drac2k

Thank you very much!

The wakizashi is just over 19 inches long and it does have a hamon even though the pictures don't show it.

Thanks for the additional insight.

I'll stay on second base and let the next guy at bat have a go at it ,lol .At present I'll enjoy it for what it is(as stated), and what it could be.

Well, this is the final chapter of this sword, maybe. A friend of mine(even though I met him only once, I trust him wth my Japanese swords, so I guess that constitutes a friend), carried my sword to the "NTHK 2024 EAST COAST SHOW," and had it papered . Here are the results below. This should be the end of the story, however, my friend told me that several knowledgeable sword collectors told him that if the sword was put into proper polish , it might turn out to be an older blade..........well, this is where I'm getting off on this train, but this certainly illustrates how complicated Japanese sword identification is!

No apologies are necessary; I always appreciate the opinions of people who comment on my swords. I don't take the observations on my items personally, especially since I'm a novice, I'm surprised when I don't screw up.lol. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Thank you for your comments. So are you saying that the signature may be a forgery? Please understand that I take no offense if you are stating that to be your belief and if it is, I would really like to know. Since I didn't purchase the sword to be a Tomoshige, if it is not, no harm has been done.

Thanks, I'll hold you to your promise, lol.

Thank you for your informative comments; as a novice I'm learning that to pin down Japanese swords is like untying the "Gordian Knot."

Thanks. That helps as it knocks out more than 100 years of Tomoshige Swordsmiths.

Thanks for straightening and cleaning up the picture for me!

I sent some phone pictures of this sword to my very knowledgeable friend and he identified it as a Tomoshige signature, but based on my poor pictures, he couldn't pin down which one. There were 400 years of Tomoshige Swordsmiths and I was hoping that someone could pin the right one down.

Thank you; you explained it perfectly so that even I could understand it.

Thank you gentlemen for the wealth of information that you have provided me; as I am trying to digest this information I feel like a Neanderthal who has just been handed a laptop. To crudely summarize my understanding is that there are certain governing bodies/societies that can identify swords like mine that are not named, by shape, style, metal hardness, temper line, etc. The maker is Mino-no-Kuni Kaneuji; a length and a value have been assigned to it. Is Hon'ami Koga the individual who ascertained the characteristics of the sword or is he the one who polished it? Please excuse my simple questions, especially if I got the whole thing wrong.

I have what appears to be a Naginata in a wooden saya with an attribution to what I believe is the sword maker, however there isn't an inscription on the tang. My question is how can someone assign a maker to the blade when it isn't named? Also, a translation would be appreciated; I would have gone to the translation section first, but I also had the previous question.

Thanks

Thank you both very much!

This is another katana that almost had a sad ending. I found this at a recent show and while it may not be evident the original owner did a couple of small abrasive passes with sandpaper on the sword. We agreed on a price and he told me that for a few more dollars he could completely redo the blade. The marks are not deep, but he did them vertically and they are driving me crazy, so I'll just put it back into the scabbard. It is a nice heavy blade and it measures 28" to the bottom of the habaki and 36" overall.

Thanks for the information and the good advice.

Great, just what I need, another nightmare to join the others, The kasane measures approx. 3/16".Did they ever go out of style in Japan and then no longer made? Thanks

Thanks to everyone for the information! Were the Shikomi-Zue created as a result of the Haito Edict and the Satsuma Rebellion and since this is a true form of that blade type, we can date the sword post 1876/1877? The reason why I thought the sword might be older due to the forging flaws is because it appeared to me to have been the type exposed after repeated polishing, just a guess from a very green novice.

I just picked up this sword cane and based on this site I believe it to be a Shikomi-Zue. From my reading here, the blades were usually(not always), not the best; this one measures 23.5" long and has pitting and exposed forging flaws that make me think that it may be an older blade. I am very impressed by the nice fit of the blade in the scabbard. I tried to gently force the pin out, but it was not moving and I didn't want to take a chance of injuring the handle. Based on the limited information and pictures that I have provided, I would appreciate any comments offered.

Thanks for your imput Bruce. I am leaning towards Chris's thoughts that is might be an older blade. I think that the flaws may have come out due to repeated polishes. I wish that I could capture the temper line on camera