John C

Family mon on the menuki as well. John C.

One more consideration - it appears in these pics that the hamon runs off the edge (the boshi does not turn back). If this is the case, it would be a fatal flaw and would not be worth the two grand, in my opinion. But as is often the case, I could be wrong. Added up, I would pass. John C.

Roger that. John C.

@Bruce Pennington Not sure if you have these: #61 here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/355626335708?itmmeta=01HWDZ4SM3J35D7WBAK1TN4ZFY&hash=item52ccfb3ddc:g:PbUAAOSwY6FmGDa4&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwGUqlbhW2iGXAVOW0M%2B6%2BLPRYzYfiJ9W1XDD96PQBSCm8vQmlkXKhMb818%2FXpZ0qbEMdFxTZrA76gFeDR869ZA23oPnk1fZFopoVgm5oFlvoC9Vo9%2BB24EEBnhsZGAJM%2BLcWmukBHFvGYur%2F2B1jcndRFjAAMRkZzAMFLFhgG4UcUxRpmKKjrMeY%2BZE85nD6P2ctkMCqNVko3Paqt1fyViiRQEGbMG6TYYXKGo%2FM7PlgvT5F4TbHZ8evJmjykV%2BZrQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5Sak7_jYw ...and #68 here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/126447386646?itmmeta=01HWDZ4SM3JZSCKZA90DXW7KZS&hash=item1d70da0016:g:JIgAAOSwZ4BmKErL&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwNZohbQjHWexkFFHeCFQoifhS0qz%2FFoYCVc0Cj5hlDK9He3P%2B2Fs2q6SdX6Q71IeKdsfl8wEuL1yUCqbkMBxW9fUjd5mddcmjWp8zClx2Wgj52%2F5%2BcvLEqgB9DWr96YGbqOlvi7wZ70dY7qj%2F1Pfiz7C4TuLR5ZnF394pX%2FEhFs21Np8pkkMsSDBYlenYLtDNQlHA291wYBr0kw4%2FlG4evQDcs5FhvqokAndMThqKyUFyqmp8yZdvcp5WH7BTjaSdg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5Sak7_jYw John C.

Curious that the screw slot has been hand punched. John C.

Hello: I'm hoping for a confirmation on the "Taka" in Takamichi. The character does not appear to have the "leg" strokes so I'm not sure. Thank you, John C.

Phill: Are there any similar notches on the end of the habaki? Sometimes we see this as roman numeral assembly marks. John C.

My wife recently bought me a 4" miniature sword keychain as a gag gift. It too was held up in customs for a month. John C.

Wow! John C.

Adam: There are companies that make decent replicas and sold as such (Swords of Northshire, Cult of Athena, etc.). I believe this is one of those (the tassel is a modern copy for sure.). John C.

I believe it means hilt (in order?). Here's an example of another one. John C.

Hello: Trying to confirm this as Takamichi?? Thank you, John C.

Not a translation, however I think it may be in katakana if you want to research. A name then one yen on the left side????? John C.

I think that one had the Dairen stamp as well. Badly struck, it could be mistaken for a seki stamp. Maybe that's why it went so cheaply. John C.

Henry: I'm not sure what was used in this case, however just about anything can be used to create texture. A sealer is applied to the wood or metal (I use shellac) then a layer of guilders size (adhesive). Once tacky, the texture is applied and allowed to dry. It can be lacquered or painted at this point. After one coat, it can be rubbed down to expose more of the texture then lacquered, if desired. That's the basic process, anyway. John C.

He was selling a mantetsu at the same time that I believe also went for over 2500. The market seems strong at the moment. John C.

Thanks, Piers. It's kamakiri (praying mantis). As usual, I misspelled it. (I dove into the shallow end of the gene pool.) Now I know what to look for. John C.

Phil: My guess would be Kanetatsu, however I am not a translator so wait for confirmation. John C.

Hello: I've been looking for purpose-made kamagiri for some yatate and I cannot seem to find any. Are they just small kogatana or are there some specially made for yatate? Inquiring minds want to know... John C.

Reviving an old thread here: I was wondering what type of arrowhead this is? My guess would be target practice, but possibly togari-ya? It doesn't seem to match the standard styles. It's actually square shaped. John C.

On the mounts, yes. But again, if the blade is a gendaito as opposed to a showato, then the devaluation would be minimal. If, however, these are ONLY mounts, then the condition should be taken into consideration. John C.

I found it interesting that the same' is black, as in a kai-gunto. John C.

Steve: As George noted, the real value is in the blade. And yes, the wood saya would indicate late war, however I believe it would have been black lacquered originally. It looks as if someone may have stripped and cleaned it. Not surprising as you will often find these with chipped and peeling lacquer. Here is an example of one: John C.

Seems to be a corresponding pin on the fuchi as well. Could it have been part of a gunzoku kit? John C.

Correction noted. Sorry for the mislead, Bruce. John C.