ironchef.

Hey Curran, yep, it's Ricky. Yes, the club still meets in Time Square at AKF Engineering. Actually spoke to Chuck yesterday and he's getting ready to head out to San Fran for the big show. I have Kunio's contact info if anyone needs it.

There is also a Japanese gentleman located in NYC that has excellent knowledge and reference materials. He deals more with these "finds" and I personally think he is better equipped to assess a sword of this condition. He is in lower Manhattan.

Hey Mike, I was at the last NYC Metro Sword Club meeting and it was mentioned that the NTHK papers from the September 06 Shinsa should arrive sometime around late February or early March 07. Ricky

According to my sensei, he has two theories on the Korean origin of KuniYuki / Kuniyoshi. Both ideas concur that the Rai group are of Korean ancestry. The first is that ancestors or possibly Kuniyoshi himself came to Japan and founded the Rai school. They only started using the "Rai" designation after the decline of the Awataguchi school because the Rai group managed to produce swords cheaper and faster. In theory, the Awataguchi group produced swords with nearly little or no shingane, hence the high quality and also high cost. The Rai School made blades with thin kawagane wrapped around shingane. This was cheaper and faster to make, hence their proliferation. The second guess is that these Korean ancestors came over to Japan a century or more before the Heian period. They settled in Yamato and later sent a representative at the beginning of the Kamakura period to Yamashiro. Once that smiths became established in the mid-Kamakura, the Rai school solidified itself. I've read that Kuniyuki was good friends, possibly a literal next door neighbor of Ayanokoji Suketoshi, hence the similarities in their workmenship. My sensei has gone further in saying there was a possibility they made have traded works when one was busier than the other and vice versa and signed their own mei's to the other's work accordingly. Please take with a healthy grain of salt. These were just ideas postulated in discussion between myself and my sensei. This is an excellent thread though that started some good discussion. Ricky

Moses is a good guy to deal with. Not only does he run his own kendo dojo, but he polishes swords and he is also the vice president of the NYC Metro Sword Club. I agree with Eric, Jean picked up a great looking Tsunahiro blade from Moses. I saw that blade in person before he sold it. Wish I had the money at the time, hehehe. Ricky

Mike, being that you are located in NYC, I have some contacts you can get in touch with to get an evaluation or opinion on your blade. Drop me an email if you like. Ricky chef_iron@hotmail.com

Excellent sellers mostly in gendaito and Showa era swords. A friend bought a Yasukuni blade from them and was very happy with the transaction.

Fujishiro's books are titled Nihon Toko Jiten. One volume for Koto and one for Shinto. Average prices are from $250 and up for the set.

The Zuikan books material rivals that of the Fujishiro's. I've seen both Fujishiro's and Zuikan's used during shinsas. The only problem with the Zuikan is there isn't an English translation. Both are great references. The Zuikan's are more expensive as well Ricky

David, The books that Milt are referring to are called the Nihonto Zuikan. They come is two HUGE volumes, one Koto, one Shinto. Excellent source of verified oshigata. The draw backs are they are out of print and they are in Japanese only. Koshoyama Books in Japan has a set for like $1260 not including the shipping. If I had the loot, I would spring for them without hesitation. Contact them here: yamamoto@koshoyama.com or http://www.koshoyama.com Ricky

Eric, We should get together sometime. I'd like to see what you have in your collection. :D Ricky

Thanks for the link!

Does anyone have a collection of digital images of dragon with ken horimono? Please email me with pics or oshigata if you have any to share. Much appreciated. Ricky chef_iron@hotmail.com

I recall looking at this blade during Shinsa. I think what had caught my eye as well was the attribution. Never heard of the Sukeharu name. Nice looking wakazashi! Congrats on the results! Ricky

I believe the Japanese courts ruled Yoshikawa's group to be the legitimate NTHK during the whole dispute.