BjornLundin

Oei bizen tanto is tempting, from photo. Price point unknown for yasumitsu compared to the other two Oei bizen smiths. https://www.bonhams....333-1573-circa-1400/ Omiya bizen, I honest dont know about this one. It doesnt feel great but there is something that interest me. New polish or better photo... Is it really from the Omiya school? Someone please educate me about this one! Price point on the border.... https://www.bonhams....3-1573-16th-century/

Thank you all for the great answers. I am again amazed and very grateful that forum members use their valuable time to answer and give insight into a not-so-detailed question. I learn every day thanks to you all! Best Björn

AOI presented this tachi today, and I oogled over the price 350000 yen - 2300 USD including shirasaya including TH papers. 1300th blade... https://www.aoijapan...kenconsignment-sale/ Anyone explain to me why this sword price is so low? What am I not seeing here? -Björn

Could be a shoe also

Similar to the first menuki. Biting on a bag (I think), there is a rope that is tying the bag together, not easily seen.

Chinese, the tang really lets me down. But for a good price why not.

Strange that the photos did not attach. Hard to say anything without data Here they are again ^^

Hi everyone, I am trying to get more information of this bizen bowl. I purchased it in Okayama in a antique shop for about 10 years ago. I am wondering if anyone has any guess on age? if it is possible tea ceremony type of bowl? Anyone recognize the artist? Dimensions are ~8 cm in height, 21 cm in diameter (upper part). Any clues or guesses is welcomed also

Hi Everyone, So I bought an old blade (waki) a few years ago that came with a wood saya in a leather gunto combat sheat. Blade has been polished and a new shirasaya is being made together with a tsunagi of the blade. I am thinking of restoring the gunto having the tsunagi there. The blade and gunto came of Australia, so it is possible it is from the pacific part of the war. The wooden saya is not in is best condition, and I am thinking it can be dismantled, cleaned and put back again with new lacquer for the saya and new horn details made. I am missing the tsuka, menuki, tsuba, etc... Now, I am speculating here and I think that the saya is older than the war and was repurposed for the young lad´s war effort. I think I read that later in the war, gunto swords could be in non arsenal fittings. Would it then be wrong to make a new tsuka with plain iron FK set (shirasaya maker had this set as an option, see photo)? For me, it feels right to the plain wooden saya and possible two mismatched menukis. I also need to find a replacement for the metal ring hanger? in the saya or try to make a new one, anyone has any ideas for this. Then also there should be a leather safety strap to secure the blade to the saya. Also tsuba options (plain iron?) So I need recommendations, feedback, help to not make a frankenstein, help to get it right All the best Björn

My 50 cents, take your time. Understand what you have, ask (show) to experts and get their opinion. Possible start with making a shirasaya and tsunagi and restore the koshirae. Sorry for all the mispelled words. If it was part of my history then I would restore it and depending on the blade polish it or alternative leave it as it is and stop any rust. -Björn

Out of topic but I have never seen fur before? Bear Fur? Is there a story to this, special area in Japan where it was common or is it for specific occasions? Or just for fancy... Im a bit clueless here 😁

Cool, I have lived in Okayama for a few years. So dont forget to visit Kora-kuen. The local train from Okayama station to bizen takes 30-45 min. So I would go to bizen in the morning, sword museum and then pottery and lunch. Then continue to Himeji, look at the fantastic castle there. Might be a que there but this time a year it may be short. Then take the shikansen from Himeji back to Okayama. There is a very good (if still there) grandmother and son sushi restaurang close to the sport park in Okayama (10-15 min walk from the station)... Or go for a Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki 👍. Ahh now I want go back to Japan 😰

Get a railway pass! 1 week is short so plan well ahead, Tokyo is large so you could easily spend a lot of time there. 2-3 days in Osaka as a base camp. From there 1 day in Kyoto, 1 day in Nara and 1 day in Himeji and bizen. If going to bizen dont forget to visit bizen pottery in the same town. Or maybe skip Nara and stay all the time in Kyoto. VIsit Spas (natural spring water) baths. There are both day (cheap) and overnight options. There is a lot of good food, so dont be afraid to try different stuff. Osaka has a great vibe, almost better then Tokyo

I think Rivkin has got it right here. 200-700 USD. I was for a long time tempted to buy this one. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/tsuba-%26-kodogu/q237-fine-shakudo-nanako-tsuba-over-run-dragons Compare it with yours. Great find! Best Björn

I have no idea, and to little knowledge. But for the sake and fun of it I will guess shinto atleast, but as a side guess could be also be from the 11th period. -Björn

Hi, noticed that there were a somewhat local auction here in Sweden. Variarity of items... Firearms - to repro to antiques. Depending on price - I will possible put a bid on a Yari or Naginata but most likely not since they need a lot of love and quality is possible not there for any cost of love. https://auctionet.com/en/themes/358-spring-weapon-militaria-sale?campaign=3239&utm_campaign=Kampanj+3239%3A+Vårens+vapenauktion&utm_medium=campaign&utm_source=campaign3239 Item 2191257 - Japanese? War horn - never seen one before. https://auctionet.com/en/2191257-stridshorn-Japan-in-the-form-of-a-seashell-late-19th-century Item 2193177- Waki - In better condition that most of the other nihonto in the collection. https://auctionet.com/en/2193177-wakisashi-mumei-koto-before-1596-in-shirasaya Item 2148444 - Armor set - akward eyes https://auctionet.com/en/2148444-armor-Japan-edo Item 2150542 - Waki - high sori shape? https://auctionet.com/en/2150542-wakizashi-Japan-may-izumi-kami-rai-kinmichi-shinto-shinshinto Item 2204716 - Armor set https://auctionet.com/en/2204716-armor-Japan-edo Item 2205164 - Waki - hmmmm Item 2205200 - Waki - iron fittings - higo? https://auctionet.com/en/2205200-wakizashi-Japanese-mumei-koto Item 2207030 - Naginata https://auctionet.com/en/2207030-naginata-Japanese-shinshinto Item 2205342 - Naginata https://auctionet.com/en/2205342-naginata-Japanese-mei-shinshinto Item 2207122 - Yari - Possible decorative against a wall - Tri edged? https://auctionet.com/en/2207122-yari-Japanese-with-hadome-mumei Item 2207177 - Yari - Decorative against a wall https://auctionet.com/en/2207177-yari-jumonji-yari-Japanese-mei-shinto

No mekugi-ana?

I found it in a nihonto group on Facebook. Discussion and Study of... and posted as NBTHK exhibition. I can only guess the purpose.

Maybe a solved mystery.

It was sold recently for 1000 USD. Really bad photos, why would anyone pay that amount. For me nothing looks authentic. Why would the or an auction firm list it as a Japanese Katana 1800-1900? Or is value going up. https://auctionet.com/sv/2095355-svard-katana-Japan-1800-1900-tal/images#image_5

I noticed it also. I want it 🥰 but low on funds.

With my bad back, a stick is all I can have moving around

Since I cannot edit. I have also "long time" ago thought of how cool it would be like a samurai, swinging a real sword around. But boys fantasy taken away, reality sets in. Those warriors having these swords trained long and hard and even then I dont think they were swinging them around. If I would want to go the route, with out a teacher. I would start with a wodden stick, then possible a kendo sword. Then do that for 10 years or so, then feeling that I have progressed on the way of the leaf. I would probably get a IAITO https://tozandoshop.com/collections/hyojun-standard-weight-iaito. Then, training with that for a couple of more years. If then not cured of foolish thoughts and thinking "Hmmm maybe zombies are coming someday" then a sharp iron sword is the way to go. If only want to whack at something in the yard, then probably it is easier to get an steel bar at the local store is a good idea. But I totally understand the cool thoughts and dreams, one could have to be a samurai. Just look at that hamon.... Iaito is the way to go. Dont destroy antiques, send them to me instead for safe keeping!

https://www.aoijapan.com/katanamumei-attributed-as-kawachi-kami-sukesada/ https://www.aoijapan.com/katanasuzuki-kaga-kami-sadanori-not-guaranteed/ These would tickle my interest, but a few swing with a normal kendo stick usually cures my interest. If I was a sword user. I would probably would ask my sensei for advice and go to a store for tryout. If a lot of money and skill and would probably ask a smith. Forum is probably not good place except for general advice. So my advice, find a sensei. Buy a good solid training shinken? sword. Train, train and strive to be better for every time. And so on...

Looks, similar to the shibuishi that I have made (light pink). Do you see any "silver" traces in the metal? You could try to stain it and compare the color or measure weight/volume ratio. From the color it looks be something like 70-80% Cu to some other metal. My shibuishi, with 25% ish silver/ 75% Cu + a bit of gold and tin, hasnt really darken for months. Shakudo, only tried small % of gold but the look is more or less similar to shibuishi (non-stained). Why is gold so expensive. As always my limited knowledge and experience is to be taken in to account Best B