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Excellent explanation!

Just finished reading the download. Very very informative! Exactly what I’m looking for. Hopefully the Marcus Sesko book I ordered will go further and give more examples.

Damn it! lol. Would rather have color! May have to pony up and get both

Great, thank you! Ordered.

I’m looking to build knowledge about koshirae. Time periods, themes, styles, colors, etc. Specifically katana koshirae. I have a mid Edo “Shinano no Kami Nobuyoshi (2nd gen)” blade in shirasaya that I would like to have a koshirae for one day and would like to learn more. I’m beginning to understand this will be a big undertaking so good books will help. Can I get some recommendations on books that I can learn from? Thanks.

Great, thank you! Looks like it may have some good tips.

Very nice! Looks like a museum. Here’s my modest display. I made the katanakake myself. It’s also white oak but with a piano black finish. Antlers are white-tail deer.

Been looking online and can’t find any for smaller tsuba. I currently have one but the color of the fabric is too dark to make the tsuba display well. I’m not sure of the nakago-ana size but I believe it’s for either a small wakizashi or a large tango.

Thank you aswell. As stated it came from Japan (a generally humid climate) and its new home is in the geographical center of North America (a generally much less humid climate) in a home with central heating and central air-conditioning. Although it has had a few weeks to climatize I’ll be sure not to force it closed if it’s telling me it doesn’t like it. Blade came with a large amount of oil which has since been fully cleaned with 99% alcohol and given a very small amount of oil. It also exclusively stays in a shirasaya bag aswell to protect from dust.

Thanks for the advice👍🏻

Wondering how much gap there should be if any at all? I was once told by my Iaido Sensei to keep a small gap to not wear out or split the saya. That is for Iaito and not sure if the same rule applies for shirasaya. When I received this Nihonto from the dealer it was completely shut with zero gap, and was very very difficult to open. The picture below shows how I currently have it. Tight to draw open and requires the two fists together and clench my fists. I’ve seen this in a previous post. Should this be fully closed to make it air tight, or is this sufficient? Thanks for your advice.

Just ordered it online!

Still available?

I’m 3/4 through “Connoisseurs”, finished “The Japanese sword a comprehensive guide”, “The Samurai Sword”, and have been considering Cutting Edge. I’ll have to find a copy based on your recommendation.

You’ve been very helpful, thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.

Thanks for the info. What book is this from?

Thank you! I’ve been heavily investing in beginner books.

Documentation from Aoi Art states “Shinano Kami Fujiwara Nobuyoshi (2nd generation).” However I can’t translate the signature on the Nakago yet. At some point I’ll give a go at learning that but may need to get assistance. Documentation also states “his real name is Takai Kinsaburou, and later changed his mei to Minamoto”.

Yes I read that in the initial description. Do you know if it was common for smiths to change names? And for what reason?

It did! Tokubetsu hozon.

That second tsuba really appeals to me.

Been buying a bunch! And reading a bunch. Koshirae is what I was originally thinking but didn’t realize how big of a project it will be. Maybe in the future though.

My first Nihonto. It’s nothing special but I’m proud to be its custodian. I purchased it from Aoi Art in Japan. Im just a baby in the world of Nihonto and thought I’d jump in and buy early in my journey to learn from a blade in hand. Open to comments and opinions.

Looking for input if I should be washing silk viewing cloth every time I study/clean my katana. I assume it would have to be cleaned at some point as the cloth would pick up oils from hands. Or is unscented tissue paper preferred as they are always clean and disposable. Thanks for any input.

PM’d