DTM72

There were 1 or 2 at the Orlando show, but I don't recall who was selling them.

@Winchester For a price of $3250, I would expect the blade to be in a little better condition. There is red rust on the mune (back edge). On the left side of the blade about 2-3 inches froward of the habaki, there looks to be a FUKURE - 脹れ (blister) opening up, and just forward of that, there appears to be a WARE - 割れ (a split or delamination in the layers). The overall polish is a little cloudy and the BOSHI - 帽子 (temper line in the kissaki-tip) is also not clear. If you were to offer $2500 for it, and had to pay another $2000-2500 for polish, you now have $5000 into it. You may struggle to get that return on investment if you tried to sell down the road. If you were able to get it papered with current papers, you may break even. The fittings on this example are high quality which helps your possible return on investment. Everything boils down to what you want it for. Are you happy with the fittings and the blade as-is? If so, go for it. In the end, it is your money and you are buying it for yourself, not any of us. If you are asking for opinions, I would say this is a tough one. I would want the blade to be as nice as the fittings, so I would want it polished. That takes time and more money. As Brian mentioned above, it may have failed a recent shinsa and is being offered with the old, not so trusted papers. Quick story, I bought 3 swords at the Chicago show. There was a shinsa just upstairs and they had openings. I just had to walk them upstairs, fill out the paperwork, pay the fee and within an hour, I had the results. This was a rare occasion to have a shinsa team available at an event in the USA. It is much more common to have them in Japan, and fairly easy to get to if you are say...a dealer in Japan. For a fairly big name shinto smith to come from a Japanese dealer without recent paperwork, should indicate the blade may have not passed recent submission. Recent papers are alot of work for us in the USA to obtain. Either send the blade to Japan, pay shipping and fees to the handler, the shinsa team, the shipping back, etc. Or wait for the once every 5 years for a team to come to the USA. <-- both paths are tough, but not impossible for is in the states. For dealers in Japan, it is almost as easy as I had it at the Chicago show. Hope all my blabbering helps.

Here is a link to one of his active eBay book sales. https://www.ebay.com/itm/125998184399?hash=item1d5613b7cf:g:P9gAAOSwtDNf3OuE&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8IaP4EE3zvE7V3KeCrnUMJi0152%2FsKEPLgG817oyS4WUM2A45T5QZ3UiL7Ty2wmvnSKg1Ip31gZoI8lc0Nzebu83uRr3VQzT1ufiaGlm9HH4g4aGvtXCLpE79MaCb0wHeCOOXDtts0aU8r3Q9vO%2BgGET6NEJXMXYjJKVDEl0w%2BkQI0cikQdhOd%2BkDuyt4b2EAd779H9shXb%2F%2B1Eh216IrJYuWaLgP%2F%2F8%2FPv4jMrOYdJOiGcd5mgk0%2BLr8wiH1bsX9beGrxehDw3L3odO5hF5xUxOxgUIDOST7SnOAnlf5GxcGlGCbzojcXUMjsWvmSAUYw%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5yP7YioYg

Factory made Showa-to. Looks like the blade has been sandpapered, buffed, etc. The saya is missing the ishizuki (end piece drag) The tsuka ito is coming off and has now lost the menuki. The tsuba is missing as well as most of the seppa. (looks like 1 remains) If it were me, I would not give over $100 for it. That is a basket case.

Messaged you.

I don't have a gunto worthy of this gem. (also from Ontario Archaeology) It was already sold to @PNSSHOGUN Congrats to John on a beautiful piece!

I was able to get 2, in boxes.

Thanks to @Ontario_Archaeology for helping me find museum quailty pieces for my collection!

I would guess that the leather seppa once had a short strip on it with a snap that engaged the leather covering that was once on the saya. Over time, the strap broke away, leaving only the seppa part...which was put onto the incorrect side of the tsuba at some point.

Orlando show is coming later this week. Who is attending? What are you bringing to sell or trade? Is anyone looking for anything?

國 = Kuni 包 = Kane https://nihontoclub....a=All&school_nid=All

Found what looks to be the same sword from a post here back in 2013.

Jean, I am aware of all the terms, but was trying to keep it simple without causing confusion on the original posters' part.

I guess I'll go first. Hamon is the hardened edge that is the result of yaki-ire (water quenching) Sanmai is a construction technique than can create differing effects in the hada (grain pattern) and also the hamon, but is NOT the basis for hamon formation. please see the attached articles below for additional information. If you notice in the first article about hamon and jihada, blade construction is not mentioned...this is because it is not THE basis for hamon formation in and of itself. https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/episode-7-hamon刃紋-＆-jihada地肌/ https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/laminate.htm

My humble submission

Additional information https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN2135

I honestly just use the translation section on the main page of the forum...copy and paste onto the reply. Happy to help though,

I have been on the fence about going to the San Fran show. I honestly want to go more now that I hear you @Brian will be there. For me, going out to dinner (and drinks) with the guys @mdiddy is one of the highlights of any show. Dan

i agree with what @PNSSHOGUN has to say. Everything is authentic. Lower grade tachi mounts from late 1800's to early 1900's. To me, blade appears to be Shin-shinto late 1700's to 1800's. Nakago (tang) is original and has not been cut-down, and the color is not a deep brown or black...leading to my guess on age.

作 Saku 州 shû (Sakushu Province) 住 Jû (Resident of) 兼 Kane (First part of name) 先 Saki (Second part of name Kanesaki) Mimasaka Province (美作国, Mimasaka no kuni) or Sakushu (作州, Sakushū) was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today northeastern Okayana Prefecture. Mimasaka bordered Bitchū, Bizen, Harima, Hōki, and Inaba Provinces. Mimasaka was landlocked, and was often ruled by the daimyō in Bizen.

Found another signature like it. https://new.uniquejapan.com/ujka002_yoshitsugu/

雲 Un 州 shû 住 Jû 善 Yoshi 次 Tsugu 作 Saku 昭 Shô 和 wa 十 Jû 七 Shichi 年 Nen 二 Ni 月 Gatsu February 1942

I was so focused on the 50+ little mons all over the saya and tsuka, I really wans't looking at the painted ones on the saya. Good catch! Maybe it was actually carried by Tokugawa Ieyasu, lol!

I am looking for 2 Navy kyu gunto knots. There was some variation in colors, but same shape and red zig-zags.

I know next to nothing about fine tsuba. I can say it is a nice looking set and I hope it all turns out right for you.