mdiddy

Here are pictures of the blade. There are activities in the hamon that these pictures do not capture or show.

Hello, I would like to offer this very large nihonto in ultra rare and very early saber mounts. It is in superb condition and an excellent state of polish. This is the only example of these type of mounts I have seen or heard of. Here is some info about the blade and mounts: The blade is massive and has a nagasa of 29.75 inches (76cm). It has a wide mihaba and strong sugata. Shinogi zukuri, iori-mune, Shinto or Shinshinto katana. The blade is healthy. The hada is mostly itame with areas of mokume. The hamon is nie deki chu-suguha with ko-gunome and ko-ashi. The nioi guchi is bright and deep. There is sunagashi running through the hamon. The boshi is chu-suguha with sharp turnback. The workmanship reminds me of Hojoji Masahiro. It is mounted in ultra rare and early saber mounts. The mounts show a saber-style tsuka made of wood and what looks to be shakudo. It is Western-styled with a basket hilt and gripped backstrap. The tsuka is reminiscent of American and British models of the late 19th century. The tsuka has also never been taken off the blade. The saya is covered in nicely aged leather that is stitched together. It has a massive kojiri, two ashi, and a koiguchi that are made of the same metal as on the tsuka. The fittings have some resemblance to early examples listed in Fuller & Gregory’s (pg. 19-20). Given their resemblance to a Western style, I think the fittings date from the late 1870’s to early 1880’s when Western military consultants and influence were prevalent in Japan. I think this sword either belonged to an early member of the Japanese military or to a Westerner stationed in Japan during this time who had a Japanese blade mounted. The blade is in a good state of polish. There are no nicks, little rust, and some slight scratches. There are no kizu. The mountings are also in excellent condition. I am asking $5,000.00 usd or better offer. Hi-res pics available upon request. Please PM or email me at mdiddy8000@gmail.com if interested. Thanks! Matt

My experience is that images too large to be displayed are able to be downloaded and enlarged by clicking on the filename. You can discern these as they will have a paperclip next to the filename. Typically, as people download these images, you will see a count of how many times they have been downloaded. This can be a clue to let you know the file is downloadable, and thus enlargeable. I am not greatly offended, I simply did not understand a simple mistake from someone with your level of knowledge and experience. Apology accepted and happy holidays to you too.

Wrong. It's not impossible and it's not even guesswork when the answer is right there.

Welcome to the Board. It is hard to completely make out the signature based on the pictures, but I think the sword is by Suo Nagahiro. He worked into the Meiji period. The signature is long and better pictures would allow for a more detailed translation, but it is like somewhat similar to 'Suo no Kuni Junin Shinryushi Fujiwara Nagahiro'.

Unrealistically, O-Kanehira would look great in my collection! Realistically, a Kotetsu would be a worthy goal to achieve some day.

Have you tried EMS? It has always worked for me. Labeled 'Japanese Nihonto' on the customs forms. Calling out the age and harmonized tariff per Darcy's recommendation (viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2299&hilit=tariff) might help. You should ask your togishi for advice as well since they will have to obtain torokusho once the sword gets to Japan. Maybe try another USPS branch too.

At first glance the blade looks like an ubu Sue Bizen blade to my eyes. However, the lower mekugi-ana looks older than the two above it and its position is puzzling if the blade is ubu. It suggests to me the blade could be older and shortened. Perhaps the crude tachi-mei were the beginnings of a gimei left incomplete before the smith name was finished. Any better photos of what is after 'Osafune'? I agree with what's already been said regarding condition. The blade may have suffered, but is not ruined. It may not warrant restoration though. Besides the tip, I'd also consider likely pitting and ware surfacing.

It is Japanese and authentic. Not a gunto but an older blade in samurai mountings with a leather wrapped wooden saya. Given the length, hamon, and without add'l pictures/info, I would estimate the blade is likely a Shinto wakizashi, ca. 1600-1700. Not all blades from this period were signed. Hope that helps. Matt

Looks to me like early Uda Edit: Mariusz

That is one helluva mei analysis! Thanks for sharing this. Will bookmark this for when I'm in the market for a Yoshimichi.

I think it is Takada ju Morikata. Sue-Koto: http://www.sho-shin.com/sai13.htm

WOW - very impressive set! Thanks for sharing.

Takanoha mon - my favorite. According to google the Kubo family used it. Probably by late Edo period everybody used it. To the OP: they are nice swords for military mounts, better than the average. Keep them oiled to prevent rust and search the forum for more tips on proper care and maintenance. Close-up pictures of each of the blades could help with evaluating them.

Kunitaro-san, Thank you for the direct response and additional explanation. I appreciate it very much. I think Chris brings up a good point that if the yakidashi remains in the togi-dame then neither machi-okuri nor o-suriage are best options to explain the sword. The sword being suriage by only 1cm could explain the yakidashi but why then take care to fashion the nakagojiri? Why remove such a little amount of the nakago also? And what of the lower mekugi-ana? I agree with Jacques, the blade looks tired, especially at the hamachi - perhaps this could explain the lack of funbari. Still many questions for a tired blade. Matt

Kunitaro-san, Thanks for sharing your deeper observations - they are very educational. Respectfully, would machi-okuri be another possibility instead of o-suriage to explain your observations? There looks to be an awkward space between the current habaki-moto and the suri dashi. In this space, there also looks to be an extra sabigiwa. If the blade is o-suriage, I do not understand why re-applied yasurime would be left so far short of the habaki-moto or why there is a break in the rust patterns. In this instance, with the nakago-jiri shaped the way it is, the suri dashi location, and the multiple sabigiwa, would it be more likely this blade is just machi-okuri instead of o-suriage? Also, Sue-Bizen yakidashi can be thick suguha extending into the nakago, correct? Ref: http://www.nihonto.ca/yosozaemon-sukesada-2/. I am curious to get your opinion on this. Matt

The nakago looks like the Bizen style so maybe the wakizashi could be Sue-Bizen, ca. 1550-1590.

I have held a few Mano Masayasu and they all had coarse jihada similar to your sword.

Here is one I had sometime back. I have a couple more that I'll see if I can get good pictures of. Matt

The signature looks to me like 'Kanemitsu Saku'. And the way its implemented suggests koto or gimei. Can we see a picture of the whole tang? Also, what is the blade length? If you take more pictures, see if you can get better pictures of the hada and hamon. It is tough to tell with these. Matt

Based on the sword's curvature, I think Shinto, ca. 1600-1700 is a good guess. It could be older but I think we would need to see better pictures of the machi, ji hada, shinogiji hada, hamon, kissaki, boshi, etc. Depending on the blade's condition it might be hard to get good pictures of the hada and hamon. If Shinto, I would hazard an Echizen Seki guess. I can not add any detail on the banner. Sounds like a great story so I'd be a little skeptical and investigate the banner in isolation from the sword. Good luck with your research on it. Matt

From a purely financial perspective, I would leave as is. However if you treasure the blade then you could get it done. I agree with Grey on Meiji period.

Gilles, Not sure if it was part of a daisho. I think not since one says he wore it at 91 years old and the other says he wore it at 92 years old. I don't own it but the blade was otherwise a mumei wakizashi. Certainly very rare to run across these. Matt

I ran across this recently. Very similar to the one originally posted except dated to his 92nd year. Okubo-san must have been a proud bushi.