Toryu2020

I have the Shinto Oshigata Shu - yours is in much better shape than mine. Since it was put out by an Osaka group the emphasis seems to be Osaka Shinto but all the big shinto names are included. There really only two sections, a listing of schools and their work-styles and then oshigata, which is the bulk of the two volumes. I find it useful when researching signatues. What was the third item? -t

Several well- regarded smiths in Bizen who use this name - I would approach with some healthy skepticism -t

Axel look closely, Satsuma-aged might better be rendered "Satsuma-age'd" It looks like it is supposed to look and it looks pretty cool to me... -t

You'll want to bone up on Aizu history, the historical connections if real will add to the interest and value for sure. A nice find, count me jealous... -t

“ Be sure to book your room reservation at the show hotel, the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel before the block fills up. Their number is 650-692-9100. Don’t forget to ask for the special Sword show room rate of $169.00 per night. If you have any problems booking the room, contact Fred Weissberg.” and if you're thinking of submitting items for shinsa, now is the time to send in the registration, we will soon be assigning timeslots if you dont want to miss out get your reservation in...

Only sevene weeks to go folks! What better gift to buy yourself for fathers day than a trip to San Francisco - “If you are thinking of buying an exhibitor’s table at the show, better hurry as they are going fast. For information about availability, please contact Fred Weissberg at hageyama@mindspring.com”.

降魔 is a buddhist term that relates to the young lord buddha before he acheived enlightenment. He sat in meditation for many years and during this time a myriad of demons tempted and harrassed him, trying to dislodge him from his purpose but he could not be moved, he ignored them and all were defeated (悪魔を降伏) (Akuma wo goubuku) So if I saw this on a tsuba lets say, I would think the owner was not about killing actual demons but rather steadfastly maintainiing the proper mindset... -t

The Meikan lists two Tsuguyoshi with this signature, One in Kanbun and one in Teikyo - I would look for info on the Shimozaka school... -t

山上播磨守国壽？

Mark Im sure you know that the Japanese were very fadish about new and different items introduced from abroad. I would see this as late Edo but still an example of Japanese ingenuity copying some European model. You may have located the prototype for all the little Yokan forks that are now ubiquitous in Japanese homes! -t

I vote no for reasons already stated, -t

Hilik do you have photos of the edge? or inside the nakago-ana? -t

to my eye this is a Shinto piece that has beeen reworked to fit a Gunto koshirae. Can you get the habaki off? The condition of the machi might tell how recently this blade was cut down - if at all... -t

Rick If you want to insure a particular day, it is best to get your registration in early. Timeslot Reservations are sent out in the month before the shinsa. As Mark says you present your sword at the allotted time and it takes about two hours for the sword to clear the room. For your convenience here is the registration form... -t 2017 Registration.pdf

Show and Shinsa are not far off - Now is the time to make your reservations - contact me for registration forms - also note updates to the Team Bio page... announcing The Nihon to-ken hozon kai (nthk) is pleased to announce THE NTHK 2017 West Coast shinsa August 4th, 5th and 6th 2017 SFO airport marriott, burlingame california yoshikawa eiichi sensei and the nthk have are pleased to have been invited to san francisco with their team of sword experts to provide sword collectors in the u.s. the opportunity to have their precious swords examined and authenticated under the same strict conditions practiced in Japan. as this event coincides with the annual san francisco sword show held at the same venue, attendance is expected to be high, therefore early registration is encouraged. www.NCJSC.org Northern California Japanese Sword Club 2017 To-Ken Taikai Mail in service is available for $100 per item for details email us at; nthk2017@toryu-mon.com to register please visit our shinsa registration page

A nice sword indeed, Shinto or Shinshinto - Ozaki as already suggested or Suishinshi mon both known for copies of Sukehiro... -t

Well now my interest is piqued, Does anyone know of a Daimei or Daisaku work signed Kiyomaro, but attributed to Kiyondo? I was unaware the he did anything like that. and now that I have poured over many oshigata, the thing that strikes me is the shape of the Jiri - Kiyomaro seems to have been very consistant in his later years and this one does not seem to fit. Appears rather more pointed to my eye but perhaps now I'm staring too hard... -t

Thanks for posting

a post war collector scratched this on? an acsecion number?

四四Forty-four?

and Joe got the rest...

Masataka kao

mei Masataka

Awataguchi Ikkanshi Tadatsuna hori do saku

they are not afraid of the Lawman, they are afraid of the Taxman. Inheritance tax is quite onerous so it is best not tohave a lot of assets on the books... -t