Mark C

Hi Everyone, Hope you are all well. I was giving my small collection an inspection and clean when a thought crossed my mind. I wondered if I could find the sale history of any of my swords, So I chose a tanto attributed to Aizu Kanetomo. Jumped onto Google and surprise surprise, I found three different sites selling my little tanto. 1 – Ebay from a Japanese seller (Dec 2017) 2 – Militaria dealer in the UK (July 2018) 3 – Militaria dealer in the UK (Feb 2020) 4 – Me (Dec 2020) That’s all I can find for the moment and obviously this only covers shop/dealer sales and not personnel sales. I keep a file on each of my swords and this will be an interesting addition to this tanto’s file. Just wondering if anyone else has done the same thing with their swords? All the best

Apologies for the washy picture. This is unattractive. on a Mitsuhiro Gendiato. Regards

Hi All, Here is a picture of my label/sticker if of any use. Obviously wooden saya leather covered All the best

Excellent John, Is there any standard/average lengths for the early and standard Tassels? All the best

Thanks Bruce, Was this an extra sheet that came with the book? All the best

Hi George, Unsure at this time who made mine as it is mumei. Was discussed here: All the best

Here is my Dome head hanger George.

PM sent Gwyn

Very nice sword Michael, Just for interest, Bruce has shown a screw in type of sarute cord retention, here is a push in type I got when I purchased a lone kashira with the remnants of the sarute cord in it. Regards

Thanks David, I asked because your nakago is in better condition than mine. Regards

Hi David, Would it be possible to get pictures of the full blade and nakago please? All the best

Hi Brian, Could be: Suikosai Kaneaki tsukuru kore wo Japanese Sword Index has an example under Oshigata of Showa swordsmiths

Thank you Steve. Just for interest. Here is a picture of the reverse side. It came with a WW2 Japanese signed flag. All the best

Hi All, Not sure if this is the right section but here goes. Could I please ask for a translation of the pictured Tasuki. I have translated the other side which is a patriotic saying along the lines of "Praying for Long lasting fortune in warfare" Many thanks in advance All the best

Hi Steve, Here is a larger picture.

Thanks Guys, Doing some more searching and found my sword has already been discussed back in 2012 here on the NMB: Again, many thanks for the replies. Regards

Hi All, I've had a go at translating this mei, Nakago is fairly corroded making it difficult especially the date. I've got - Echigo Kuni Ju Imai Sadaroku Tsukuru Kore and a Date of Showa shichi ( I think) How did I do? Your thoughts would be greatly Regards

Best wishes and speedy recovery Brian.

😲 Wow Dave, Thats a lot of dribble, You must feel it as the blade is put into the saya? Regards

Hi All, I use a saya file that was purchased from Namikawa. I wrap a piece if cotton cloth over the end and clean the inside of the liner, you would be amazed at the crap that comes out. Regards

Great job Brian, Thank you.

On it now Geraint, The new file is now about 20 pages so far with various ships and military history. Regards

Sadly Ray I don't think Roy has his website running now although you can get some of it on Webarchive. I have always kept any thing that comes with the sword whilst I'm the custodian and when it comes to the time to sell, the new owner gets it as well. I'm just amazed that the 10 shilling note is still there after all this time.

Hi Everyone, Hopefully I got this in the right section. I like to keep an information pack with all of my swords (info sheet, pictures of nakago & mei, Tassel and other items that came with the sword). One of my swords in Gunto mounts came with a letter, sword retention slip and a 10 shilling note. The letter is dated 1952 and is between what I presume is the Officer who had the sword and a friend. It includes a 10 shilling note that was monies owed to the officer after winning a bet and the retention slip for the sword which had been found in a draw. Two questions really: How much validity can be placed on things like this that comes with swords? Has anyone else got any interesting paperwork that came with their swords? As always, all comments welcome. Regards

Hi All, Three of mine. 1 - Shinshinto Tanto 2 - Foiled Gunto mounted shinshinto Katana 3 - Shinto wakizashi Regards