Mark

i had thought Yasu was an option but checking my Hawley's and Markus index i did not see any Muneyasu listed using those kanji, maybe i am missing something thanks for the picture, that sure looks like similar kanji

i have a katana dates Keio 2 (1866). The mei is giving me some trouble. ?? ??(place) Ju Fujiwara Mune ??? (yoshi, hide, Soei ) any suggestions appreciated.

the Yari lecture is : "A Sharp Key to Hell: A brief history of the yari and collecting them" The show rate at the Hyatt was due to expire 3/30, The hotel has extended it a few days, there are about 4 rooms left, if you are thinking of coming make a reservation right away. They also added a couple of Dble rooms I had one table cancellation so if you want a table let me know. thanks

Just a reminder. The Chicago show is a little more than a month away. For information check the show web site http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/ The hyatt is getting filled up, there are a few King rooms left (roll-away beds are available) here is a link for reservations https://book.passkey.com/event/49289412/owner/4631/home This year the NTHK-NPO is having a Shinsa at the hotel during the show, here is a link http://ejapaneseswords.com/Shinsa_Info.html If anyone has questions about the show let me know at nixe@bright.net. There will be a presentation/display by the NBTHK-AB and also a presentation on Yari

Ray, thanks again. appreciate the lead, it is hard to find info on some of these obscure guys

Ray, thanks for the picture, i think i understand now. I was confused as the kanji printed in books is not the same as the one you and Steve showed, after looking at the sanetsugu mei and checking the books now i see in the books it must be a simplified form of the kanji. Still strange that there is no smith using those 2 kanji, i can't find any reference to a Sanenobu using those kanji

thanks to Jean, John, Ray and special thanks to Steve----- the link is not only the same smith it is THE SAME sword i have, ha-ha, small world. I tried search their website in English but can not find that sword, i used a translation program but it does not do a very good job with sword terms, it would be nice to read their description in english. I guess Sanenobu might be the answer but it is strange to to find anyone who uses those kanji, maybe it is an unknown smith

i have a couple of naginata that i am having a little trouble with one has Hozon paper so i have a picture of the mei from the paper, i can read Shigetoshi but not sure of the first 3 kanji, it does not seem to match any makers in my book second is a naginata signed ????Nobu, maybe Yoshinobu, maybe Sukenobu ?? not sure of the first kanji it is not one i see very often any help appreciated Thanks!!

appears upside down. trying to be Yamada Yoshisada? but a poor attempt. Looks like Chinese fake

have not seen the sword but probably worth $2500 or so.......... give them each $600 and that should be fair

yes, the rest looks fine. good job

Ju Nin (not Hito), resident of

Mark best to drop it off at the assigned time. that helps the shinsa team keep on schedule. When you drop it off ask when it will be ready, they will give you an idea, i usually come back after they say as it usually takes longer.

O'Hare is closer to the show than Midway and Chicago traffic can be an issue but i would think a local Uber driver will know the best way based on time/traffic. I have never used Uber myself so am not familiar with it. Let me know how it works and i will add the suggestions to my transportation page http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/transportation/

https://www.southeastshowsauctions.com/tampa-2018.html

not yet. Tom H is a member here, he is the best person to ask

i think when the bid increment is $5 they bid until your bid is less than $5 higher. If your bid was 165 and they bid 150 the bid automatically goes to 155, if it only went up to 152 they would know that is the max bid. That is why they bid 144, 154. 164 hoping you bid in even $5 increments and they could wait till they hit just just less than you and then quit

No Shu (MIno) rest looks right, good try

i think they are saying "we can see/read the Kane kanji but can't make out the second kanji, but the blade is clearly late Seki"

is there something to verify? I see Kane____? late Seki

if the tsuka has same' or ivory inserts in a shirasaya tsuka or any animal product (horn etc) Fish and Game have regulations and will impound or confiscate items

or Sa

maybe it is mismatched? the numbers are an assembly number used to keep all the original parts for a sword together and avoid swapping parts

and members here have some nice swords for sale (as Brian noted Ray's are good) you could also check Grey's website http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Swords he has a bunch of great swords, most papered already, for less than 8k. Grey is well known here and reliable. Not only is he in the U.S. he is in the same state as you so you can probably check them out in hand instead of buying internationally

it is a real Japanese sword not modern fake. That said it seems low quality (way the hi are cut, tsuba). I like the fuchi. probably bring a fair price at auction