Toryu2020

Cerjak I would think late Edo and based on the two mon on the first hat I would bo looking at Matsumae han... -t

Rinpo or Rinbo the Buddhist "Wheel of Law" There are many different designs, this is an unusual one I would say. I like the deformed nature of it. As to the meaning, there are many interpretations there as well I think you will enjoy the research. Coming off of eBay I would vey carefully check the tsuba against the photograph and dimensions listed. Not buying in person I would want to be absolutely sure the tsuba and paper are a match. -t

and I wanted to say NICE TSUBA! before my post flew away on it's own... -t

I think Jussi covered it,

Missed a chance to go and see him when in Chicago. Count me as one who will also have fond memories when reaching for the bookshelf. -t

Nice！

could we see more close ups of the blade, especially the kissaki? is the scabbard there somewhere? Kissaki moroha blades are pretty rare, one wonders why thefakers would want to fake one. interested to see more pics, -t

Jean et al I think you have to keep in mind we are talking about a "Worksheet" and not a kantei-sho, it is not set in stone until they issue a paper. The team kantei's the sword and then based on the work if mumei they assign an attribution. In the case of unique workmanship making that assignment is easy. However some swords will be harder than others to peg depending on many factors. If they decide upon a particular era in their assessment, as they should, they then must consider the schools active at the time that might have produced the work. Just as you would in your kantei. So on this work sheet they may have noted Eisho koro as the time when they felt the sword was produced. And just as you would move on to the maker. Once they decided upon a maker they may not have pulled the dates from the Meikan. No one can be expected to have memorized all the eras and so it could be the Eisho koro comes from memory, maybe a little early but still within a generation of Tenbun. Had they said Eiroku then it is neither Tenbun nor Genki so what would we make of that? I think they are seeing this sword as early. Still the most important point is this is a "worksheet" - once they return to Japan they check all details of the swords that were recorded and will revisit the Meikan before they issue the certificate. I feel certain if they do not give it to a certain generation they will place it in a time frame that lets the owner do that. I am curious to see if this does not turn out to be the case. -t

Good stuff! Saw a sword this weekend you would have been interested in. Signed Soshu ju Masahiro but it may have been an altered Muramasa. We spent some time studying it but I don't think anyone snapped photos. -t

to Jamie and everyone else, Sorry just checking in online for the first time since Thursday. We have had two great days thus far. I got a little time in the show room today and loved what I saw. Bought a book, may buy some other stuff if I get free time tomorrow. The level of study is up as many of the pieces we are seeing are in good shape, and the team has been able to provide good attributions for most. Thanks to all who supported the event, one more big day to get thru, -t and yes Stephen this is just the kinda crazy weekend I want every year for my birthday!

Shinsa Team Assembled, room set, dry run successful, everyone tucked in and ready to go for the morning! Chicago 2015 we're on!

always said you were a lucky old Bazza! any other before shots? the results there are wonderful, -t

Tencho-sai?

"The taxman cometh!" All- We are closing online registrations today FOR THE SHINSA, any checks received after Friday will not be processed as we will be en route to Chicago.If you havent sent in your reservations as yet, we ask that you please come see us at the show. We still have slots left and if you come see me on Friday we will work you into the schedule. Keep in mind all transactions are cash only on the day of the Shinsa. Looking forward to seeing you all there, -t

"The taxman cometh!" All- We are closing online registrations today, any checks received after Friday will not be processed as we will be en route to Chicago.If you havent sent in your reservations as yet, we ask that you please come see us at the show. We still have slots left and if you come see me on Friday we will work you into the schedule. Keep in mind allmtransactions are cash only on the day of the Shinsa. Looking forward to seeing you all there, -t

Late Kamakura period Yamato Den - Shikkake school Shodai Norinaga

All- timeslots have been schedulled for all three days, and confirmations were sent out via email yesterday. If you did not get a confirmation for shinsa please let me know. There are still openings in the afternoon hours but online registration closes on the 15th of this month so if you have not registered now is the time to do so. Thanks to our many returning customers and to the many new collectors we look forward to meeting in Chicago, -t

All- timeslots have been schedulled for all three days, and confirmations were sent out via email yesterday. If you did not get a confirmation for shinsa please let me know. There are still openings in the afternoon hours but online registration closes on the 15th of this month so if you have not registered now is the time to do so. Thanks to our many returning customers and to the many new collectors we look forward to meeting in Chicago, -t

Repatinated not a problem - un-patinated a problem, I would expect they would not paper it in that condition. If you wish to confirm the workmanship you would get a pink and see what attribution was given on the worksheet. Swords dont have to be in perfect polish but the jigane has to be visible. Rust/patination on the nakago is crucial to determining age, do you imagine they would paper a signed iron tsuba that had been stripped to bare metal? I may be talking myself out of a commision here, but I would want to confirm with the team before submitting such a blade. Or expect a pink and hope for the confirmation of the workmanship, -t

Dear All Anyone waiting on their timeslot confirmations, I want to apologize, we had a flurry of registrations come in over the weekend. I will need to work those into the schedule before sending the confirmations out. If you are still on the fence about your submissions, now is the time to send in those registrations. Of course if anyone has questions feel free to contact me here or send us an email nthk2012@toryu-mon.com -t

Inextricable from Japanese art, history, culture and politics - Its ALL sword related - looking very much forward to more learning from the great minds collected here! -t

Robert - The pictures don't help a lot, I know it is hard to capture jigane in a photo, these are a little too fuzzy. Since you are asking for opinions, I would posit Shinshinto based on the dimensions, what little jigane we can see and the condition of the the nakago. There was a lot of experimentation with shapes and styles in the late Edo period as a result of Suishinshi Masahide's call to revive the swords of old. Beyond this I could not begin to guess where it might have been made without better photos. A not so common shape so a very cool find in my book, -t

Folks Just a reminder, we are just over a month away from the Chicago Samurai Sword Show. I have heard from lots of people, that I look forward to seeing there. It has been ten years. If you are thinking of submitting items for shinsa now is the time to send it in to guarantee a good time slot. If you know folks back East not on this forum we do ask that you spread the word. Should anyone have questions you can message me here or send us an email: nthk2012@toryu-mon.com Cheers, -t

Piers - I wonder if you have seen the latest episode of Rekishi Historia? How was it perceived by your Teppo mad brethren there in Japan? I should be interested to hear if it made an impact and what the perception was among gun collectors there. Cheers, -t

maki not sueki...