gumanthon

regards John

Hi Koichi Moriyama Thank you for your response ......in other words you are saying the mei is defiantly fake. Regards John.

Hi learned friends, In my humble opinion they are both good signatures just that the one on the right was when he was younger. If there was any doubt in my mind it would be that the 1st character on the right looks like it was chiselled after the hole was drilled. Regards John

Hi folks, Can anyone tall me is it possible to get my sword papered by the NBTHK ? or would they not verify a miniture Nihonto ? Kind Regards John

speedy recovery brian and hope everything goes well for you. I hope the surgeons scalpel has been sharpened by a good togishi Regards John

Hi Guys, Thank you for the interesting comments maybe Brian the 10 on the nakago is for a boy's tenth Birthday if it is a boy's Day Sword. Yes it would be very nice to have a translation of the inscription on the blade but I guess this is very difficult because it can only be done by comparison. Kind Regards John.

Hi Brian, Thank you for letting me know the pictures are no longer there, I have posted some more pictures and here are the measurements = The cutting edge is 9 1/16th inch with an overall length of 14 1/4 inch when fully seated in the scabard. and under an inch wide. These are approx.measurements as I have not as yet received the sword. Kind Regards John.

Hi I understand what you mean now by bunraku sword very interesting have any of you ever seen one of these swords ? Out of curiosity is it possible to get my sword papered by the NBTHK ? or would they not verify a miniture Nihonto ?Thank you again Kind regards John.

Hi, Just from an interest point a friend of mine had a thought that the sword might be a miniture replica Nihonto probably made for puppet shows pre 1800 which he has seen before. Also he says the signature would then be correct being done at a 1/5th scale to usual. It is much harder to forge and make and appeals highly apparently to the theatrical market in Japan. Do you think that this theory could hold any water or is pure bungkum. With Best Regards John.

Hi, Thank you for all the idea's and feedback good or bad I am pleased to have received them evenso I am glad I bought it. With Best Regards John.

Hi John, I am sure Geisha got many swords. Is it possible from the pictures to tell what age this is or what school ? also is the wooden cover original to the sword do you think. Kind Regards John.

Hi Brian, Thank you very much for the information I did not realise that professional polishers put lines on the pointed end of the sword I only thought they were put on the top of the tank very interesting though thang you.not a geisha sword as suggested. Regards John. :D :D

Hi, Thank you for the information a little late because I have already purchased it. I have put a link so that you can see more pictures now. On the top of the kissaki there are polishing lines I have never seen this before....has any one any idea's....nakago there is one character does this mean anything? or any information would be gratefully received thanks again. Regards John http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0387624143

Hi folks, Can anyone help me translate this inscription Kind Regards John

Hi Barry, Hello everybody Nice to see you here I agree with your points about collecting yes it is nice to write an introduction I should have done the same when I joined but it is difficult for me because I am dyslexic. I am sure I will put one together at one point better late than never. Regards John.

Hi, Yes that is the one I missed out on by one. Yes I do know of the buyer but not personally I believe he deals only in Japanese swords. Regards John.

Hi Brian, This seller had a nihonto for sale before Christmas on Ebay and I was the winning bidder for $50.00 and he then removed the item before the end of the auction. I emailed him and asked him how much he wanted for the item he told me $2500,00 if I wanted to buy it or he would relist it. When he relisted it unfortunately I came 2nd in the bidding but at that time he had only a feedback of 6. It was a beautiful looking modern nihonto excellently photographed and the mei supposedly read kiyo shin shi sada ju saku kore :Heisei 1 nen 5 gatsu (5,1989) 元年（first year of heisei period your guess is as good as mine. Regards John :?

Hi, Interesting pics the polishing lines do not represent individual polishers though I belive they represent a higher grade of polisher. As you probably realise different polishers apply different numbers of lines but this does not differenciate between them. The effects of being cut down and machine grinded does not effect the blade and only shows the authenticity as what has happened. Although this will probably effect the value of but it is best not to try and lose discolouration this is my humble oppinion I will leave it to others more learned to go further. Regards John.

Hi all, Thank you for making the pictures clearer John . I know it is very difficult witthout a full polish and with the staining but do the pictures show any possiblity of it being a TSUGUHIRO. or any other oppinions now you have the other pictures. Kind Regards John

john

Hi Everyone, Thank you very much for all your very interesting debate regarding the swords. The older sword sounds as if I may be lucky and I have hit on a good one maybe. The showato sword is probably still a good buy for me I will post some more pictures I do not know if the pictures will be of much help because the blade is not polished. Thanks all again for your help. Regards John.

Hello All, I have just bought these two swords. I beleive one to be around the 1550 period I have attempted to read the mei Tsuguhiro probably dates to the Koto era. The second sword I beleive to be around the 1900's and have tried to read the mei Kanemune Saku. Both of them have a good wavy hammond but can only be seen easily in the polished one. I am sure these are hand forged unless someone can tell me different. If anyone can give me any info on either of them I will be very grateful thank you. Regards John. Overall length 34 7/8" 35 1/2"

I recently purchased three Japanese swords from Ebay two of which are being held by customs in the U.K. and it took two weeks for them to notify me that they were there the third one whish I bought a week ago I expect the same thing will happen.They say in their letter they require proof that they are either hand forged or made prior to 1954. When I spoke with them on the phone they informed meit had to be both of these obviously they have made an error in that statement also me giving a description of the swords is not acceptable that they will only accept a copy of the sales description from where I bought them. This is amazing to me as to how this description would be any more informed than mine.....so I hope I receive my swords in the end. They say if I cannot proove this satisfacorily they will confiscate the swords. Any advice on this matter would be very much appreciated. Kind Regards John P.S. I agree the U.K. has totally lost the plot.....like a sword is any more dangerous than a golf club what will they be banning them next ???

Hello Reinhard/Jacques Thank you very much for taking the time to check out this information for me. Yes I would be very grateful if anybody can add any further information for me. I am a new member and fairly new to collecting Japanese swords. I enjoy very much reading the discussions on this forum and will gladly make a small donation via Paypal as requested by Brian. Thanks again for the help With Regards John.

Hi, Is that why I cannot find much information because nobody signed with this name or does it just mean it is not very good.Please forgive me if this sounds a bit silly only I am a novice Thanks Regards John.