VRGC

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Still available? I’m interested!

Thank you for your answer Brian. Indeed it’s not mind blowing but it feel like a solid base that covers some “nice to have”. Good to hear that I came to a similar conclusion.

It fits my budget, time period of interest, a strong curve and has a NBTHK Hozon certificate (I have yet to see it but have have requested it from the shop). I am not after a famous smith or signed Mei but rather just a decent sword with a good enough polish. I find the link to Bingo Mihara School nice to dive into. This matches my needs but I wanted to check if I'm not missing any obvious signs with regards to price and quality / polish ect. I see a few things like some prominent spots around the middle and towards the end of the katana but Im not too bothered. It’s also from a Japanese retail shop that was recommended by a fellow Dutch NMB member. Listing Details: No.: 40 Type: Sword Signature: Unsigned (Mihara) (Bingo) (Sanyo-do) Era: Mid Muromachi Period Length: 63.9 cm Curvature: 1.6 cm Thickness: 0.61 cm Certificate: Hozon Token (NBTHK) Quality: Standard Product Included: White Scabbard and Mountings Price: ¥380,000 Description: Construction: Honzukuri Iorimune (main construction with high ridge lines) Tang: Machi-okuri (shortened tang) Grain: Small Itame-hada mixed with straight grains, well-packed Surface: Fine Ji-nie (small particles of martensite) densely packed, with fine Chikei (dark lines) visible, and a faint Utsuri (shadow pattern) appearing Hamon (Temper Pattern): Midare (irregular) style with shallow undulations, mixed with small Gunome (zigzag), and pointed shapes Nioi-kuchi (Hamon's border): Slightly thick with well-formed small Nie (small martensite crystals) Additional Features: Hotsure (fraying), double temper lines, small Ashi (legs), Hada (grain) activity, Kin-suji (golden lines), and Sunagashi (sandy lines) visible. The Nioi-kuchi is bright and clear. School: Early Muromachi Period Bingo Mihara School Mountings: Includes black lacquered scabbard with fittings. (Hozon Token)

I learnt this from another member: Fujiwara was an honorary title bestowed upon various swordsmiths. There were also Koto period smiths with this title. It is not indicative of period.

As I learned from another member: Many smiths added Fujiwara on or off on their mei. Shape is indeed more later looking, but such straight sugata already existed in the Kamakura era. They were just far from common but not unheard of.

Kazushige Tsuruta from Aoi Has spoken (not the most detailed explanation). Based on his expertise it is a Muromachi period sword: “According to the book on swords, this piece is described as being from the late Muromachi period, and I have come to the same conclusion.” “I believe it is by Yamashiro Nobuyoshi.”

Not sure if you saw the full blade, as I didn’t post it the thread above. If so, here it is:

1) definitely 2) yes, but it’s is something I will question the retail shop with (based on there answer I can make a decision). Plus some research on my side

This is most likely the smith: https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/NOB590 "平安城住信吉" (Heianjō-jū Nobuyoshi) and "平安城住藤原信吉" (Heianjō-jū Fujiwara Nobuyoshi) refer to the same swordsmith. The addition of "藤原" (Fujiwara) indicates that Nobuyoshi belonged to the Fujiwara clan. Thus, the full name "平安城住藤原信吉" simply provides more detail about his family background. Nobuyoshi (信吉) would be categorized as “中上作” (Chūjō-saku), “middle-upper grade” of craftsmanship. I believe he has a rating of 15 in the Hawley reference Also I didn’t add it above but you can see that there is (what seems to me) a mei comparison happening here on the NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Paper. There are two nakago being compared. It seems like it’s a reference to determine the Mei (I could be wrong) but the nakago they look slightly different in overall length (although have a similar build). I guess they are looking for similarities with regards to the mei signature for this smith, See picture

Nobuyoshi (信吉) would be categorized as “中上作” (Chūjō-saku), “middle-upper grade” of craftsmanship. I believe he has a rating of 15 in the Hawley reference.

Hey NMB members, I have been looking for a Muromachi period katana in the mid-level and above quality. I have found something in my budget from Aio-Art. Before I make the purchase, I wanted to check in with you guys. My only concern would be the Mei, one character is basically not visible (I guess rust overtime) but with all the documentation, I doubt it has any reason to be a fake/misleading Mei: - NBTHK Hozon Paper - NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Paper - Aoi-Art estimation Paper - whole oshigata Would this be an issue for reselling it? I couldnt find much on the smith but i have found very similar from the same lineage 信吉 Nobuyoshi. https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/NOB590 Could it be this smith? Here’s the seller description: Katana in Shirasaya Inscription: Heianjo Ju Fujiwara Nobuyoshi 平安城住藤原信吉 (We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku) This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo saku ranking. Habaki: gold-foiled double habaki Length: 76.2 cm (30.0 in) Sori: 0.8 cm (0.83 in) Mekugi hole: 1 Width at base: 3.2 cm (1.3 in) Width at tip: 2.1 cm (0.8 in) Thickness: 0.8 cm (0.3 in) Weight: 860 g Era: the late Muromachi period, around Tenbun era, the 16th century. Shape: wide and thick blade with small sori. Jigane: well-fordged ko-itame hada Hamon: Niedeki gunome midare with ashi and deep nioikuchi. There are a lot of Sunagashi and Kinsuji in the hamon. Features: Heianjo Ju Fujiwara Nobuyoshi, the son of Nagayoshi was active in Kyoto in the late Muromachi period. The hamon is bright and beautiful. NBTHK Hozon Paper NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Paper Aoi-Art estimation Paper whole oshigata Prices:400,000 JPY-.

Thanks Barry, it seems I am greeted by a 50+ year legend in the field, the honour is mine haha okay, I was also noticing this white line, initially I though a scratch but you are giving a shinogi ji is not flat. How does that white line show that? Because it has a ‘S’ curve to it? It should look completely straight? thanks victor

Hi John, I see what you mean, I am learning so much and I’m so glad I can get these lesson by checking in with you guys. Thanfully I am not quick to buy a nihonto and like to do my research… it’s a process that I’m going through to find a decent wakizashi and it katana with a decent look/ authentic and that checks a least all the basics… that seems harder than I though. I am pushing for the €1300 €1500 and hope to find something that is somewhat acceptable and not completely ruined as by this bad polishing. Problem with that kind of money is i don’t feel comfortable buying outside of an official dealer. But the official dealers start mostly from €2000. Right now that’s not something I feel comfortable spending on. So it’s a challenge but I tell myself that the right nihonto to will come to me at some point

How do you see that, what makes it dreadful?