Bazza

It really is a good-looking trophy and I love the wood... BaZZa.

'Like' with the proviso that the Phillips head screws are replaced with something more arsetistic... BaZZa.

Bruce, this may not be a bonji. Naotane is said to have used a katakana kokuin for a town name when he forged swords away from 'home'. I see this as 4 katakana that I have enlarged and translated with a -kana table. At first blush I get HI SHI NA (?) NI (?). I am likely to be way off base... BaZZa.

Might have been a real mumei nakago, but surely this is a crudely incised mei with a Dremel tool or a 4-inch nail!!?? BaZZa.

If we all saved pieces of history from being junked surely the stack would be over our heads suffocating us!! I 'save' things and when my wife peers into the shed and says "What is that doing here?" I have a number of answers: - it was too good to be junked - it needed saving to a good home - I had a plan and whatever occurs to me on the spur of the moment. But I do have a question Piers. What is the nature of the 'black string' on your rescued pieces??? It looks a waxed twine? I'm also reminded that I do have two powder flasks that I should present here for scrutiny - in time... BaZZa.

Dear Costas, this tsuba comes under the wangata umbrella - a concave tsuba. There is some useful information here: https://www.mandarin...-gata-tsuba-kunihiro BaZZa.

A 'souvenir' tachi fits the bill for me. The (dremmelled?) go-san-kiri mon on the habaki is d-r-e-a-d-f-u-l. I wouldn't want it at any price, so no valuation from me. BaZZa.

THE DUCK'S GUTS MUST READ... https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/35486-a-word-about-amateur-polishing/#comment-367040 BaZZa Who has been through this 'argument' dozens of times over some decades. The phrase that comes to mind is "There are none so blind as those who do not want to see".

Luca, nice, NIO btw. Are these papered?? I think they are Unno Shomin school, Mito province. See Legacy Art here: https://www.legacysw...-unno-school-menuki/ Note Ted Tenold's comment: The meticulously placed star shaped chikaragane around the posts are yet another qualitative touch that immediately show the dedication to craftsmanship through details, and a hallmark Unno touch. I must say, though, that I don't see the level of detail exhibited in the Legacy Art menuki. I have a pair of NIO in shakudo, also Mito, that have heavy posts. BaZZa.

Dirk O wrote: > 細野惣左衛門政守 - Hosono Sōzaemon Masamori MAAATE, just love this, love it to bits. Is there a sword with it, or is it a loner in the world?? BaZZa.

Alex, sooner or later in collecting Nihontou one has to 'bite the bullet' and buy. $1,000 is a good starter IMHO. I would buy it and send to a good polisher (search the Board for discussion on polishers) and beware a cheap deal. A 'cheap' polish gives you what you pay for - disappointment in the long run as your knowledge and experience grow. I've been there and done that. Vajo wrote "Its a nice shinto katana my guess". I agree and FWIW think it could be earlier Shintou than later. To find out all it costs is money, and when it comes to good Nihontou it pays to be not shy about money... You will win some and lose some, but you do have to get your feet wet. BaZZa.

Dear All, in my web travels I came across this, which I thought would be of interest to some: https://www.2aussiet...rs.com/osaka-castle/ BaZZa.

I guess that would make it a horrormono!! BaZZa.

Kyle, how about a closeup photo of the signature, please?? If its a shodai Kunisuke has anyone ever thought of a KINTSUGI process for restoring a good sword as a study piece. One would have to sink $$$$$ but we sword ffolke are nutty enthusiasts... BaZZa.

It would look good at a distance - - - - - - 5 miles... BaZZa.

Winchester/Brian, Thanks for your comments. I have seen three circular copper tsuba that are I think 'modern' with such holes. These have long puzzled me. When I organise myself I'll put some photos up in a new thread BaZZa.

I'm absolutely intrigued with the hole where the kozuka hitsu is usually placed. Anyone??? More than curiosity I have a solid reason for asking. BaZZa.

Mike, G'day... A bell rang in the back of my head reading many years ago that some larger nodules may in fact be carved whalebone glued in... BaZZa.

Bob, how fortunate you are. Its quite wonderful to see a sword come out of the woodwork unmolested. I have very much enjoyed seeing your sword and for any advice you are in the best hands here on NMB. BaZZa. Melbourne, Australia.

Cola, the length of the blade and tang suggest this is a KINNOTOU of the Bakumatsu period ca 1850. Do a google search to find out more and also search the Board with KINNOTO (omit the U for the search) BaZZa.

karatekutya Sir, Hope you saw this from your other "rusty nakago treatment" thread awa mywei's reading of the mei: Hizen Kuni Yoshikane was a Shinshintou swordsmith ca 1865: https://www.samuraim...u-hozon-certificate/ Can we see more pics of the blade itself, please??? BaZZa. EDIT to add that there is a lot of detail in the link about the swordsmith YOSHIKANE that is well worth reading.

Hizen Kuni Yoshikane was a Shinshintou swordsmith ca 1865: https://www.samuraim...u-hozon-certificate/ Can we see more pics of the blade itself, please??? BaZZa.

KANEFUSA?? BaZZa.

Is it time we did a survey of our Members here??? (hic!) BooZar. aka BaZZa.

I've been gazing at these images for 15 minutes or so. For interest, if one clicks on the image it enlarges, but if your cursor turns into a + sign and one clicks on that the image is further enlarged in a new window. Can anyone comment on the ground of the tsuba? It looks like a leaf or plant surface with a layer of tiny eggs - I nearly wrote 'shimmer' because the effect is so subtle it defies my ability to express it, but it is so purposeful it must have a name. Another simile the springs to mind is of 'goose bumps' on skin exposed to the cold, low, little bumps close together. Spell binding effect. BaZZa.