Mark C

Hi JP, I did see that and it looks like a Z. looked at with a jewellers loope and I cant make it out. I will try to get a closeup pic and post. Cheers

Thank you very much, I would not of worked that lot out in a million years.

Hi All, I have just got a new Katana and am looking advice as to what it might be. In Gunto fittings as discussed in the Military sword section (Rather large Sarute) Nagasa - 24 1/4" (Uchikatana?) Short nakago of 6 5/8" and Possible Bizen in shape? Motohaba - 37mm Sakehaba - 27mm Sori - 15mm Tori Hamon -Gunome Choji but Choji appears to be hollow, Bizen? Can I see Utsuri in the forth picture or is it my very tired and old eyes Although the polish isn't good at all and my pictures are not the best, Taken with an led tourch and compact camera I would appreciate any opinions. My very uneducated guess would be Sue Koto Bizen (I know this covers a broad spectrum) and I'm probably way off. Many thanks in advance. Regards

Thanks everyone, Out of interest John, what is the blade in your large sarute mounts? Would love the read about the Gunto repair teams Bruce, Is the info in a book or on the web? Again, many thanks

Hi All, I know it's probably only assemblers markings but I would love to know what it all says/means. Top left could be 41 which is the number on all the fittings. Many thanks in advance. All the best

Thanks everyone, A few more pictures of the rest. The blade I'm still trying to work out, Mumei, 241/4" nagasa. Pierced tsuba, 6 seppa and an ashi which I have not encountered before. All the best

Hi All, I wouldn't of thought this is original but who knows? Regards

Done. Mark C

I needed a couple last year, Identified the thread as 1/8 BSW from the remaining screws that were present on the saya and made two new brass screws. I did no modification of exsisting threads (in either the fitting or saya) so if I'm lucky enough to find some original ones to fit they should simply screw in. Being a toolmaker by trade it wasn't to difficult, I even marked them up a little so they looked the part after aging. In the UK there doesn't seem to be a ready supply of junk saya's with fittings or I can't find any under £100+ Mark

Hi All, Just picked up this gunto saya, its a bare saya with no other fittings. Saya is stamped 373. Wooden liner has 373 - two characters - and I don't know. Anyways, hope some find interest. All the best Mark

Hi Chris, Real name was Hibino Ichiji, Born may 6th 1917 and died August 20th 1945. He worked as a gunto smith. All the best Mark

Thanks David, No problem, No more time shall be wasted and it will be put into the box marked scrap/ruined. Many thanks Mark

Thank You Jean, It is indeed mounted on a sword. I was thinking maybe cast copy as well but when you look at the copper roof lines with a jewellers loupe, they are inlayed into the iron. I have cropped the picture to hopefully show this. Would this be normal practice on a cast copy tsuba? Again, thanks for the help All the best Mark

HI Everyone, I have this tsuba and would like to know more about it. I have no tsuba books so have tried the www. but have not managed to find out a great deal so any help would be greatly appreciated. Shape: Mokko Gata Material: Iron Height: 77mm Width: 71mm Thickness at Mimi: 4.7mm Thickness at seppa dai: 4mm Mimi: Dote ( I think ) Theme: village/Landscape ( I think ) Many thanks All the best Mark

I for one am well and truly fed up with it all. All it has done is shown the rest of the world what a bunch of incompetent half wits our Government/politicans are, we must be the laughing stock of the world.

I'll be there Grev Mark

Thank you very much Robert All the best Mark

Hi All, I have a mumei tanto attributed to Aizu Kanetomo by the NBTHK (white paper). I have managed to translate all of the paper apart from the person who submitted the tanto. Many thanks All the best Mark

Hi All, I got some money for the Nihonto fund but also got this to keep me busy whilst I save All the best Mark

The Charles and Di coffee mug would be a better investment. Mark

Hi Dave, Next Sunday is the Birmingham arms fair held at the Motorcycle museum. Bring it along and I'm sure some one will have a look for you, The Northern Token Society stall at the show. All the best Mark

Excellent Chris. Great site and collection. All the best Mark

Hi Dwain, I would stay away from oak. I have used Honoki but also Tulip poplar as a last resort as honoki seems to be getting harder to get.. The book is worth every penny. Good luck with the hishi-gami Mark

Thanks Guys for your comments. Like I said, I ain't trying to make this something it isn't but of the three Showato I have in my collection, This one is very different from the other two. All the best Mark

Hi All, Hope this is in the right section. I'm not trying to prove the sword anything other than Showato as it has a seki stamp and is signed Seki Ju Maekawa Kanetsugu Saku Kore. But I can't place the hada, I don't think it's Muji as I would expect. I believe it to be the original war time polish as it has a good inch of unsharpened edge to it by the habaki. Your thoughts greatly appreciated. All the best Mark