Jorgensen

a couple more...

More pictures...

Hi, Any thoughts/comments on this one? Blade length: 43 cm Width at hamachi: 3.4 cm Kasane: 0.7 cm Total lenght: 63 cm

Hello, Newly aquired tsuba. I think last kanji perhaps is "Nao"? Signature seems to be on reverse side? The tsuba came in this box, but I cannot translate it and dont know if box is for this particular tsuba. If you can help me on further details, it will be much appreciated.

Dear Jean and Moriyama-san, Thank you very much for your help and translation. So I suppose the scroll is Japanese? Perhaps some one can tell the artists name?

Marius. No, he is talking about the nakago ANA (peg hole) ... usually a hole has no yasurime

Absolutely agree... it looks shinshinto... Nakago-ana looks drilled frm the pictures and nakago patina looks artificially aged to me - overall quality and re-sale value will not high as well - please consider this, if you intend to bid on it. Some may disagree with me and should of course feel welcome to do so =) I have no suggestions on school.

I bought this hanging scroll on a local market for a few bucks, but I have doubt if its Japanese or Chinese. And cannot translate this kind of kanji myself, so if a kind soul can be helpful with this, it will be much appreciated. Sorry for the little off topic question. Thank you.

Also fake... sorry to say

I cannot confirm authencity of Honami or not, but nakago and suguta surely does not have Masamune characteristics imo...

Sounds great... where are the pictures??

Herman... What is the width and thickness of your blade (motohaba?)... it seems to be quite a wide blade... Does it have yokote or not (it does not seem so)? I like the long menuki btw. To my opinion its not only the lenght but also the width of the blade that makes is a massive blade. The more width and thickness a blade has, the more cool and appealing it looks to me... but hey, thats just me

Nice one! Congrats Reminds me very much of my own "monster" - nagasa 77.6 cm - very similar measures =) http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?t=14345

Thomas has been helping many here on the board with translation of sigantures, so I dont think he would ask without having tried himself first and really needed the help.

In my opinion according to the picture, I think its incorrect having a new koshirae made, as the old original koshirae only needs tsuka-maki and tsunagi to complete it and of course the blade in shirasay. Also it would be lower cost. What really bothers me, is that the fuchi/kashirae is matching the kojiri and have now in some way been separated instead of kept together on same mount. The new saya is too wide and does not have this slim elegant look as the old saya would have. To me, its the "wrong" way to do it (and in this case also the most costly). I think one should care for keeping things as original as possible. However, very nice fittings and blade, I like this very much.

Hi Peter, Interesting post. My opionion. If the blade is very obvious to the maker etc., I think no need to paper. If it could be doubtfully and/or you plan to move on the blade in future, I think papers are good. Here are the pages 178 / 179 from Marcus excellent book, as you mentioned in the first post. I hope it okay with Marcus to post the 2 pages and sees it as a advantage.

So if last of my translation is correct, it will be Omura Hirohito?

Hi Matt, for your help. It might be Hiromura and then ???... I am still much in doubt about how to put together the rest... Thanks.

Your help on those kanji will be very helpful. You can see my own attempt on the picture, but I am not sure on anything. Thank you.

Mariuz, It sure will not take another ground polish, but that is not needed. But a good Shiage / touch up would be good if possible. You're right people are judging from the pictures and I did not expect anything, but much can be said from shape and nakago alone and was curious what people would suggest. My intention is to have a good educational debate. The blade is not papered. I will have to decide if I will let it go for paper, but probably will. First goal is the opinion about touch up from polisher. The blade was all greyish without much details when I bought it, but some oil and uchiko really made miracles for it. Chris, thanks for your opinion on shape of this retired old soldier as Brian said it

Hi Mariuz, I know it was a difficult task based on the pictures, but as we have very skilled members here on the board, I was asking on this, because I wanted to see if any would agree with me on the facts I have and to have a good conversation and healthy education. Terrible sorry, if this are about to be misunderstood. I do write in the first post that I know the school and smith and would announce this. I most likely will get it papered. Just want a polishers opinion on the blade if polish can be improved, what can be done and cannot be done.

Thanks for your comments. It appciated. Since no one have given a guess on school/smith, I can tell its a Nambokucho Nobukuni blade. Yamashiro tradition. Has all the characteristics and shape of Nambokucho Soshu works. It is signed, but very, very hard to see and decipher in hand and impossible to catch on photo because of the heavy rust on nakago. Your comments on this are welcomed.

Thomas, thanks for your input. I understand your point, but please check those close-up pictures of nakago and see if it changes your mind. To me it still looks like the irregular shape is not caused by the rust

Dear Sir's, Recently I aquired this tanto/wakizashi and would like your skilled opinions on school and smith. I know who the maker is, but I would like your opinions based entirely on the blade. Later I will of course announce the name of the smith to be discussed. There is utsuri clearly visible. What I can say, is that I was very surprised how light the blade is. Why does the one (the old one) mekugi-ana has this irregular shape?? Blade length : 36.5 cm Sori : 0.5 cm Width at the hamachi : 3.4 cm Kasane : 0.50 cm (there is turnback on boshi on both sides, just cant get it on the pictures!) I look forward to hear your comments. Thank you.

Hi David, Thanks for taking your time, I appreciate it. I tried to make a quick search on google, and found this one at ricecracker.com, that has similarities with my tsuba and this one is also suggested to be later edo Aizu Shoami: http://www.ricecracker.com/tsuba/tsubasale_p3.htm It was nice you could give me a push in the right direction =)