Toryu2020

Yeah, I could not be more frustrated... -t

A message from the Nihon Token Hozon-kai To our members and loyal supporters – It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2021 NTHK West Coast Shinsa. It makes me sick to my stomach to have to report this but while the shinsa team members are all vaccinated and ready to travel, the Japanese government has placed restrictions on their nationals abroad that represent a hardship for the team. We are making plans for a 2022 Shinsa and will share that with everyone once details are finalized. In the meantime if you have registered already, rest assured registration monies will be refunded in short order. -Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK *please note the San Francisco sword show will proceed as scheduled Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK https://nthkamerica.com

A message from the Nihon Token Hozon-kai To our members and loyal supporters – It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2021 NTHK West Coast Shinsa. It makes me sick to my stomach to have to report this but while the shinsa team members are all vaccinated and ready to travel, the Japanese government has placed restrictions on their nationals abroad that represent a hardship for the team. We are making plans for a 2022 Shinsa and will share that with everyone once details are finalized. In the meantime if you have registered already, rest assured registration monies will be refunded in short order. -Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK *please note the San Francisco sword show will proceed as scheduled Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK https://nthkamerica.com

A message from the Nihon Token Hozon-kai To our members and loyal supporters – It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2021 NTHK West Coast Shinsa. It makes me sick to my stomach to have to report this but while the shinsa team members are all vaccinated and ready to travel, the Japanese government has placed restrictions on their nationals abroad that represent a hardship for the team. We are making plans for a 2022 Shinsa and will share that with everyone once details are finalized. In the meantime if you have registered already, rest assured registration monies will be refunded in short order. -Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK *please note the San Francisco sword show will proceed as scheduled Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK https://nthkamerica.com

George - you don't know how much we were looking forward to August but then this happened... A message from the Nihon Token Hozon-kai To our members and loyal supporters – It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2021 NTHK West Coast Shinsa. It makes me sick to my stomach to have to report this but while the shinsa team members are all vaccinated and ready to travel, the Japanese government has placed restrictions on their nationals abroad that represent a hardship for the team. We are making plans for a 2022 Shinsa and will share that with everyone once details are finalized. In the meantime if you have registered already, rest assured registration monies will be refunded in short order. -Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK *please note the San Francisco sword show will proceed as scheduled Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK https://nthkamerica.com

A message from the Nihon Token Hozon-kai To our members and loyal supporters – It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2021 NTHK West Coast Shinsa. It makes me sick to my stomach to have to report this but while the shinsa team members are all vaccinated and ready to travel, the Japanese government has placed restrictions on their nationals abroad that represent a hardship for the team. We are making plans for a 2022 Shinsa and will share that with everyone once details are finalized. In the meantime if you have registered already, rest assured registration monies will be refunded in short order. -Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK *please note the San Francisco sword show will proceed as scheduled Thomas C Helm Hyogi-in NTHK https://nthkamerica.com

Eve et al - Different Tom here - proper judgement of a blade needs to be done in hand - that being said there are lots of folks that will try to tell you what you have from photographs - it really is an exercise in futility - but there are some things that can be said with certainty based on your photos. So here I go out on the limb. Based on what we can see - and I preface all of these comments with this - your first blade is signed Nobukuni but it is badly executed most likely a later addition most likely gimei - the shape and finish of the nakago are wrong for the smith and his time period - what we see of hamon and hada are not good - if it has hamon it looks to be saiha to my eye - combined with the deep curve you may be looking at a re-tempered blade. The next blade 2380 is signed Rai Kunihisa - the signature is badly cut, is in the wrong spot on the tang and is no match for this smith - the shape and finish of the tang are wrong - I would say the shape also suggests later manufacture - the hamon we can see looks like it was enhanced by some kind of acid application and I suspect is not a good match for Rai work. 2381 holds the most hope - the saya says Kanefusa but it is of course osuriage mumei - to my knowledge in its pristine shape this would have been an exceptionally long blade for this smith given his timeframe - the hada and hamon suggest that this blade can be polished and may make a fine restoration - barring any flaws we cannot see in the photos at hand - the hamon that we can see does not have the signature look of Kanefusa work but if this were an early work the trademark pattern may not have taken hold yet and this could be a piece inspired by earlier artists in his lineage. Whats curious is that they have all found their way into shirasaya but are in the worst possible state of preservation - they look more like they were sitting out in the sun, dirt and the dust rather than being stored away after a proper polish - would be interested to learn how they came to be this way. What you have is not garbage but not treasure either - if there is hope for these they need to be under the nose of someone with the knowledge to see what they were and what they can become... my humble opinion only, -t

As noted the handle and fittings are new but that takes nothing away from the sword - we should all be so lucky to have this as our starting point... -t

Still a nice blade... -t

A very nice find BTW and I hope you do restore it someday. -tch

Based on that one photo I would say yes - you really need to see many examples of Kotetsu and then the differences with all pretenders will be obvious... -t

Dale - The closest thing to a collection like the one you suggest is the Juyo To-ken Nado Zufu - if you had these you could then pull out and collate all the Juyo Tosogu and you would have a mightly powerful reference. I am sure there are collectors who have done this - I know it has been done for swords... -t

The differences are in the jigane, the boshi and the amount of nie... -t

Thanks Bruce - at least we know a little more since your compiling examples - thats data that will clearly lead us to an answer and it is better than just saying "assembly numbers" and forget about it. A question that will someday be answered... -t

Re-visiting an old thread - A recent post online brought this to mind. Do we know any more today than we did in 2013 about the painted numbers on Showato? Is it confirmed that the numbers always match those stamped into the fittings? Do we have any ideas about which arsenal (s) might have employed them? Any help appreciated, -t

Tsukuri-komi is not so much a factor. Unusual shapes can sometimes add interest but only so much. The key to value is always going to be workmanship and condition. If the artist is well known and the work is recognized that is always going to be more valuable, one form is not valued so much over another. And yes blades of all types are considered. -t

So that makes naginata-naoshi more likely... -t

Jonathan - Please visit our webpages - there is a FAQ - if you still have questions please ask away - there are sure to be others here reading who have questions as well... -t

If youre coming up for the sword show - bring us the blade - I can have the team preview it and advise you whether or not to submit...

Does it have kaeri?

Jonathan - Actually your sword appears right on the borderline based on these photos - there seems to be enough hamon, what needs to be seen is the jigane. If that is visible in the right light then an attribution can be made. Based on the photos we have seen worse and while the rule is generally that registration fees are non-refundable if the team deems a blade "unreadable" we always return the fee... -t

Thanks David - Less than two months away - we hope that everyone is getting excited... -t

Question for you Bobby - I think it was Watanabe Sensei of the Sanno Bijutsukan who suggested that for a swordsmith to pick up his tools and livelyhood and move to Kamakura and then back to his hometown during the chaos of the Namboku-cho period just does not make sense. What if the Masamune jutetsu never travelled outside their home. Rather it was the armies of the Ashikaga bringing Soshu-den blades with them as they fought to establish control over the country. Afteall what does an army in the field need? Someone to repair or re-polish my blade, who better than the local craftsman with a reputation for quality? What if Soshu swordsmiths travelled with the army, as they did in later periods, and thus imparted the secrets of Soshu to local smiths "in the field" as it were? -t

Lots of chatter lately about Kamakura - we should not neglect to note our own Robert Hughes and the dapper Hisashi Saito recently toured " the old capital" and made a terrific video record of their visit. Please view and share liberally...

How many takes Bob?