Mark

my opinion is that it is real. Showa civilian style katana converted for army use. Poor condition, limited value. If signed probably has a Showa stamp

the first 27 pictures in this album are of the show https://www.facebook.com/cyro.nihonto/photos?pnref=lhc

here are some pictures of Mark and Grey's Tables (pictures borrowed from facebook)

No, if you look at past shinsa you will see makers who regularly pass, they have a chance, if you have a maker who has only a blade or two that have passed on 50+ years the chance a blade by him will pass is very low. The NBTHK is very tradition oriented, you can have an excellent blade, the best of a average smiths work, something that is a knock out, he had a great day but it will not pass if he has not had a blade passed before. It will pass YuShu but not Juyo

they look at the quality of the individual item, then compare it with others of the same maker. If 5 blades by Korekazu are submitted the best of the 5 MAY pass Juyo, the other 4 will not. Maybe the next year the 4 others would be submitted again and the next best will pass, you never know what the competition will be in a given year

By the way: Is it ok for us to be discussing this? It is for sale and i don't want to interfere with the sale. Is the rule about discussing "For Sale" items just for things listed here or elsewhere? I want to follow the rules and not put the NMB in any potential difficulty.

i would agree with Arnold. While anything is possible it has been seen by the NBTHK and Mr Tanobe, any owner would have asked about the potential and submitted if it seemed positive. Shinshinto Juyo is rare, Korekazu is a decent smith but i don't think the same level as Kiyomaru, Motohira, Munetsugu, Naotane and others. I note Tsuruta-san says "he SOMETIMES made suguha", That gives me the idea it was not his main line work style. I would check the blades that passed Juyo and see how many were suguha.

i once had a complete original koshirae on a 28+" katana and the tsuba was tanto size. It was made that way and originally carried like that. So i think no hard and fast rule, depends on period, school of sword fighting etc

i don't want to hijack the thread but as this is a discussion about Hideaki i thought i would add a link to one Grey has. I saw this blade in hand and thought it was a very well made blade. Gedai is not my area but i have seen a number of great pieces lately http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/n100-tanto-horii-hideaki-early-aoe-utsushi

December 1943. I think Kikuhide. Probably Showato, oil tempered, maybe not but that is my guess from pictures. It is genuine, the ring toward the bottom does not belong there but it looks antique and nice so has some value, it should slide off, be gentle with it

Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi very famous name so you see it a lot. you can easily do research as there is plenty of information on line Edit: I did not see prior post. we were posting at the same time. I agree it would be wise to try and translate this yourself, it is a good way to learn and it is not hard

i think Grey and I bought one or two of them. As i remember we sold it/them in SF last year

maybe check it carefully, isn't that the name of the person who signed for the masamune and other missing NT ?

Markus' book seems to list this guy in vol. 1 on page 420 toward the top of the page edit: i see Stephen already added the reference

first picture last 2 kanji are yoshikuni, 3rd sword is Masahide, lots of info on him as he is a big name

maybe the auction house is trying to be honest when it says 18th century. If i read the description they say what the mei reads but do not say "made by ___" and anyone who knows even a little about swords (or does even a little research) knows the era Tadahiro worked. I am thinking the auction house is saying "this is a 18th century sword with the following mei" the price aside (who know what someone will pay and at auction the market sets the price) it seems the auction house is not taking a position that it is a genuine Tadahiro but a later Shinto sword

if it fits the mounts properly it is without doubt genuine. The actual quality of the blade requires a good hard look as they all vary and this one has some possible issues. Nice sword

is it functional? I do not see a hammer and cap or matchlock? Is it just an ornament?

the blade ;looks nice. I have not compared the mei but on first look the temper does not look like Munetsugu, it is sort of "wild" his chogi is usually very organized and compact, Just my thought after 30 sec look

i think Kanesaki, there are about 10 generations from late 1500's through 1800's

can you post a picture

without commenting on the item for sale please note some forum rules You must sign all posts with your name You need to list an asking price for an item if it is for sale

spot on! Good work, keep studying

looks like an area of "crab claw" chogi

yes, i remember some years back being very happy to get $175 for a dead mint early NCO with leather tassel, now that would probably be worth $1000+