DTM72

Great article! Thanks Mark. For me, it is not a matter of assembling to make a profit....at least not in the next 20 years. I just like the thought of a matching set, by the same smith.

Will you be attending one or more of the shows?

I have a question regarding a katana and wakizashi from the same smith. Let's say you have a papered katana from a Smith that alone could sell for (using simple numbers) $1000. You also have a papered wakizashi from the same smith that alone could sell for $600. Individually that is a value of $1600. If they were in very similar or matching koshirae and sold as a set, would the value still be $1600 or would the value be more because of being a daisho? For it to be a true set, would it have to also contain some kind of provenance or story or just papers from accredited organization...NTHK, NBTHK, etc. Thanks in advance!

Brian, I was not aware of the calendar. I will surely add to it!

@Mark will there be a shinsa at the Chicago Sword Show?

Looks to be the remnants of a signature there. appears to be signed tachi mei.

They were in this area long before we were. Never had any problems except when you get a fish on the line, they want to steal it from you. That can piss you off losing the fish, and the lure.

I gots wanna dem there gator pits in ma back yard. They quite onry cause they gots all dem teeth and no toothbrush. Guess thats why they wanna be eatin ma lil doggies.

I'm starting this thread as a go-to place for upcoming events for those of us in the USA to attend in 2022. I am hoping that others will add to it as the year goes on with updates and new events to the calendar. So far, I know of these events; February 23-27 Ohio Valley Military Society (OVMS) Show of Shows in Louisville, KY. @ the Kentucky Expo Center. This is a military antiques show, but alot of Nihonto, fittings, etc. can be found there. I have seen many Shin-Gunto, Kyu-Gunto and Kai-Gunto there with Showa, Meiji, Shin-Shinto, Shinto and Koto blades. Many nihonto in shira-saya and koshirae as well. This is the second largest military antique show in the USA. http://www.sosovms.com/Show_of_Shows/ April 22-24 Chicago Area Japanese Collectables & Sword Show, hosted by Mark Jones @ Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Shaumburg, Illinois. http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/ June 24-26 Orlando Japanese Sword Show in Orlando, Florida @ Doubletree by Hilton Orlando Airport. https://orlandojapaneseswordshow.com/OJSS/event/orlando-Japanese-sword-show/ August 5-7 San Francisco Token Kai @ San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel. Hosted by Northern California Japanese Sword Club http://www.ncjsc.org/SF_token_kai.htm Sept 15-17 OVMS MAX Show @ York Expo Center in York, Pennsylvania. This is a military antiques show, but alot of Nihonto, fittings, etc. can be found there. I have seen many Shin-Gunto, Kyu-Gunto and Kai-Gunto there with Showa, Meiji, Shin-Shinto, Shinto and Koto blades. Many nihonto in shira-saya and koshirae as well. This IS the largest military antique show in the USA. http://www.sosovms.com/ Everyone, please feel free to discuss and add events to this schedule.

Possibly this one. https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KUN1454

I HIGHLY recommend Mark to look at your sword. He is very knowledgeable and has been around forever <-- Not intended to be an old guy joke!

I use the tsubaki oil in the pics above.

Chris, i actually go into a closet and lay out a black bed sheet. Using my camera phone, zoom in to 2.5x and focus. Turn on flash turn out the lights and snap a picture at a slight angle to deflct the flash away from you. i have gotten some great pics doing this. 1st pic is a wakizashi by Kanesaki. 2nd & 3rd pics are a katana by Shichibejo Sukesada Just a suggestion.

Yojimbo, Would you please provide details of your shinsa service? Are you bringing them to Japan and submitting the item? Who are the items being submitted to? NTHK-NPO, NBTHK? What are your fees?

Sorry, but this appears to be a Chinese blade. The number "1" on the habaki is also not traditional Japanese. Lastly, the top of the tang, just above the stamped character, but below the habaki, looks to have been welded/fused together. Overall the nakago (tang) is poorly finished. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Your friend has some nice stuff!

Really jealous of you right now...Great find. ORIKAESHI MEI - 折返し 銘 - folded signature

My Emura... I really need to get some better pics. On the last pic...has anyone ever seen the top of the ashi cut to where the ring can be turned 90 degrees? This is the first I have seen. I looked through all my Fuller & Gregory books and the Dawson books. No mention of it. Maybe @Bruce Pennington would know?

I plan on building one like this, using curved bamboo as the tail.

I have a couple that are made of bamboo. Not the most fancy thing, but I like it.

Wishing you the best with the sale. $1800 seemed fair. $1200 is even more fair. Again, wishing you the best.

@Stephen <-- may be correct. Please refer to the website below for information on Emura. No references made to a single character signature. The hamon does not appear to be Emura style. It is said that some of the prisoners made the swords completely, without his assistance. Trying hard here but, maybe this was not up to his standards and he stopped the signature from being applied. Following the biggest lesson given to me...judge the blade, not the name. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/emura.htm

Sorry I will not be in the area to attend. I'll be in Louisville, KY Feb 25th and 26th for the Ohio Valley Military Society Show of Shows. Would enjoy crossing paths if any of you will be there. Dan

I'm glad I was not drinking something when I read your comment...it would have been spit all over my screen!

If anyone is in the area of Myrtle Beach this weekend, stop by and see me at the MK Gun & Knife Show. It is at the Myrtle beach Convention Center, Saturday and Sunday. Just look for Samurai Bob standing on my table. Dan