Scogg

If you click on the original image, it expands with some great detail. Maybe try the brightness on your device. I’ve edited a version from your image and adjusted the contrast a little. Maybe it helps?

I've learned more from these Kantei posts than I have in years of trying to decipher Jacques' cryptic one-liners . Sad indeed... Looking forward to the answer on this one, -Sam

Between about $100 and $200 USD, per inch, for a polish is what i've heard around the grapevine. So a 26 inch katana would presumably cost ~$3900 for a full polish; give or take depending on the polishers current pricing. Keep in mind that the cost of polishing a sword doesn’t always reflect the sword’s actual value. For example, you might spend $4,000 on a polish for a sword that would only be worth $3,000 even after full restoration. I see swords with mismatched seppa very frequently. Maybe even more often than with properly fitted seppa All the best, -Sam

Thank you @Lewis B and @SteveM, my excited mistake. I’ve edited my previous post to reflect

Incorrect: Pictures of the Shintogo Kunihiro Correction: Hatakeda Moriie Another scenario where it looks way better in person because of the barrier. It’s pretty challenging to get a good photo of these display blades, and there’s lots of people. Still, I hope my photos offer something to admire

Got a better photo of the Go Yoshihiro kissaki But this is the best my phone can do given the barrier, angles, and light

Found some S motif tsuba at the 25’ SF sword show. One listed as a bracken plant, which I think is interesting. It’s also a little more elongated than the other examples. Interesting shape that I don’t see depicted very often. -Sam

not that I can see in-person. I think that’s just reflection from some busy overhead lighting (see reflection in that first photo), and it being behind a plastic screen made photography challenging.

A couple shots of the Go Yoshihiro. Tough to get good photos of these special swords because they’re behind a barrier. For good reason Hope you enjoy, -Sam

Just to be able to see the Go Yoshihiro is a real privilege. Amazing sword that’s taken much of my attention today

Sitting in the airport now. Hope to attend the show this afternoon, and all day tomorrow. Safe travels, everyone! Take pictures to share! I’ll get a few too. I’ll be the scrawny guy with a mustache, please say hello if you find me. -Sam

Whoops, my misunderstanding. Sounds like a fun trip! I’ll let others take over, because I’ve actually never bought from Japan. One thing I would recommend being very familiar with, is appropriate sword etiquette; so you don’t find yourself in a situation where you’ve unintentionally offended anyone. I even re-read these links sometimes before going to shows. https://swordsofjapan.com/nihonto-library/nbthk-etiquette/ https://www.nihontoownersclub.com/etiquette Safe travels! -Sam

Hi Davo , that’s is a tall order! I am into this hobby for years now, and still do not have what I consider “enough” knowledge about Nihonto. Getting your Connoisseurs book is a great start. When you start to read it, try not to be intimidated. It will take some time to be comfortable with the vocabulary and that’s totally normal. I would often read my connoisseurs book alongside “Marcus Sesko’s encyclopedia of Japanese swords”, so I could cross reference vocabulary and definitions. My recommendation is to view your sword study through a timeless lens. Understand that to fully understand Nihonto, it may be a life long journey. Going to Japan in October may be too soon to understand it a deep way, but not too soon to enjoy some swords, learn a lot, and catapult your study in a positive way. I’m sure others will have great recommendations for your trip. All the best, -Sam

Thank you Dennis, well said, and I appreciate the clarity. I wish you the best, and look forward to your future input here on the board. Thats enough AI talk for now, everyone. Lets get back to the Sukesada -Sam

Hi Dennis, It appears it got the papers wrong; and we've found that AI can be incorrect or misleading when it comes to Nihonto. Over the last couple years, we've had a few discussions that have tested the capabilities of AI and Nihonto with varying degrees of success. That said, this is a public forum made up of real people who genuinely appreciate their swords. Most of us prefer to engage in conversation with others who share that same appreciation; not with AI-generated content. Using AI for things like improving grammar, clarifying wording, assisting with research, or helping with the occasional translation is one thing. But when the majority of someone's posts are copy/pasted AI content, it starts to feel less like a conversation and more like talking to a robot. So I suppose the real question is: do you want to be part of this community as Dennis, or as ChatGPT? With respect, -Sam

WOW I doubt they've even received the item yet, and it looks like they're even reusing the goodwill pictures ! Bummer, -Sam

Thank you Mal! It is always cool to see these wartime smiths work and read their info. @Rawa A good question. My reason being it’s not a Nihonto, and it’s in REALLY bad condition + without visible hamon. I feel that between its non traditional nature, and its poor condition, that it’s below the standards of the NMB. Also, because it’s worth very little in its current condition, I think an eBay auction is my best bet for a fair deal; as I can accept whatever someone offers (I have no idea what to ask for a showato in “relic” shape ). I think it’s probably best to sell away, donate to the board, and keep whatever extra for whatever catches my eye next. As always, i'm open to hearing any counterarguments to my plan. -Sam

Thank you both! Much appreciated! -Sam

I got this sword in a small bundle and would love to know the translation. Full disclosure: It’s seen better days… And I will likely be putting this sword on an eBay auction because it’s not the item in the bundle that I was focused on. If it sells, I will donate a small percentage of the proceeds to the NMB for the translation assistance. All the best, -Sam

Hi @SWD10, Ive edited your post for your privacy. It’s best to share phone numbers via private message. You can send @chosen_mosin a message by going to his profile by clicking on his name, and then clicking the little envelope icon. We don’t want you to get a bunch of spam calls or anything. Let me know if you have any questions or issues. Best of luck, -Sam

Relocating to sold archive. If deletion is preferred just let me know. Congrats to the new owner, -Sam

Here is part of why people say Juyo is a competition. Written by the late Darcy Brockbank who was a respected scholar of Nihonto. It’s a web archive article, so you’ll have to scroll down a bit. I have learned a lot from Darcy’s contributions and am inclined agree with his view https://web.archive.org/web/20201022000337/https://blog.yuhindo.com/hozon-is-a-test-juyo-is-a-competition/ Please understand that this is just one side of the argument here. I don’t presume to know what Jacques believes. Lovely sword by the way! -Sam

Thanks John, I came here to check. Honestly, these days, not a bad price. I wonder what price it could have realized if it were marketed better, on a different platform other than goodwill. I hope it shows up being posted here someday, so I can record the saya number . -Sam

Hi Ben, I agree with Rob. Definitely a fake or repro. The biggest tell is the tip of the blade. The profile of the tip is wrong, and also the groove ends too early. Another big fake identifier is the dimpling on the handle; it should be raised and even from the casting process, whereas your example looks like it’s been punched inward with a tool. Other less obvious signs are the font of the serial number and the the stamps on the Fuchi. When it comes to Japanese swords, beware auction “papers of authenticity”, as their goal is primarily to SELL. Hope this helps, All the best, -Sam

Of course not, that would be silly