Mark

I remember seeing the sword in Tampa and at Chicago, interesting at first glance but i think Grey did diligent research, asked a lot of opinons, and even had a window put in it... so i doubt it is an undiscovered treasure ----- just my opinion

Not sure if this is the right classification for this request, a moderator can move it if it should be in another catagory. I am trying to research a person in regards to a sword i have. The inscription says it was made for 藤原Fujihara 陣左衛門Jinzaemon (or Jin-emon) who was assocated with é–¢å£Sekiguchi 玉心æµGyokushinryu -- i think this is a martial arts school or dojo, the sword was made in 1864 so the person must havve been alive and active then.......... I have tried Googling in English but have not found much. It was suggested that if someone could research it it Japanese using the kanji there may be some information .......... Any help appreciated Thanks!

i found the old thread it was .................Help with Gendai "Stamped" Mei -- not sure how to link or reference it........ check out the pictures and see if you think it is the same

I have a katana with a mei like that (maybe the same), i asked about it a while ago and was helped to see it was Shigenaga, there was a picture of the mei on R Stein's site, maybe someone can find the old thread........ anyone at Chicago can see the sword, it will be for sale, stop by my table

sword looks "real" and handmade to me. It certainly has been messed with. It could be retempered and have a weak temper so someone added the "chemical" temper to hide that.

I have a few "real" blades that are $600 or less, they are not treasures but they are honest. You can email me and i can try and help you.

you do not need to pre-order, the book has been published and is available for purchase

Thank you! that would make sense, it looks like it was probably an owners information

I have a ko-wakizashi in shirasaya. It has some small writing toward the end of the saya. I can read the left column, the length 1.25 shaku. I am having trouble with the right and center.. any help appreciated Thanks!

what is the is the item number???

i passed the message to Danny -- he says he has tried emailing but has not got thru -- may have to try the old phone

I had a katana with an inscription that it was shortened, it had Hozon papers, so they can get papered

I have seen some Showa swords by Amahide with this type of hada/hamon.. Not saying it is but a possibility.

The blade would be shortened from the tang end...... so you still have the original blade from tip to where it was shortened

i am a bit confussed....... i see this sword was listed on eBay again. Are you selling it or keeping it?

as far as prices go my thoughts are -- Lower end military items have gone way up, high end items continue to appreciate, mid range items ($1000- 5000) are way down.

Thanks to all ! I will have to look at my books again, I thought I was wrong, about Masahiro, as i did not see any oshigata that were close-- could be just gimei

Thanks to everyone for the ideas....... pictures attached. It is 14 3/16" hirazukuri, thin irregular temper, there are clouds of nie or something in the Ji........ what do you think??

Thanks to everyone who has ventured an opinion !! At least i feel better that this is not something i should have figured out right away. I spent some quality time with chogi oil and a piece of horn, not sure if it made a big improvement but i think it is a bit clearer... the tang does not seem so distressed that a lot of detail should be missing, most of the kanji is cut deep and clear ? Does this picture help any?? I took a shot with both kanji as it gives an idea of the size/layout and then a close up of the second..... Thanks again

Thanks Stephen, you did a great job with the picture. I wondered if Uji or Suke possible? I hoped someone who is fluent in Japanese might recognize the kanji even if it is not clear.

Ha-Ha .... but seruously, it does not look like Mune, there is something like a box in the lower right of the kanji...... ??

Group, I have a ko-wakizashi that is signed, the mei is hard for me to make out. Rust and wear may have worn away some of the stokes. I can clearly see Masa as the fist kanji, i at first assumed the second was Hiro, but after trying to remove some of the red rust i am now not sure. Maybe someone more familiar with Japanese can make it out..... any help appreciated. Thanks!

Since the description says the maker is Namishige can we assume Jock is the seller?

if mailing a bare blade - wrap it in paper or plastic wrap, then get a peice or wood (like lathe or trim), place the sword on the wood with an inch or more wood past the sword tip, make a hole in the wood to line up with the ana, secure the sword with insulated wire or similar at the ana, tape the blade to the wood, wrap it with bubble wrap, pack tightly etc....... the wood will stop the tip hitting the end of the box or getting damaged.

I have seen swords with OLD NBTHK papers that the museum say today will not paper (i.e. the judgement was in error for some reason)........ That is one reason they changed to the new papers.