Mark Green

Great post Steve. That sure makes some sense of it. Thanks.

No, I couldn't read the listing. It has a Ko-Katchushi look. But it looks a bit small, and fat. And the hitsu-ana looks original to me. I don't think many, if any Ko-katchushi had any to begin with. Does the listing say what it is suspected to be. I'm sure it could be made in later times to look like that. I personally like it's look. The iron is very organic looking. Lovely in fact. What does the description say?

I thought I saw this before. Looks close. From Lions Gate Armory http://www.antiqueswords.com/product-17 ... ra-Set.htm

So Christian, You are saying that all this 'interesting stuff' going on on the left side here was made that way? Is this common for this school, or period? Why? Did he just run out of iron, or was it wabi-sabi for the times?

Someone bagged it. Could turn out to be a gem. The price was right. If it is whole.

Yes, that is for sure a fact that edo period, and likely a lot of sukashi from mid 1700's on, were wire saw cut. But not all, I'm sure. That was a new technology that was hard to produce, and/or acquire. If you think about the time it would take to produce a hardened wire saw blade???? Or use a wire and some kind of abrasive. People that use them, know how long a modern one lasts. You could likely chisel out a full sukashi in half the time. I should have been more clear. File technology got better as well. All of this just makes it more likely that the 'bones' were wanted from the start.

Good start Niclas, The black background, and fluorescent lights should help. Very nice start though.

Tachi-mei, Yoshihiro. I'm sure someone will be interested. It looks like a wakizashi?

Great topic Gang. While I do believe that wear could bring the bones 'out' a bit, rust and cleaning is very likely to have brought out a lot more. Do the 'bones' rust slower? Anyone ever noticed this? Most of these tsuba were cut with a chisel. Maybe these spots were just desirable to the artists of the time. So, were made to show. Or maybe the artists were wrecking their chisel edges on these spots, so avoided them in the finish work. Ford, in all your years of making tsuba, have you ever made a sukashi totally by chisel? I am experimenting with this, with wrought iron, and home made steel. Maybe I will see some reason for it. Most tsuba were made with the second grade tamahagane. Most of it seems to have many impurities. If you think about some guys making steel in the yard behind the forge, who knows, what ended up in it. And again, these same guys, may have added something to create these 'bones' in their final product. They do seem to be pleasing to the collector. Perhaps, they were just as pleasing and desirable to the consumer of the time.

That sword looks real enough. The tag looks like the usual surrender tag. Likely the name of it's former owner. Marked down when the sword was turned in. You never now about these. A look at the nakago (tang) would tell a whole lot more. And, some better shots of the blade. Mark G

Not sure about the signiture, but I sure like them. A Dragon in the lightning clouds. Way cool

That cracked me up Brian He is lucky, he didn't put out his eye!!! Is that what you call a 'cast' copy mark G

Hi Rob, I'm not too far from you. Gbo. NC. And I believe that in the Dc area, there are a few guys that play with Nihonto. Not sure if they have a club or not. I know a few people selling swords in the area. I will PM you. Mark G

There are a lot of pretty good looking Japanese style swords being made in China right now. Many, are being made in most of the traditional Japanese way. With traditional steel. I have seen a few that would really make you want to hold them for a closer view. The guys that are not mass producing swords, and have very high standards, seem to be right up there with some of the best Western smiths. No matter what, they are still not a Japanese sword. If that matter to you. The sword in the ebay sale looks as good as any mass produced gunto. maybe better then most. It would be interesting to see if they will send you pics of the nakago, and close pics of the steel. I may do that right now. For some strange reason, most of the Chinese smiths just can't get a clue about the finish on a nakago. Most of the quality smiths have.

Great looking set Matt!!!! I love those. Are they on a sword of yours?

Martin's tsuba looks spot on for your set.

I agree with that Matt. Likely China.

Nice close pics Jason. It makes a nice set. Looks like you need a nice shakudo tsuba to go with this. Mark

Hey J, Does your polisher do all the wood work too? And the wrap, and the whole shebang?

Thanks Morita san, I was thinking that was the case, but wasn't sure. Thanks, Mark G

Still looks very nice! Wonderful contrast in alloys. It always cracks me up when I see these 'hanging out the laundry' themes. Anyone know what is behind that? It is not uncommon. You see it some on tsuba, but I can't say I have ever seen it in menuki. There must be though. Mark G

I'm sure they have had black lacquer for some time Jason. Not sure when they started doing this, but you see quite a few from the Edo period, and older. Why not gunto? That tsuba can move anywhere. I would doubt that it was regulation, unless a naval sword. You see lots of war period naval swords in wonderful, polished, lacquered, same saya. Mark G

Nice!

My friend has a sword we call "old smelly" . It is an old cut down koto katana that has some loose grained steel, still very pretty though. When you pull that sword from it's saya, the whole room smells of choji. It is the most wonderful surprise. It makes this old, very used sword, something very special to both of us, and anyone else that has had the pleasure. All we can figure is that thee sword has absorbed so much choji oil, that it is a wick. And it really does make it extra special. Funny about this kind of sensory stimuli. Mark G

James, You may want to google Kiyomitsu. He has been dead for 300 years. His swords are very sought after. they usual start at around 5k, out of polish, and go through the sky. You could have one of today's sword smiths make you a Kiyomitsu like sword, in the size you want. And still get you nakago inscriptions done on it. The cost would be about the same. Chris Bowen could likely help you with that.