DTM72

I agree with Matt. From what can be seen, the nakago looks artificially darkened, the yasurime is horrible and the singature is not recognizable.

I have actually had decent luck going into a completely dark room with an iPhone or Android. Place sword on a dark blanket or other dark, non-reflective background. (with lights on) Turn on your camera phone and zoom-in to 2.0-2.5 x zoom. Make sure flash is on. Hold phone about 10 cm away from the sword surface. Turn off the light. (may need someone to help you) Snap lots of pictures. (you can always delete bad pics later. The bohsi (tip) is sometimes hard to photo. The first two pics are from a mid-Koto period (1400's) wakizashi, next 3 are from an early Edo period katana (1650-1660) Pics below were taken following the above steps. Hope this helps!

I think you have alot to learn about photographing a sword blade. (No disrespect intended) Taking a photo of a highly reflective surface, to show the fine deatils of that surface, is very difficult. There are articles on here (the NMB) about how to photograph blades to capture these fine details. As to your second question, I would label it as a good reproduction made outside of Japan by a smith using some Japanese forging techniques, using a mix of mill steel and oroshigane, and some decent polishing using some Japanese polishing techniques.

I'm 180cm tall...far from giant. Maybe Rokujuro saying the person must be a giant man was maybe meaning like strong or muscular, not necessarily how tall he is. Then again, it takes a tall person with long arms to draw an 80 cm katana or tachi while mounted on the hip.

Love to see crazy projects. Please post more information, pictures!

I almost bid on the childrens sword lot, because I liked the small type 19. Something told me not to bid. I think it was my good angel leaving it alone for you to take. Glad the lot is going to a great home! Please post pics once you get them. Dan

I put my bib on a few things, but after the final sales price, plus the 25% buyers premium and shipping, I really didn't find any great deals on swords. I saw quite a few tsuba in lots and singles going really cheap, or not sold at all. I don't know enough about tsuba to take the risk to buy, and resell.

I like it. I would prefer it to be the traditional wood core, wrapped in TRUE carbon fiber. Once the carbon fiber and resin are laid upon the wood core, it cures for 16 hours at 150F degrees or as little as 15 minutes at 250F.

Acid etched fake hamon. Not an authentic Nihonto. Could possibly be a parade saber but can't tell much from the 2 pictures.

That is some straight bull shitake mushroom.

From the pics posted, it appears to be a genuine tanto with decent quality fittings. Can't tell much more from the two pictures that shows the tanto. It doesn't appear to be in horrible polish, but it does not look like a great polish either. Dan

The small stamp is a "Showa" stamp, meaning it is a machine made blade, not traditionally forged. 関 = Seki (city) 住 = Ju (living) 佐 = Sako 信 = Nobu 光 = Mitsu 作 = Saku (Make) The maker was Sako Nobumitsu living in Seki. http://www.japaneses...shigata/nobumit2.jpg It appears to be a WWII machine made blade, in civilian mounts. From what can be seen, it is authentic.

I am helping to produce the Inagural Charleston Militaria Expo. The show will be held November 17-18th, 2023 in Lasdon, SC (a suburb of Charleston). As of right now, I am the only person with Nihonto. Would love to have others join in and we can group together. 8 foot tables are $50 each. If you plan on getting a table or two, please mention to the show promotor where you learned of the show. Promotor (Henry Grace) can be contacted at the phone number below or via the website. Please check out the link below for additional details. Dan https://charlestonmilitariaexpo.com/

Too bad I don't live in Coventry any longer. Of course, it may scare people if I were to carry a sword or two on the train back from Birmingham to Coventry. Wishing you all the best with the show. May you sell everything for a good profit, and find a few gems you along the way. Dan

Sadly, I'm old enough to remember the original show, and the re-make.

I have gotten fittings (Tsuba, seppa, kozuka and some WWII tassels) with no problems. They sometimes have some blades I am tempted on, but have not gotten anything like that from them. Shipping price was fair and reasonably quick. Sent you a direct message about them.

I was just about to bid on that one as the fittings and saya looked mint condition. ALL the blade pics were blurry and the blade appeared to have old corrosion that has been buffed away. Sold for just under $850. I pray that someone got a good deal. <-- that someone was not me. lol. I couldn't trust the blurry pics.

I know if one of my guy friends is not paying attention, or if he should bend over, you know the bootyhole is gonna get stabbed by the plastic sword or bokken.

And when you have those plastic swords, it is almost impossible to resist smacking someone across their rear end. <-- well for me it is. Especially if she is cute.

The fuchi/kashira look like stamped reproductions. Kojiri looks good and I would gladly take the civilian gunzoku tsuba. lol. The shinogi line looks to be 1/2 way down the width of the blade rather than 1/3 -1/4 of the width. I would say the blade is a reproduction, mixed with some authentic and reproduction fittings.

I sold this sword at the Las Vegas show earlier this year. Hopefully the new owner is enjoying it. Thanks for the info Thomas!

As Thomas and Ray have said, the nakago is signed as a katana. The paper also attests to this being a katana. Being in shirasaya there is not a koshirae making it look to be a tachi. The seller is 100% incorrect as to listing this as a tachi. I underatand the lure of obtaining a tachi. I have been collecting for nearly 25 years and just recently obtained a koto period tachi in Edo period tachi mounts from @mdiddy at the Chicago show. Matt was also at the Las Vegas show earlier this year, as well as other great vendors. I would HIGHLY recommend attending the Vegas show next year. https://www.vegasswordshow.com/ hosted by another board member Mark Jones @Mark. Mr. Jones is also another trusted and well respected seller of swords from low priced basket cases to high quality papered examples. Mark also teams up with Grey Doffin @Grey Doffin to bring a diverse layout of swords, tsuba, koshirae and hard to find parts and pieces. Just a recommendation, Enjoy the few you have now, and bring them to the Vegas show. You may be able to sell them or trade them towards a piece or a few pieces you will really love and appreciate. Wishing you all the best in your Nihonto collecting journey... Dan

@EastCoast Not sure where you are located on the East coast but I, and other members, are on the east coast as well. Feel free to keep posting your finds or message directly. Love to hear about discoveries like this!

I found this example polished by Moses Becerra. It does appear the shinogi area is burnished, but may be left somewhat dull to enchance the islands in that area. Thoughts?