Paz

Hi @Lee997 I also begun my collection and study at the start of this year with genuine nihonto collection. I've been lucky enough to own 5 and sell some on. I do encourage you as mentioned prior to join the Token society, and attend if you can or near any arms fairs. This forum will allow you meet fellow UK collectors, and some may even have swords on offer. I for one found this very useful and was able to get a fantastic blade off this forum. Keep an eye on the sales section. However. I must inform you that the boogie man of UK collectors at times seems to be the mention of imports. By not going the import route you are closing yourself off to a whole world of swords for great prices. There are many great dealers in Japan and USA, who sell you something that you won't be able to get in the UK. As you study more, you might specific about what you actually want, and may have no choice but to go abroad. There are UK dealers that are good. And one I won't mention, that you should steer clear of. But my main point is that the UK market in terms of shopping online, isn't comparable to what you will get in Japan and America. The best swords that I owend were imports and from Brits who had to import them. Since January I have imported 3 blades successfully. As long as you know what to write on the invoice, have token membership as back up. There should be no problem, as antiques and traditional made swords are legal. There are the odd stories you will hear, but there usually is a mistake in the paperwork. Many Brits here will give you the best advice of what to put on the invoice for customs. There is a whole thread dedicated to this, and once you get one you will feel comfortable to try again. Hope this helps Kind regards Paz

Hi all. This is not my sword, but it belongs to a freind, whom I've offered to get some sword ID for. He's got a nihonto which the previous owner did a shody polish job and ruined parts of the blade. The sword is difficult to really identify, but im hoping the photos help. The terrible polish job also ruined some of the hamon. Hes been told by some people that it could be early muromachi. Or maybe even showa. Any help is appreciated Thanks

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/02/26/Japanese-armour-gifted-royalty-survives-400-years-thanks-britains/ Interesting article on royal collection. Saw the show before the jubilee this year, and saw a great piece from the Rai school.. Apologies if this article is behind a pay wall. But the basic point is that the UK has a good climate for preservation. I'm gathering this also applies to swords. I usually keep my sword in shirasaya, however for the winter I plan to have it in koshiare. If UK climate is good enough. I know some people say there's no need to oil. But I'd never go that far. Regards

To be fair these guys didn't give a crap or have a reason to. They just defeated what to them was a barbaric enemy, and they obviously would have no reverence to their culture. These were meant to be destroyed. Bit silly. Reminds of the dumb UK laws on swords that got pushed in 2015. Just forget understanding and go straight to destruction. Also just noticed where the saya is placed 😆

So in terms of polishing this may provide why were more likely to see wider blades in the later parts of shinshinto and gendai. As less need for polish. Thanks

Hi all just a quick question regarding the width / motohaba of certain swords. Was the width/motohaba of swords determined by school, period, or combination of both ? Or is it random depending on smith. Personally I prefer wide blades. I've also noticed gendai blades seem to come with more width /motohaba, with the little experience I have of them. What I've noticed is that some blades ive owened from muromachi are standard motohaba of around 2.5-8. , shinto blades of 3cm and above. One sword I've recently purchased has motohaba of 3.3cm. I own shortend muromachi blade but It has quite thin motohaba, which strikes me as this sword was made during conflict. Thanks

Il take a look at that once I'm finished with art of the samurai - the new york exhibition book. What a book this is. You could probably display this one .

I know he's not fond of some the polishing. And I didn't agree with him about his rejection of mumei blades. Fact is plenty of Japanese swords are gimei, and we're rightfully so. When you have less land, and swords are the compensation. Value would be crazy.

Oh. Wow. Didn't know this. I thought I heard I elitism in the book

I'd say both if you can. I haven't read yumotos book. But from what I can see it will give you the background and detailed information you need. Nagayamas book is fantastic. Try and get hold of it. But majority of the book is about the various schools and dens in each period. Vital information. I know some will disagree with me about facts and fundamentals as a first. But I found it very useful. He his controversial. There's a video by Paul martin channel on YouTube with reccomended books. Regards

So I managed to get this book even though I paid a fortune. But this is a book which I wish was my second or third. I'd say this is the top 3 essential books. Ranking with Conissour of the Japanese sword The art of the Japanese sword by Leon kapp. His opinions are controversial but so down to earth and realistic. What I enjoy is how he laments on buying the blade ahead of papers, and knowing the blade rather than facts around it. Which also influenced my recent purchase. Also not buying signatures or papers. But a sword instead, by knowing and studying it. His opinions on mei are not too extreme, they make sense. But I was astounded to know that forging signatures was something the Honami family passed if they needed to, and why mumei blades were left without a mei. However I disagree on the points about the type of sword to buy. It seems almost as if he believes the reader is a retired millionaire or somebody with money coming out of there ears. Some of the best swords are not available to good majority of people. And alot of people to stick to a hobby need a sword in hand or pay to attend a show, to keep them with the hobby. I would love to know someone who hasn't brought a sword, and doesant plan to. But reads all about them. The market has changed from what I can tell. And I totally agree with Paul Martins comments on trying to give this book a more mainstream opinion. I was amused at the part where he mentions toshogi competitions destroying blades. And how one of his freinds managed to get a sword papered a year after it was rejected. I beleive he's telling the truth in regards to papers, and opinions of shinsa. But from a beginner perspective, we have no choice but to trust judgement of the judgment of NBTHK. Overall. This book is mandatory and commands the price it does. Should even be the first purchase. Regards Paz

So the problem was on the Japan end shipping to Cyprus. I prefer UPS in honesty

Thanks Michael for the information. I understand its Gimei and possibly not shinshinto. However as a blade alone it is very tempting. But mysterious as who it may be. I might pull the trigger and bid on the sword for the price it is. Because the sword has most of the specs that I like.

Thanks Jon

So it's possibly a gendaito not a shinshinto.

Then my next question would be what exactly is it ? Or close to. From the blade characteristics alone and its shape. I very much like the blade indeed. To me it looks shinshinto rather than showa to. This is due to its size and length. I could be wrong. But Tsuruta again is guessing that it's shigemasa. But again it could be showato where someone signed it off as kiyondo to raise its value. Thanks

What does he do exactly Jon ? Curiously

Thanks all. I'm not that well acquainted with shinshinto smiths still learning. Yes the blade looks good, but the reason I posted was because I don't have much knowledge on the mei or the smith. I did think weather it had failed shinsa, but I just don't know. What made me post is that he implies that it could be later work. So I don't know if he's doing that on purpose. But it's hard for me personally to tell if this was truly gimei. Il take a look at some kiyondos work. Thanks.

Hi all I need help with basically an opinion on this tang, on a sword I am looking to get. I do apologise if this thread belongs in the general section, but I thought I post it here because I would like an opinion on a signiture. The sword is supposedly by Fujiwara Kiyondo (1827) student of Kiomora who commit suicide around 1860 and was a famed swordsmith of the shinshinto period. The first photo is from Nihonto.com and is a genuine signature of Kiyondo. The second photo is the oshigata from Aoi art, which is not guaranteed by them. I just need an extra opinion on the mei and sword. As Aoi art beleive this may be a younger showa era shigemasa. In which case I won't buy. To me they look genuine, but im not as keen eyed as many people here. I'm hoping @Ray Singercan also lend his helping hand. The link to the sword https://www.aoijapan.com/katanafujiwara-kiyono-sakunot-guaranteed/ Thanks Kind regards Paz

Thanks Geraint. That last part is indeed interesting

Hi all just a few questions. I've been reading through some old threads and just want to clarify something. I haven't studied much in regards to the shinshinto era swords. Nor have i owend one. But am looking. During the shinshinto period there were blades (many) which resembled nanbokucho and early period works. Such as being rather large in size and imitating the Koto era. Is this one of the reasons why some shinshinto blades have suriage ? Historically the end of the edo period saw conflict prior to the meiji restoration and you have the bakumatsu conflict. Could this be another reason why you have suriage. Also is it true that shinshinto swords don't get given papers if they have been shortend. ? Or is this subjective ie school and quality. Papers don't bother me too much if the sword looks great. Thanks Kind regards Paz

Hi Steve please take a look. @Ljoconnor Not long. Because Zenjo school swords were made short from the get go. This has been only shortend once it seems. This shows the change in warfare in the late muromachi period. Regards

I was lucky to get the nagayama book for 50 bucks from Germany. But otherwise yes. These books are very expensive and you will have to fork out over a 100 for them if there not in print or available. I know for a fact that I've been struggling to get hold of facts and fundamentals of the Japanese sword and art of the samurai. Both good books that need to be on my shelf. Nagayama book has increased in price and only in a month.

Absolutely. Here's some pics of me handling it, feels great to hold. Please mind the building work. And yes I'm not too bothered about polish either. Regards

In regards to books yes. The two mentioned are top on the list. However, as I enjoyed reading in general so much I went all out. I've owend 5 blades since entering this hobby and have sold 3. The one I kept was my TH ko uda blade. What l learnt was that knowledge is very important. So I purchased books by Leon kapp "art of the samurai sword" books by Clive sinclair, and another which sort of had the same opinion. Two books by Marcus sesko. And I'm waiting for Paul Martins facts and fundamentals of the Japanese sword. Already including the books by nagayama. I do enjoy reading different opinions and it sort of rejuvenates my interest aswell, but you'd be surprised how many dealers of general militaria don't know much about nihont, unless they specialise. Few things to keep in mind are as follows. Suriage processes ( which shorten old blades into katana and wakazashi lengths). This is due to change in warfare and laws, and you'd be surprised how many people don't know this. This is also a reason why signatures are missing on a lot old (koto) blades. This usually makes kantei more interesting, but your relying on papers aswell. The two signed swords I owned were from the edo period, in which there was no warfare. Nbthk papers. Again alot of people outside of nihonto don't know what these are, and their purpose. Koshiare. Just like you I wanted Koshiare for my first blade. But changed after my 3rd blade to blade before anything else. Because fact is yes. The sword may look nice in its Koshiare for a while, but I believe its not recommended to keep swords long term in their Koshiare. And this is what shirasaya are made for. Shirasaya also allow you to view the blade better. Regards