Mark

with help of Markus Sesko's book Nihon-shinshinto-shi - The History of the shinshinto Era of Japanese Swords i found the meaning of the poem and some additional information. So i will have to compare the sword to some in books and try and determine if it is shoshin or a later copy

with Maurice's direction i found Arikoto in Nihonto Koza, there is an example shown with, what looks like, an identical inscription. The book says that the inscription could not be read, but also said that he inscribed poems on his blades so i guess that is what it is. Thanks! good learning opportunity Picture of the book below

Maurice thanks! I was not sure about my translation. Looking again I think you are right

i tried to place the pictures in order, full length then top to bottom but they were shuffled around somehow, sorry

I have a mumei (nothing on tang) wakizashi. I think the mei is on the blade along with an inscription, maybe a poem? I can see what i think is Sho or Masa, San or Mi, Ju AriSuke... i may be wrong with that, Looks like it was done with a dremel tool but it seems like it was written by someone familiar with kanji, not an American vet, and it came out of the woodwork so not done in the past 40 years. any help appreciated. Thanks!

The show plans are coming along well. The hotel is just about full, i think i have 2 or 3 rooms still available, the cutoff for reservations was yesterday but i was able to get the hotel to extend it through 4/3. So if you are thinking of coming and want to stay at the Hyatt make a reservation right away here is a link https://aws.passkey.com/event/13928013/owner/4631/home Tables were sold out but I had a cancellation, so if you want a table let me know. There are usually some great deals to be found. There are a lot of well known dealers with great items but a large number of table-holders are local and only attend the Chicago show. I usually hear of at least one or two great swords being found and a number of swords that later passed Juyo have been bought off tables. Educational opportunities abound. A few tables will have, or include, displays and the NBTHK-AB always provides a wonderful display/lecture or educational program. Grey will do lecture/demonstration of proper etiquette and handling of swords on Saturday morning, for the newly interested this is a great chance to pick up tips and you will be more confident at the show. There are plenty of people in attendance with decades or experience that are happy to take time to offer opinions and/or freely share their knowledge. You have the chance to see, and handle, more swords in a weekend than you are likely to see in a life time. Hopefully someone will organize a NMB get together for a picture. www.chicagoswordshow.com

Gassan group seem known for the high quality yasuri, well cut and crisp, these seem lower quality, but i am just seeing pictures

It reminds me of a naginata i saw by Jitsua, but I think that blade was Nambokucho so he may be a bit too late for the date so at first i thought Sairen, but with your hint maybe Ryosai or his brother Nyusai ?

papers for the Nagamori look genuine to me. The other paper is for a nice tachi koshirae. The Tadayoshi does NOT look like Chinese fake, may or may not be shoshin, if there is a paper post a picture

i have had a few, not as common as on the other handle fitting. I have had some with mon on the menuki. Any pictures of the blade? Is the blade signed?

Okimasa is a famous maker, student of Kotetsu think i saw this on eBay. Another NMB and i discussed it earlier today. As i recall the seller stated he "was not saying it was from the 1600's" and as i remember there was a description for someone else saying what the signature said but NOT saying it was signed by that person. It seemed to both of us that the owner/seller was not saying it was made by Okimasa, just that that was the name on the tang. So we were thinking everyone who saw in hand did not think it was his work from any era. But if it is shoshin then it is a great deal, if your research leads you to think it is genuine and you buy it you will do well

i am no expert on these. That being said i have been involved with swords for 30 years. I have seen hundreds of these swords and bought and sold dozens. My opinion is these are late war Navy of some type, NCO, cadet, or similar. There are just too many that are made the same way to be "put together". They come from Vet's and vet's families that brought them back. They are certainly lower quality than the early Navy swords but i see a lot of low quality late war army swords. Just my opinion

Yoshimasa -- Showa 14th year 8th month 1939

Steven, As Ray says other than the date column (which is different on all papers based on the date they were issued) the rest is the same. The date is easy to work out

does this help? http://www.nihontocraft.com/japanese_sword_papers.html#japanese_sword_5

I was waiting until Tampa was over to post a message. But thanks Derek for the nudge. The show is April 29 - May 1, 2016 If you are staying at the Hyatt here is a link for reservations https://aws.passkey.com/event/13928013/owner/4631/home Free parking at the hotel so it is easy for locals to attend Tables were sold out but i had a person who can't come this year so if you need one let me know http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/contact-table-info/ There are a number of people with tables who have not set up in years so there should be a lot of fresh items to be found. There will be a lot of people attending who are in the midwest and do not get to Tampa or SF. If you have questions or there is anything i can do to make your visit easier let me know Thanks Mark

ok. sorry did not realize language barrier,

as Barry said Tadakuni, and from Hizen province, if you use that as a place to start i bet you can work out the rest

i thought Echizen Kuni, i liked Jeans ideas of looking,

thank you Morita-san. Makes sense as i could not find anything that matched

not sure i understand, the only thing in the kantei box is the date and points, i think Ray listed the date

In this thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18525-shipping-europe-to-the-us/ I had commented "As Grey noted same' can be an issue, If shirasaya so can horn parts (trim or mekugi), also note any ivory parts on shirasaya are a big problem, be careful I have had some major issues with Fish and Game recently and they wanted to confiscate a nice gendaito I had mailed" A friend of mine had imported a large amount of militaria (6 figure value) and it included one European sword with ivory scales on the handle, it was a nightmare. They are serious, and not only importing, my issue was exporting, i was sending a gunto out of the U.S. My understanding from dealing with them is the regulations have been on the books for a long time, but a year or so ago they decided to start enforcing them. I had no idea this was an issue till i had the problem. I think they are just getting started.

Hamfish, The other thread seemed to have maybe 3 comments about the sword then it changed into a discussion of other examples and if they were rare or not, did not seem to be discussing the sword. If i have something i am comfortable with putting a price on (like the star stamped blades i listed here) i am happy to offer to NMB but with this it is hard to know a value, maybe it is worth less, maybe more so i figure an auction will set a price. If a NMB wins i will work out something with them and offer a discount. Buyer had change of mind, i always offer return, for any reason

listed for less than $1 with no reserve, i figure if enough people see it the market will arrive at a fair value

the sword that was originally discussed was mine. I relisted it but started this thread to announce it http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18921-sword-we-discussed-list-on-ebay/ as it is on eBay so thought it belonged in that category.