Lewis B

The quality of blades attributed to Go are on a different level. This one went Juyo and was polished by Andrew Ickeringill https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1994822754423622&set=pcb.1994826924423205

Agreed, it appears to be Kiyomitsu. Lanes Armoury got it wrong. Ura side of the nakago isn't shown but my guess is that a nengo is absent https://www.thelanesarmoury.co.uk/shop.php?code=24324

I agree with this sentiment wholeheatedly. And why membership and attendance at NBTHK-EB or AB meets is so rewarding. Many of the members are exceptionally generous with their collections and occasionally its possible to handle these otherworldly blades and not be restricted to viewing them through a lens.

It's blades like this that keep my fascination for Nihonto. This guy takes some amazing images of these superlative blades and all from behind glass. Kudos to the museum for getting the lighting just right. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1996901080882456&set=pcb.1996902534215644

Here is a blade purported to be by a Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu from the late Muromachi era. Choroku period smith?

Besides a loup I would take a small LED flashlight. The lighting at these events is less than ideal so the torch can help you see the finer activity. I believe @Matsunoki has a table at these events so I would suggest you have a word in person and see what he has to offer.

Some thoughts on the topic here.

The nakago looks pristine based on the sliver shown above. Nice pickup. Was it purchased in Japan or the US?

John, if you don't mind sharing the blade I would love to see it. I have a particular sort spot for Sa Kunihiro, especially his tanto.

Machi looks fine to me. The background doesn’t help see the hamachi

-the Oshima Yukimitsu https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1990720528167178&set=pcb.1990722204833677

What exactly are we looking at? I can see some Ware in the Ha and an outline of Mount Fuji.

Doesn't have an aire of Nihonto to me.

Here are some well executed stills of the same blade taken by a really accomplished photographer given the limitations https://www.facebook.com/foldable.at.its.lirnit/posts/pfbid036qtZgADUbdHoTViotbWY2H8cJXTxpnVijhepvhu3oZVEmf9YJMTCfweqC6Ru6986l For example (better images in the links) And just for giggles, couple more tanto from the early Soshu grandmasters in the same exhibition -the Ashiya Masamune

If Go was a retainer for Momoi of the Matsukura Castle in Etchu Province, his responsibilities were split. The fact he achieved what he did, in the time he had to do it was nothing short of amazing. Norishige is said to have established a forge in the Neyama Fief, near modern day Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. Thats about 78km from Matsukura Castle, typically a 2-4 day journey in 14th century Japan. So I imagine close enough that they could have had regular contact and to have influenced eachothers forging styles. Go would have been about 9 years his junior. The current ruin from the 16th century was built on top of the 14th century site, occupied in Go's time. The vantage point from the top of the hill is quite spectacular and you could easily see the strategic advantage it offered.

I'm not so sure Go was a "faithful reproducer of Masamune's work". Some experts have postulated that he was not a Soshu smith at all and worked in Yamato. He could have been a journeyman swordsmith picking up new techniques that were being developed at that time. As Kirill says there are Yamato features like Masame in some of the blades attributed to him. Another theory says his father was Senjuin Yoshihiro, whose work clearly straddles Yamato and Soshu-den. Go is a bit of an enigma imo. I think the historical attributions by various earlier Hon'ami appraisers, their oshigata in old books and blades with historical provenance are what guide modern day attributions. Has a Go ever been reattributed to Masamune or vice versa? As mentioned there are at least a couple of cases of Sanekage going to Go at higher Shinsa levels. Early Tametusgu when he worked in Etchu also has a lot of the Go flavour in the deki, but just not quite as accomplished as you would expect from Go and the sugata deviates somewhat.

It would be nice to see images of the blade. Value depends on SO many different factors.

That would be my guess too

Why not offer the contributing members who provide translation assistance (its not difficult to figure out who they are) complimentary Gold level status. This acknowledges their invaluable contribution without a lot of fanfare.

And a goal mouth that constantly shifts. Who knows what the flavour of the month will be next year.

2024 results

Ahh OK, so its only replacement papers if originals lost, that apply to Juyo and up.

Juyo or TJ yes, not sure about TH or Hozon.

Did they chisel out the hamon? Or just very poor forging? Crazy

Not sure I can agree with you there. The boshi are impossible to see and all the photos are taken perpendicular to the blade which is less than ideal to see activity in the jihada. Resolution is good though. Best images now that Darcy's Yuhindo is no longer available are to be found on Pablo's Unique Japan IMO. This may be controversial but I think Touken Komachi gives it a very good go. Just a shame they stock mostly low end pieces.