KungFooey

Wow!!! Thank you so very much Steve!

Hi, I have a matt red teacup (too big for sake) with what I suspect is a poem written in grass script. Add to that I don't know if it's read left to right or vice versa and I basically have no idea what it says. So, if anyone has the time and inclination to take a shot at it I'd be most grateful. (Photos are sequenced left to right.) Thanks Dee

Interesting to see battle damage portrayed on a sword in a wood block print.

You are a damn fine sniper, sir! My heartiest congratulations - this sword was obviously meant for you! Dee

Hi Jan, On the example you kindly posted it also appears as if the kissaki has been reshaped over time - not surprising in blades of this age!

Looks like 'Singnil' just nosed across the finishing line. I hope they were one of the members here but unlikely; probably a Japanese or Russian high flyer.

Two previously uninvolved snipers came out of the woodwork at the last moment.

Well, whoever 'KS' is, they seem quite determined to get this. Creeping towards ¥2M.

Extremely similar workmanship and subject matter in direct comparison.

Interesting John! I agree about papers for gendai blades being unreliable and personally I feel that, if there was corroborating evidence for this being the captain's sword, it would've been sold (or at least mentioned and referenced) at the same auction. Once again, I see the signature clearly intruding into the mekugi-ana and the other John (@John C) pointed out at the time how clumsily the kiku was engraved. Regardless of its paper and how much it went for, I would say that this is a fake.

This may be one of the series you're looking for - not on Yahoo. 🤞 義士銘々実伝　十番 片岡源五右衛門高房　Biographies of the Loyal Retainers / No. 10: Kataoka Gengoemon Takafusa 〜 の在庫検索結果 / 日本の古本屋

Hi John, I have a feeling this may be the wrong series but it's a good print of Oishi Chikara and it has a buy it now option. https://page.auction.../auction/g1151353951

Dan, I promise you I do not wish to get into another back-and-forth with you. I'm sick of drawing the ire of people on here but, using your own definition of sanmai tsuba above to illustrate the point, you can see quite clearly in the photo below that, although superficially very similar, the two sides of the plugged tsuba have differently positioned flowers etc.

I can see a war fan (the violin looking thing) in the second design but there are many experts here who will undoubtedly weigh in with far more useful observations! All I can say is they both look real to me, in great condition and with a beautiful patina. Congratulations!

I believe @Matsunoki is right - the 'gilding' very obviously spills onto the main plate. Rather than 'gild a lily' someone has attempted to 'polish a tu..' ... well, you know the rest. And one person's idea of judging "mediocrity" is another's highly informative learning curve.

My take on this (which means very little, I know) is that Aoi Arts put the sword in for a combined Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon shinsa in November or possibly January and it passed the first but not the second due to the retempering. Hence their perceived disappointment. However, you apparently get a card or letter informing you of the judgement long before you get the actual papers, Therefore, @nihon could legitimately ask for an attachment showing at least that before bidding. Dee

Wow! Well spotted Sam! I'll be looking much more carefully at blades registered in those two prefectures from now on. Plus, I was just looking more closely at the sword which is the subject of the OP and the totally clean nakago appeared unnatural to me - so I enlarged one of the photos. It's the first time I have ever seen a signature chiseled after the nakago-ana has been drilled (obvious from the burr on the side of the hole). 🤔

This looks a remarkably similar scam to the sword I recently flagged up which claims to be made for Hideki Tojo by Yasutoku, one of the top Yasukunitosho. It sold for on Yahoo for nearly $6K despite having the following, obvious red flags: Obviously gimei when compared to other Yasutoku mei. Made Showa 19, so 1944 - even though Yasutoku left the shrine in 1940. Entirely wrong yasurime. Yahoo!オークション - 九八式軍刀　靖徳　長さ62....

Dear Lex, Many thanks for the offer but that won't be necessary - I can see the boshi now. Once again, it's a magnificent sword! Dee

It seems that people here are classifying Nihonto as A: tools or B: art. If you re-classify them as antique or modern that makes the answer to this topic a little clearer. No one would cut anything with an excavated Roman gladius, an Anglo-Saxon pattern-welded sword or even an Napoleonic cavalry sword. Why? Because they couldn't take it and should be valued simply for their antiquity. On the other hand, modern replicas of the above are used for reenactment or testing - sometimes using historically accurate steel. Finally, if you have to regard them as purely artworks then at least broaden that thinking to other forms of art. If you bought a Picasso in the 1920s you would simply stick it on the wall in the sunlight as decoration - nowadays we (hopefully) know better. Just sayin'

It is an absolutely amazing sword - and of such a great age!!! I'm sure it's just the lighting in the pictures (blades are so difficult to photograph) but the hamon seems to disappear at the kissaki. Is it possible to see more shots of the boshi? Thank you!

I bought this late last year and posted it on this forum. No idea of the school and at least one person thought it had been reshaped. Now I actually have it in hand, that seems unlikely.

Jacques is absolutely correct. I recently bought a Shinto blade which had papered Hozon only last year. It has a fatal flaw and the hamon runs out of the kissaki. I'll only consider Tokuho if I ever get another sword.

I'm afraid I think the chain might be modern. All originals I've seen have a main hook welded on the upper clip. The 'dangling hook' is for looping the chain up while not in use. Dee

Dear Eric, I'm so very happy for you! Congratulations! Dee