purchase this blade and I must admit the old saying purchase the blade not the signature is so true. I'm guessing this is gimei but honestly- every time I draw this blade " I shiver with anticipation". I need the mei translated just so I know what is there! Pretty sure the omote is Bizen kuni ju kawachi no kami Sukesada but the ura-well thats a different story! I've got Fujiwara kuni and kore? Big ask I know but can I please have romanji and the translation as well as I cant find kanji like this anywhere in my small library? Hope thats not to much to ask- especially the kanji at the top- what is that? Now that I know I can list and send pics on phone I will forward some pics of this blades sugata and try to capture the hamon- in General Nihonto section for advice on type and maybe period? Especially like and aware of the tagane use on this mei- thoughts? Once again thank you to all members who spare their time to help fellow members and I assure you it is very much appreciated. Cheers Michael.

Yes cloisonne- not carved and I feel meji or later. Check the white line as Dale mentioned its not dirt- solder my best guess as as it doesnt match the other metal colours. Check the surfaces on all the spaces- no irregularites-carved?- dont think so! Saw it but came up with my conclusions as above.

Hi Dave, just a quick question. Does the full wrap shin- gunto have the " emporer node" as civilian mounted nihonto. I noticed with Lees gunto there was not the central nodes-only saw one view but? Cheers Michael.

Hi Dave, many thanks for the link. Answers lots of questions and surprised the round and a half is not more prevalent. Enjoyed reading the full koshirae link aswell. Many thanks for reply. Michael.

Hi Lee, thanks for your thoughts on the emporer node. I might suggest that the tsuka with multiple pieces has been remounted/ repaired. Hi Ian, yes I thought it must be economic and 18 century seems right with my koshirae. Thank you for your input.

Hi Lee, thanks for reply. Must admit I havent personally seen a 2nd WW with a full wrap- not my area but yes maybe just economics.Youngest I have is a shinto 1720 with a full wrap. Another question - why join the wrap in the centre of the ura side? With ito and the usual slice of wood down each edge, interesting? Thanks again. Michael

Hi all, really interested if its possible to determine when the wrap method for same on tsuka changed to panels? Shinshinto? All guntos seem to be panels and obviously economics was a possible cause for the change? Or have both methods always been used? Many thanks Brian for all your time,hope to see you at DTI but lets make next year? Thumbs up to all the members for your support and answering of stupid questions. All the best, stay safe. Michael.

Dear Geraint, Many thanks for your post and the link to the kunitomo. I had searched the board but obviously didnt use the right words as I didnt find this link. Cheers. Ken, thanks also for your reply. I've had this blade in hand and like what I see. Just trying to research as much as possible before I decide. Was surprised that Hawleys did not show nijimei as a possible mei so obviously I need Fujishiro. Many thanks to you both for taking the time to reply. Regards Mike.

I have just unearthed this and need the Kunitomo mei translation checked please. Only an oshigata at present but maybe pics later if I purchase. The nagasa is 39.3mm, sori of 10mm and its 34.5 at munemachi. I only have Hawleys at present but it does show 3 smiths using this tomo kanji.Marcus Sesko meikan shinto does not show any mei for comparison. The bottom mekugi ana is punched- wider one side than other but very aware this is probably gimei but still like what I see, so after as much info and opinions as possible.Many thanks to all in advance. Regards Michael. Apologies but mobile flipped pic!!!

Hello all, lets see if these load. Cheers Michael. ps. Any clues if this fails would be very helpful.

Hi Stefan and Uwe, thank you so much for your time and expertise. I thought the mei was in grass script( if thats what its called?) Seeing it in kanji Uwe makes it possible for me to decifer.Cheers. Hi Bazza, yes photos are poor. I used the original yahoo listing and didnt think screen shot could be out of focus. Ill see if I can download file but not sure on its size. Thanks. Thank you all and now for some research! Regards Michael

Hi folks, would greatly appreciate help with this mei on this set thatI have purchased. I have a couple of resources but nothing showing up like these. I have used the listing pics and it shows more info that I would like the basic idea of. These are not papered as yet but am considering submitting them. Thank you in advance, and a special thanks to the mods and to all members who make this forum my go to every morning. Regards Michael

Hi Chris, gold wont turn black unless it is treated with chemicals, and even then its really a brown. Im a jeweller and i cant get gold 9, 14, 18ct to blacken.I'm guessing you have menuki that are really dirty, possibly oil,dust even sweat. Take care with your local jeweller. No ultra sonic cleaner!!! If they were mine and Ive done this, soak in a warm soapy solution, pure soap,overnight and then lightly scrub with a soft toothbrush. Warning- check that there is not any edges of metal that seem raised off the menuki as you may have a base metal covered with gold- if so just soak and rinse.Remember no ultra sonic cleaner. Take your time. Reards Michael.

Apologies, dont post at all really forgot my sign off. Michael Australia.

Would love to see the raffle idea go ahead but anyone remember the kantei comp? Basically a raffle $30 entry and I think we had 32 odd members buy in for a $7000 sword!

Hi all, just an aside on this post. How do we determine that a blade is a family blade? Regards Michael

Well done Bazza, hope I can have a look next time I'm over! Many thanks to Ray for this kantei concept and the extremely generous prize. Also to Brian and all the mods who keep this forum working, many thanks to all and of course all who offer advice and expertise. Mike.

Very happy with Brian's idea. Thanks again for this opportunity. Mike.

Hi Brian, was referring to Stephens offer for kantei on all three correct. Cheers.

Hi Brian and Ray, many thanks for this opportunity, great learning curve. Reminds me of Miguel from Fawlty Towers " I know nothing I come from Barcelona"!!! On behalf of the Aussie's I wish to apologise for the lack of interest by my fellow country men. Please just award the $100 to the nearest. I'm sure all who have completed the kantei have no regrets for the minimal donation to a voluntary forum that allows access to world experts to answer their questions and gather information or be directed to the right place to find it. Really, less than a dollar a day for a year.I can't win a chook raffle so it won't affect me just please give the $100 prize, and I applaud your motives and thank you for the challenge you laid out for us. I enjoyed, pulled my hair out on the experience and I just can't understand how we have reached this spot. Ray, many thanks once again for your generosity and many thanks to you Brian aswell. Regards Michael.

Here goes, not confident on any but hey,what an experience. Have never tried or even envisaged an attempt. Really has shown me how little I know and that I don't have the years left to improve. But I'm convinced that I'll be able to get a better handle on my own collection from this nightmare!#!# 1.Appears ubu, sugata is Tori-Zori, long Nagasa(wish it was mine!) Kesho yasuri style yasurime- Shinto or Shinshinto. As for hada I think I see itame- hada I found was a huge weakness of mine. First thought was bizen Yokoyama but no Osaka yakidashi. Near Ha machi I think I saw yakisoni and this swayed me to Suishishi Masahide.Kyowa- bunka 1801-1818. 2.I think late Shinto, wide Mihaba, keisho yasuri. Hada appears fine ko- mokume maybe Hiz(en(konuka-hada) Up from the Ha-machi I think I see coarse mokume and shingane. Boshi seems Ko maru sagari on the omote and maybe kaen on ura. Genroku era 1688-1704,Hizen ju Fujiwara Shizuhiro. 3.Mumei. nakago dark colour and pitted. Suriage maybe 5-6 cm as shows fumbari, no visible yasurime- koto blade.Chu kissaki, ko maru- short Kaeri.Hamon chu-suguha mixed with choji midare. Hada- maybe mokume? Ouch! Rai Kunitoshi.

Hi Randy, can I be added to the list? Regards Michael.

A Shinsa for Australia is a must. When and where I think is dictated by the enthusiasm of the locals. I was fortunate to go to both Sydney token Kai as a participant. If it wasn't for Adrian Schlemmer and his band of volunteers neither show would have happened. For another one to occur we'll need volunteers and reading between the lines there seems enthusiasm but it's from individuals Australia wide. My question is this- Are there any groups of Nihonto collectors getting together regularly that feel they could be involved in a shinsa in say 2019/2020? Regards Michael.