Lewis B

Yes, decided to get it. Negotiations ongoing.

Too many Emperor's not enough ashigaru. Shoutout to all the Daimyo's.

From Markus' swordsmiths NOBUIE (信家), Ōei (応永, 1394-1428), Bingo – “Bishū-jū Nobuie” (備州住信家), “Nobuie” (信家), he lived in Bingo´s Kusado (草戸), wazamono

Looks like a cut down long blade. Maybe the previous incarnation was damaged so a shorter Tanto blade was engineered.

Well, like you say this appears to be a replacement part. The bone might have been stained in a previous life to mimic aged elephant ivory which would account for the uneven coloration. I would expect a 3D printed part to be more uniform in color.

I don't get the impression this sword was oil quenched but I do wonder if it has been acid etched to augment the hamon.

From the appearance I wonder if it could be bone.

Larrin has a PhD in metallurgy and his father is a famous blade and kitchen knife maker in the US called Devin Thomas

I was quoted over 4 months to make a shirasaya for a tanto or 1-2 months if I was prepared to pay a 60% premium.

And if anyone was wondering about the current market price for a nice mumei Yukimitsu tanto, 10mil JPY

Gamechanger for me was discovering the dark background setting.

The Shintogo DNA is very clear in this tanto attributed to Yukimitsu. Beautiful forging consistency throughout the jiba. Good example showing how the detail in the nioiguchi and hada are emphasized in these photos. https://eirakudo.shop/172803

Good time to be buying in Japan with such a strong Euro at the moment.

Agree. Unless you speak Japanese, calling is a waste of time. Tried that route once when I was briefly ghosted during negotiations for the Kunimitsu Tanto. I'm actually quite happy he's slow to follow through on plans though. Otherwise the Mei on the tanto would have been removed and the blade polished by who knows who, in the interim 6 months between negotiations breaking down and my being able to acquire it.

Someone needs to introduce them to spell checking and proof reading. So many mistakes. The Aussies should be ashamed

Quite different. I think the OP's Yoshimitsu is a later generation Tosa Yoshimitsu with a signature stylistically similar to this example. https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A111223.html Very nice looking blade for the asking price.

For those who are unable to visit the museum in person this might be a worthwhile watch. 2.5 hours split over 2 videos

My TH Senjuin was shipped from the dealer to me in Germany a year ago. I was levied 19% importatation fees. I tried to justify the lower 5 or 7% duty but they wouldn't budge even with documentation and statements supporting the over 250 year old artifact. I was told to get the lower rate the sword must have 'special' and specific significance or historical importance eg blade made by the founder of a school, daimyo owned big beast etc. Seems like there is some room for interpretation. In the end I was given a 100 euro refund, based on a discrepancy in the calculation. In reality since the dealer removed the 10% Japanese consumption tax from the sale price I effectively paid 9% extra to get into Germany. Not too bad.

Thats the one I've been using. Probably the best one I've found online.

Outside Japan the Berlin Samurai Museum is the best permanent venue in the world (IMO) to see nihonto, tosogu and katchu. Beautifully organized and presented top level pieces such as this Kiyomaro. Puts other venues like London's V&A to shame. I will be sure to revisit over the winter.

Never seen anything like it. Unusual construction?

We missed one https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1197663550

There you go. Spoiled for choice. I'd heard Honami Nisshu gave dubious attributions and those confirm it. Unless the sayagaki are forged on these examples. Whoever chiseled the Mei wasn't even trying.

Not even close. https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1199533437

That would be the 4th.....