Okan

Dear Steve, You've been constantly asking about "s**t" swords here. I believe you are buying and selling through ebay? And what I think is you don't want to get your hands dirty and expecting us to do your job. So instead of asking about them, why don't you listen our advice and try to learn a bit? Read books..find a mentor who's willing to help you..Read some articles..Watch some documentaries..It's been more than a year you've been doing this and you still didn't learn anything...Last time I've made a comment about this you became aggressive. I'm not trying to insult you or anything like that just trying to help you so you can decide on your own instead of depending on others. I'm hoping to see you contribute in the forum instead of constantly asking mei translations or is this a good smith type questions..

I thought these documentaries would help some beginners so I've made a list: In love with the Samurai Sword(Polishing Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKj3VCnX38 NKH: The Art of Discipline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYega7KQa2s NHK: The Art of the Japanese Sword https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCYZSqEKmq0 Budo(rare) Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ6HJf70fzQ Budo History of Japanese Sword https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqqRrDG-NPs A visit to female Japanese Sword Dealer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCEQNzqgpyw Nat Geo. Forging a Katana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE_4zHNcieM Way of the Swordsmith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqXfvmGU8cs Secret World of the Swordsmiths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxwWf-MfZVk Sword Making(Portland Art Museum) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WkWNDDrQO4 Nigen Kokuho(with cutting test) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Vvs1nK-w4 Tsukamaki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9a6dFGM-ks Modern Smiths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0glduW4-EPY Katana Kaji(Post WWII Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7z9pkQnz_0 Japanese Sword as the Soul of the Samurai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UxL1AxztNg Hattori Masanaga(Tsuba documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ibRhcEevc

Dear George, I love your obsession and enthusiasm with your sword but I agree with @Jacques D. None of us here can attribute your sword to a specific school by looking at the pictures you've taken. Sometimes people see what they really want to see..When I look at your pictures I can see that it's a very nice sword, definitely koto, a little out of polish..Does it look like a Yamato blade..yes sure..But also looks like Yamashiro..and why not Bungo Takada? None of us here are professional appraisers..Even we were, we could be mistaken.. Let me give you an example: Here is a Kanenaga blade appraised by the famous Hitoshi Hayashida..He's also one of the official ww2 sword appraisers..(also sayagaki was written by him in 1950s) So the fancy sayagaki says in short: Kanenaga from Yamato Province This blade is ōsuriage and mumei Blade length ~ 62.3 cm Is mounted in a Nobunaga-koshirae This sword is referenced in the Higo Tōsō Roku. The scabbard is of the same dimensions as the scabbard of the sword that is a heirloom of the family of Marquess Hosokawa. Does it look like a Kanenaga?.yes it does..Also, how could Hayashida-san have made a mistake as he was looking at the blade up close and also a master of Kantei..But he did.. ..in 2017, NBTHK appraised the sword as Yamato Shikkake, with Tokubetsu Hozon Token. Hayashida-san was close but not right.. at the end of the day we are all humans right..what if NBTHK was wrong? Enjoy your lovely sword!.. Okan

Early Tenbo(Saotome) with ufos?(Matsukawa)

Just a guess but might be representation of sacred objects: Yasakani no Magatama (sacred jewelery) Yata no Kagami (sacred mirror) and Rising sun(or eclipse) I might be wrong so don't take for granted.

Maybe maybe not

Very nice...Mino-ish Goto? One on the picture looks close..

Ah, nice one Dale thanks a lot!

From Met Museums Facebook post: In this print, Kitao Shigemasa (北尾重政, 1739–1820), an artist of the ukiyo-e genre (known for woodblock prints and paintings), portrays twenty-eight of the most influential sword-fitting makers of the Edo period (1615–1868). Sitting at the top of this imaginary gathering is Yokoya Somin (横谷宗珉, 1670–1733), who is celebrated for his role as initiator of a movement that ushered in a renaissance of the craft. The way Somin is highlighted in terms of position, size, and frontal view, with the other artists arranged in a circle, can be interpreted as an allusion to spiritual mandalas that feature buddhas and bodhisattvas. Loved it.

I don’t see Kanenaga here, sorry.

Hey Swords, Sorry but I have to ask this. For the past month you've been asking about swords on this message board. You keep posting swords from ebay and asking our opinion or asking for translation etc..You are looking for a sword in "excellent condition" for 2-3k, yet you keep posting out of polish swords from ebay..asking opinions..and then you say you are not looking for this one, you are looking for a navy "not stainless" gendaito. If so, why are you wasting others time? Something really doesn't make sense here.. Also a lot of people here advised you to get some books first and learn...Then you said you've been dealing swords for 7 years.. Are you ok?

One more!

Nice one! There are thousands!!...What would you name a cutdown tsuba book if you ever write one.. Fresh one from ebay.

Another detailed study, thank you Dale! Maybe this one was based on a victory medal or something.

@Spartancrest this one is interesting. Cut marks? (or tourist piece maybe)

Hmm didn't know honing oil was abrasive..isn't it mineral oil?

Hahahaha!!!

So scared.

If you want to know about them just google them! Also, on this website, go to Nihonto info > Links and check out the Commercial tabs...

Steve, You have been buying and selling swords for 7 years and you couldn't find any other place than Ebay?...(I'm sorry but this doesn't sound right)...Did you try Google? You'll find hundreds of dealers in Japan if you just google them.. I've read your posts but your questions and comments are very basic.."Good hamon, weak hamon, wild hamon, is this good smith etc.." Sorry but 7 years in the business and you sound like you have no idea.. Please listen to what John have said..buy some books..watch some documentaries on youtube...You'll also find some great resources online.. https://studyingjapaneseswords.com/

Well its super hard to read so no one will be able to..But I can't see that well anyway.. Here's a wild guess: 兄月

Thanks so much Piers

Well my question is about a sword from the book. And no I don't think it has been translated.

Does anyone have this book, by any chance? - Not want to buy it but ask a question from the book.

Wow 3.0!! Amazing find! Thank you very much Thomas!