Lewis B

Nothing to add academically but hope you get well soon Brian. As you say there are few positives with increasing years. Just try and enjoy the ride.

Hi Grey. Sent you an email. Cheers Lewis

I searched the forum and came up blank. Anyone have a list of realised auction results?

I was looking at this blade earlier this evening and noticed the flaw. My best guess is this damage was sustained after Shinsa. It's not a forging or quenching flaw. Most likely user error caused when the blade was forced into something hard resulting in the gouge in the kissaki.

Yes rare. This is a katana I almost bought through Darcy back in 2021, but timing was bad after losing my job. Nanbokucho Sadatsuna with a cutting test and #62 Torokusho registration paper so early and Daimyo owned. Apart from a Kaneuji blade (#17) this is the earliest registration I've encountered. https://katananokura.jp/SHOP/1907-K01.html

I think I spotted Udo

Was that the one in Henk's/Daisuke Hataya's booth?

So true. I've held 2 recently that were blah. Maybe it was the polish but the overall workmanship was lacking. The most beautiful blade I've held in hand was a Fukuoka Ichimonji and one I would love to own. From images in books and online I find Go irresistable.

I see a lot of Kizu and Ware (along Mune and behind the Yokote). Maybe explains why it only has Hozon papers. The solid gold habaki is nice though and probably worth around $3K+ in scrap value alone. Good luck to the seller and lets see where the market goes.

I would also say the recent upswing in the Japanese economy could also have an impact in the short to medium turn. After 8 years Japanese banks have moved away from negative interest rates. Positive economic sentiment is a huge driver in peoples discretional buying decisions. If you feel affluent you are more like to spend and probably pay over market. Similarly sellers are more motivated to sell to liquidate assets if needed in an economic downturn.

Yes, I think you have it.

My apologies upfront for the poor quality but these are the best I have of a Tanto thats in a pretty poor state of preservation. These kanji likely refer to location and date and chiselled onto the ura side of the nakago. Can anything be deciphered here? Could the top 2 kanji be Doro (道路), but 'road' doesn't make a lot of sense? I think I might have misinterpreted them completely. I can also make out kanji for 3, 7 & 日 so 37 days. The image is a little clearer if you click on it to get a black surround.

This discussion came up in last weekend NBTHK-EB meeting in Solingen. It was in German so I didn't catch everything. Literally it means 'large and small'. The shorter can be a tanto or a Wakizashi for example. Doesn't have to be the same maker, school, or in matching koshirae etc. But the definition can diverge from a Western and Japanese standpoint.

A high Roller? Sorry I couldn't resist. I'll get my coat.......

Looks like someones High School metalwork project.