Bazza

The Hizento Handbook by Eguchi Soshin (translated by Gordon Robson, 1997) has the full 7 generations of Doi Shinryo listed on pages 166 - 168, with page 167 showing a number of 7th gen. oshigata. Knowing that extracts can be used for research purposes I have attached scans of page 166 and page 167. Page 168 is noteworthy only for a short additional reference to the 7th generation, viz. "Shinotsu. First signature of the 7th generation Doi Shinryo." Best regards, BaZZa. PS - I have a couple more snippets of information that I'll follow up on.

It was indeed a fun read. I'm discovering a few more as I go through the history of my own posts, mostly trivial responses on my part, but embedded in really good stuff from our virtuoso members. Something to think about Brian?? Bestests, BaZZa.

I've been holding back. Is there an exorcist in the House??? With deep sympathy. BaZZa.

He is certainly a cool looking dude and has an air of great age to him. He looks as if he is scared stiff, as if some big, bearded bloke is chasing him with a sword... BaZZa.

The crude habaki suggests some kind of refit of a Showato, or a sword of non-Japanese manufacture IMHO. That handle has to come off one way or another and would frankly be of no historical loss... I have a similar sword here where the handle with good same has been solidly glued on and my only choice is to destroy the handle if I want to see the nakago. Handles have always been replaceable items. BaZZa.

It also refers to a particular tang shape - gohei nakago: Gohei refers to its resemblance to the pieces of paper which are attached to the sacred straw rope festoon used within Shinto shrines. This tang form was first used by Ise no Kami Kuniteru in the Edo period. See: http://meiboku.info/guide/form/nakago/index.htm BaZZa.

I wonder if there is a genre in this type of koshirae as I once saw a tanto/kowakizashi that was composed entirely of vegetable themes. The tsuba was a pumpkin, the kozuka a bean pod, the menuki a stunning pair of shakudo melons and so on. An astounding piece in theme and execution, just like Nick's tanto here. The red/gold-colour lacquer is interesting in itself as a friend has a tanto with saya entirely in that lacquer style. BaZZa.

For some of us it could also be phrased "collecting is the distance between taste and income". One of my sayings is "If the piece is right the price doesn't matter - within reason". I exercised this maxim only recently when no one on the Board took up an offer so the piece went to eprey, then was still unsold. I gritted my teeth and paid the price. I have no buyer remorse whatsoever, however, my pot is now over-stressed, which brings me back to Hamish's point of view... I think it was the 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes who observed that man's wants are unlimited. He must have known a Nihonto collector??!! Bestests, BaZZa.

Paulus, I LOVE IT - and the background drum and reloading activity too. Thanks for putting it up. Looks like a really good day. There is one day a year here in Victoria, Australia, where people dress up in period costume and fire cannon and mortars http://www.95thriflesaustralia.com/events/taminick Best regards, BaZZa.

Gentleman, I have never seen this style of mount. Do any of these have gendaitou in them, or are they "machine made"??? Regards, BaZZa.

Peter, the "other surface" is shown in pictures 2 & 3 - note the hitsuana. Regards, BaZZa. EDIT: I agree with Namban.

G'day Ben, It all comes down to price. This sword has already taught you what book learning couldn't. As such, you've "paid for a tutorial" and got free opinions from experienced people here - that's what we are here for. Welcome. If you decide you want to stay the course with Nihonto you've had a good start. Your sword is at least real. Your comment "and the shinogi-ji looks like chrome with no visable grain at all!" is exactly what the shinogi ji is supposed to look like - burnished. The polish looks quite amateurish and if you know who did it do keep away from him/her/them. No polisher of competence and proper training (6 years plus in Japan) would polish the filemarks. I don't think the "weld line" is a weld at all, more likely a rust line from a previously placed habaki. A weld would show "collateral damage" either side of the line with rust bursting off the surface leaving pits. So, boiling it down, a real sword with real bits just pretty much thrown together and all it comes down to is price... Best regards, BaZZa.

Many years ago with a similar need I found a brass Whitworth screw of a particular size fitted the thread. All I had to do was reshape the head (spin in a chuck and file to suit), then cut to length and Bob's your uncle (or Brian, or Guido, or Stephen...) BaZZa.

Phillipe, a stainless steel blade I'm sure and therefore no hamon. Those I have seen had a psuedo hamon as an artifice of the polish. Best regards, BaZZa.

Gentlemen, note also that the creature has spots... BaZZa.

Brilliant!! PM sent. BaZZa.

Congratulations Paul. Sipping something nice is as good as it gets for me too. Almost a tradition!! I have a memorable night nearly 40 years ago firmly in mind still. I had to travel a long, long way to see a sword after dropping my car pool workmates off, then backtracking to the other side of the city. When the owner brought out an old bag I started to wet myself. When the original Edo period koshirae came out of the bag I felt even more pressure. When the blade came out in pristine condition I went wobbly and asked the owner if he had any booze in the house. I made him an offer and we cracked the beer. Then I took the handle off to reveal a kiku mon and the mei ECHIZEN no KAMI MINAMOTO RAI NOBUYOSHI and the destruction of my composure was nearly complete. I arrived home after midnight from the long return drive to find my dinner cold in the oven. I found a bottle of bubbly in the fridge and stood up at the kitchen bench to eat my dinner cold, washed down with a full bottle of bubbly. I have rarely felt so good... The 27 inch katana is now polished with a Tokubetsu Hozon paper. BaZZa. XXX

Guido et al, Some time ago I asked if anyone had seen a Kazunori gendaito. In the course of research on Kazunori I found reference to a sword made in 1936 as a presentation to one Yuzawa Michio (so inscribed). At that time he was appointed Vice Minister of the Home Ministry. Before that in 1931 he became Director of the Public Works Bureau, and Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture. In 1935, he was appointed Governor of Hyōgo Prefecture. He was at one time Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Japan and possibly had a role in organising the XIIth Oympiad in Tokyo, 1940. I found a photo of him in this document http://library.la84.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1940/OR1940.pdf (207 pages) on page 16. I'm aware its a long shot, but if Yuzawa Michio as a high official had a sword presented to him in 1936 he might also have been associated with swordsmiths. Possibly others in the photos were also associated with swordsmiths. I've attached the document with my meagre findings. Best regards, BaZZa. Links to photos of Japanese Ministers.doc

Has anybody ever seen a little tanto like this?? Its a fairly well crafted piece with the look of a souvenir, but more like trench art to my eye and I think a one-off piece. It is 27.5 cm overall length with the blade 14.5 cm from the front of the habaki. The blade is shobu zukuri with the faintest suguba hamon. As the item isn’t mine I didn’t try to remove the handle, but I would be surprised if it were signed. The feel I get from it is that it was made in the Showa period?? The koshirae has interesting decorations of chrysanthemum, cherry blossom and a Hannya mask. The tip of the handle has a spear-like point representing an omadaka leaf, a samurai mon. The “hanger” on the scabbard reminds me of a shape I think I’ve seen on an old tachi koshirae. Perhaps it is a “hobby” piece to be used as a letter opener by an old, retired man with symbols of his life associations. BaZZa. EDIT: deleted!!!!

I have a friend whose hobby is high definition, large scale black and white photography. At work one day (long ago) he said he was looking for a new challenge. I suggested Japanese swords and lent him one of mine. Despite his clear talent in the medium and style of his choice after some considerable time he gave it up and returned the sword, mission unaccomplished. I have another friend whose wife is a talented photographer and wants to "do" one of my swords. I just know it isn't going to work out... BaZZa.

I quite agree with Franco (G'day mate), your eyes aren't deceiving you. Such inserts have been discussed here before and I have personally seen a few. I don't recall any substantive reason given for their existence, though it is clearly a very high order skill to make such inserts. The one illustrated below took quite a time to winkle out - to prove that it was an insert. BaZZa.

On rhs NANTO JU lhs YASUSADA I'm sure someone else will know more off the top of their head. BaZZa.

A very strange and different kind of kanji. I haven't seen this before - is there a name for it??? BaZZa.

Good touché Ben!!! Most enjoyable, thank you for posting. Not wishing to be pedantic and inviting a riposte, rather than "mid 1800s" I would suggest "later 1800s". These are clearly of the Meiji period sometime after 1868. Bestests, BaZZa.

Takanoha yasurime + sanbonsugi hamon + sugu boshi = Mino Kanemoto ca 1600??? Tsuba signed KANEIE may be Saga Kaneie. BaZZa.