Mark C

Hi George, This info is great. Many thanks for looking him up for me. All the best Mark

Hi All, Trying to do some research on a particular swordsmith. The swordsmith in question is Mitsuhiro. I have a Katana (Gendiato, I think) with a mei of “Hizen Kuni Mitsuhiro” There are no stamps or no date on the nakago. Some pictures of hada and hamon in this thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/25529-hada-help/ He is listed in Sloughs page 112 Real name of Yamaguchi Fukutaro Born 1898 Studied under Kurihara Hikosaburo (Akihide) as a part time student. I would like to try and find out when he became fully trained if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. All the best Mark C

Hi Everyone, I had an old saya that was vertually bent in half so was junk. It would seem the this one was of two piece construction. You could tig weld ally but they have bothered with such a lengthy process? I have an ally saya in good condition so I'm certainly not going to section it and find out. All the best Mark

Hi Everyone, Just looking at a gunto saya that I have and am wondering how they were made. Were they made wrapped around a mandrel and welded/brazed along one edge? Were they made in two pieces and welded/brazed together? Was there a certain amount of hand finishing as they seem to be different lengths, widths and sori's? Anyone got any other thoughts? All the best Mark

Hi All, Many thanks for your reply's. The Katana in question is signed Hizen (no) Kuni Mitsuhiro. I will try to get a overall picture of the Hamon along the swords length tomorrow as it seems to change along it's nagasa. Here are a couple of pictures to show various parts. Paul - I think I can cross Nashiji off the list as in hand it looks nothing like your ref example and my pictures do not show the polish well. Again, Many thanks Mark

Mmm, Never seen one. Could it be a paint splash/drip? Mark

Hi Everyone, Could I please ask for a little help on the Hada of this Katana. I can't decide between: Ko-Itame Konuka Nashiji Any advice would be great. All the best Mark

Hi Luke. Paul has mentioned the Birmingham Arms Fair. The next fair is on 24th June and is a good place to show and chat. All the best Mark

Hi Hoanh, Was that the Kogatana book? If it was, I didn't bid as it looked like something was going on in the bidding history. Regards Mark

Thats interesting thank you. Might not discard it as junk now I've seen others. All the best Mark

Don't worry, No fingers were harmed in the taking of this picture :-) It's a piece of horn. All the best Mark

Hi Everyone, Had this sarute kicking around for years and would like you opinions if I may. I've always dismissed it as wrong, made of steel and very thin (uniform 4.5mm wide) compaired to other gunto sarute I have. All the best Mark

I will be there Grev, Should be a busy one as the shooting show is on at the NEC which normally attracts a few extra people. Regards Mark

Hi Matthew, I wouldn't, Try the link that Grey has posted and do no more for the moment. If you can get to the Birmingham Arms fair on the 18th Feb, the Northern Token Society stall there, Show them the blade and see what they say. They normally have a good aray of stuff on show so a good chance to start learning. All the best Mark C

Thanks Gentlemen, Just for interest, here are a few more pictures, Last one being the bad news shot Again, Thanks for your replies All the best Mark

Hi Everyone, I would like to ask a question about activities on a Wakizashi that I have. I can see sunagashi, but can i see Chikei, course hada or a flaw? Many thanks in advance. Regards Mark C

Hi Grev, Tsuba arrived safely today and it's excellent. Many thanks All the best Mark C

Not so much a purchase , more of a bad trade. I swapped a collection of bayonets (47 in total) for a £600 Gunto Regards Mark C

Hi Grev, Jones & Jones Oriental Art ( Peter and Richard) will be there, They have some fantastic stuff but I would ring them to see what they are taking. Their website http://www.jonesandjonesorientalart.com Shame I can't go as I'm in a shooting comp all weekend otherwise we could have meet up - Enjoy the show. Regards Mark

Hi Steve, Here's one I have. And my attempts to translate it. Right hand side 四 Shi 二 Ni - 42, maybe 42nd 兵 Hei 站 tan 地 Chi 区 ku - District ? 本 Hom 部 bu - Headquarters ? Left hand side 陸 Riku 軍 gun - Land army? 曹 So 長 cho - Sergeant Major? As always, open to corrections. Regards Mark

Hi Henry, Thanks for your response. I do see the simularities with the colour wash. The Ming era being between 1368 and 1644, Knowing my luck it's a repro, Still I like them hanging on the wall. My quest for an expert now begins, something tells me that is going to be a long journey in the UK. Again, many thanks Regards Mark

Hi Henry, Thanks for your PM reply and here are the paintings as suggested. Apologies for the reflections from the glass. I asked Henry for some assistance on the seal or possible artist and he suggested that I tag it onto his post regarding 2 Landscape paintings that I aquired many years ago from a NMB member. Any help greatly appreciated. Regards Mark

Hi Denis, Sadly not going for the first time in 10 years, maybe next time. Have fun Mark

Hi, IMHO I would leave it as is, the chances of getting a blade to fit are slim. It makes a nice display piece. Regards Mark

My understanding for what it's worth is: Habuchi is part of the Nioi-guchi but not the same. Regards Mark