Tohagi

Hello, This wakisashi is not ugly at all. The hamon is interesting, quite elegant gunome a little too close to the ha. My guess would have been shinto too (somewhere betwen 1690 and 1800...). You should try to show it to someone. Best, Eric

For sure I'm not qualified enough... Reading this thread, I wish to share some thoughts: - for some one who have sensitivity, looking at really great sword feels like contemplation. You can touch silence of the soul...your's and maybe sword's. - a deep historical/legendary background helps to understand the cultural importance of a great one. - obviously, it must be a true high piece of art, a masterpiece... For me the 3 conditions are necessary and sufficient... Regards, Eric

Hello to everyone, The reason I suscribed is because I felt gratefull for help and assistance. Maybe: - provide priority assistance to members, - possibility to hire a private thread showroom to finish a transacrtion betwen members, - international net of people helping with homeland issues and mediations in transactions, - some continental IRL NMB meetings, - begining an online Kanteï school. - good sample for the 300 most sognificant smith meï... A lot of fun for young and old timers...

It makes sens... I'm a bit too far away. Maybe Brian could advise some wise member in Greece ? Best, Eric

Nice to see you back, hope you are feeling better ! Sincerely, Eric VD

I see nothing on the ura suggesting a date or a faded inscription. The shape looks very late muromachie to me. The boshi could be saved but the piting is deep, you may loose some mm, I don’t see crow nose flaw... The meï looks possible but I have a concern with that hamon: looks more mino than bizen but at the end of muromachie there were a lot of cross influences... Best regards, Eric VD

...or a young warrior. He is richly dressed and wear a tachi similar to the one of Takeuchi-no-sukune....

Thank you so mutch Steve, that was a very sharp and fast answer. You have amazing knowledges... Best regards, Eric

Hello, I am very far away my confort zone, I found this roll at a friend country house: can you please help me with the mei and the seal ? The work is very delicate and the composition stuning to me. Did any one an idea of the theme ? Maybe a classical tale? Seems to be a Daimyo holding à baby (little girl) with a bushi a knee down at his side, both in armour ...

@Nathan ...the thread was from march but 2017...

Well, not so bad IMO. Still thick 7,5 mm at Moto... Boshi very close to the Ha but maybe not runing out... Nakago has a feeling of late muromachie... and seki/mino is very possible. Must tosogu are decent, the same is a mess but can be fixed. No more than 400 USD for me to take the risk... Just an opinion. Best regards, Eric

same advice: stay away ! Not even sure this is a Japanese sword ( shape is wrong, no hamon and aguire !) ... Save your money for a better shot !

For a "young blade" those fukure along the hamon are an issue. In the other hand, the style of the meï is sharp and don't sounds koto... I would have guessed early shinto, but absolutely not sure.

An interesting point in Masahide revival of sword tradition was that shinto sword were not trustable anymore in fight. He broke à lot of them to make this point clear ... and that was the starting point of shinshinto era.

Tachibana Yasuhiro (from kyoto yamashiro) is quite a big name. Even without seeing the meï I really do not think this waki worth that money. You've been smart to take an advice here ! Best, Eric

You may submit it at NTHK USA for a first appreasal?

Hello, Much collectors prizes NBTHK as sure and relevant, many don't trust NTHK NPO above a certain price level. If you think it could go tokubetsu or juyo, submit it for shinza, If you don't then let it be... Best, Eric

Yes, a very fine and difficult Togi work. Very natural, very impressive, a lot of contrast in hada and hamon without the usal "too much sharp/ rough" effect.

Very nice ! Congratulations...

Beautifull, kiyomitsu was really à master of hada !

Hello, I like Shinshinto for bizen or Soden-bizen utsushi in perfect condition and often absolutely beautiful horimono, in my opinion horimono were the best at shinshinto... Best, Eric

Hello, One way to spot if yhe blade is been "over polished" is if a polishing bolt appeard just after the habaki at the begining of the ubu nakago where the blade may be thicker than at the moto. For example motokasane 6mm and "boltkasane" 6,5 or 7mm. The delta is missing steel. If you have shallow or no bolt, the blade was probably intended like that.

...sorry, have the same impression of cast tsuba because of the line inside the kosuka ana and uniform patina... And by the way: la Belgique sera française bien avant que Paris ne devienne Belge ! Just kidding betwen neighbourgs... Cheers Eric