Bazza

G'day Paul, From what I know of Mutsu the file marks should be slightly up (agari) rather than down (sagari). As for the mei itself I would need to study it at length and even then one should have the sword in hand, remembering that: The blade confirms the mei, not the other way around. Having said that, I'm quite sure that the mei is that of a Hizento (look at the -ZEN kanji), but which one is the tough bit. No easy answers as for the Hizen school this is tricky at the best of times, remembering also that IMHO the Japanese were better at their own fakes than we are at sorting them out, given that some "fakes" are student's work with the approval of the Master. Remembering also that Omi Daijo had at one time 100 people working in his studio. What do we really know with our books... Bestests, BaZZa.

Certainly not Mutsu BaZZa.

Hi Barrie, The sword isn't mine, but I'm able to put up photos. Please find attached. NOTE: The tsuka has been rebound since these pics were taken. Bestests, BaZZa.

Sword 19 inches, blade 5 inches - definitely a tool of some sort. The sharp point suggests cutting tied rope or string around something (a bundle of cuttings??), or perhaps dead-heading flowers, or indeed a multitude of tasks in the garden or forest. Why such an elaborate koshirae??? Maybe the "Headman" suggestion has merit?? Or, why not decorate up an important tool for everyday use and wear... The aspect I'm writing about, however, is the tsuba remaining with the scabbard: > note how the stag tsuba is actually affixed to the scabbard and is a part of the scabbard's throat Has anybody here actually seen a koshirae with this feature??? I offer one here: Bestests, BaZZa.

Gobsmacked... BaZZa.

Uwe mate, Is the hamon the HAMON, or the hadori??? BaZZa.

Hi Kirsty, Thanks for your warm acknowledgement. Let me share a little tale with you. In my first year "with swords" 50+ years ago a neighbour gave me a battered wakizashi for fixing his car radio. It had a signature!! On one side it read SASSHU JU and on the other YASUNORI. Opening my trusty Yumoto beginner's book I turned to the back and found a Yasunori working ca 13th/14th century. I was somewhat overjoyed, but it was some time before I found this was a Shinshinto smith!! Even as keen as I was I knew no one else - NO ONE - who shared this niche interest. They would come later, of course, but in the meantime it took me 10 years to truly understand what a Nihonto was, and another 5 years on top of that before I found my first upper tier Shinto katana by a good Hizen smith. In the 35+ years since it has all been downhill (but still uphill in a sense!!), with of course the usual frustrations of being a collector with a beer income and champagne tastes, something many on this Board of ours also struggle with. But as I've said before, the friends I've made along the way are priceless. Bestests, BaZZa.

Well, given that the -ZEN kanji is improperly formed for a Hizento I would say gimei... BaZZa.

The cherry blossom is also a dead giveaway of a WW2 arsenal (i.e., non-traditional) sword. The O-sujikai yasurime is indicative of a Seki manufacture. Andrew does appraisals, but you best contact him about that.

I think NOT Hizento. BaZZa.

Hello Kirst, IMHO this is a WW2 arsenal sword. The giveaway is the chippy style of writing. If you live anywhere near Melbourne I can look at it for you. However, Andrew Ickeringill is also in Melbourne and is here: https://touken-togishi.com/ All your answers are there. PM me if you have any questions. Best regards, Barry Thomas aka BaZZa.

This seems a good place to put my own example of a Cloisonne tsuba - I saw it recently on an interstate trip and have no idea at all where it "fits". I noted the "muddled" and blotchy colours, but again I know nothing at all about these. I have seen very high quality later EDo Shippo work and it is indeed a joy to behold, but this tsuba ... Any opinions gratefully received. Bestests, BaZZa.

Empress Jingu lived long before the concept of "samurai" came into being (ca 2nd century AD), but just pop empress jingu into google for some interesting reading. This link in particular gives a synopsis of 10 samurai women: http://asianhistory.about.com/od/imagegalleries/ss/samuraiwomen.htm#showall Bestests, BaZZa.

MIHARA(?) KIYOSADA SAKU BaZZa.

Hi Gary, I have a strange heavy, copper tsuba weighing in at 340 grams. It has strange hitsu as well and a remnant of something that could be the remains of a lacquer coating. You show us yours and I'll show you mine!!! BaZZa.

Here is a Traditionalist chipping in!!! Wayne, your 53827 number to me looks most unlike a stamp. The minute irregularities within the numbers themselves suggest to me a Dremel-type tool rather then a stamp. Being a (Chinese??) fake could it even have been Laser etched??? BaZZa.

BUCKING FRILLIANT ... BaZZa.

Still browsing for books and stumbled on this website. Having some early stereo photos of Japan I embarked on a trawl through this website. Its plain that there is A LOT to do with early Japanese photography. A friend has a couple of very interesting early photo albums of Japan with those thick, board covers. http://www.t-enami.org/services BaZZa. God Fellow.

Dear Ffolke, Found a blog I've not seen before that might yield interesting reading for those who have more time than I've got!! https://chaari.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/bashford-dean-and-the-mets-arms-armor-dept/ Bestests, BaZZa God Fellow

Well, another browsing hit!!! This link opens to a "click through" procession of tsuba very well photographed in colour. One side only, sadly, and the descriptions show only a general knowledge of tsuba. Well worth a look as there some unusual tsuba of styles I've never seen. https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/museum/museum-collections/world-cultures/Japanese-swordguards?displaypref=large Best regards, BaZZa God Fellow.

I was browsing google looking for information on a book and stumbled upon this, which others may find of interest: http://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/2014/bashford-dean-and-Japanese-arms-and-armor Regards, BaZZa God Fellow.

The minute I saw the yakiba suggesting a sudareba hamon I thought of the sandai Osaka Yoshimichi. It looks like, as best I can see, very similar to a sword I have held in my hand. BaZZa.

Having discovered that I should have put Japanese hornets (art??) in this subject area, I found this article of sufficient interest to shepherd it here. It seems we Nihonto-philes will continue to be more esoteric than even death mask aficionados... http://www.invaluable.com/blog/young-british-dealers/?utm_source=brand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklyblog&utm_content=blog020917 BaZZa.

FARKUS, FARKUS - sorry, I meant focus, focus (smiley of your choice...) BaZZa.

Talking of excellent stuff, look carefully at the niju habaki in Uwe's last photo. The skill of making the habaki so that the bohi outline is continued in both pieces of the habaki is breathtakingly beautiful. The simplicity of its appearance belies its beauty and the skill level to accomplish it. MMmmmmmmmm... BaZZa.