Adrian S

Hello all, I don't post here very often but am an avid lurker. I would like to ask the group about a sword in the book "Masamune - a Genius and his Lineage". On page 48 , sword number 20 is described as a Ko-dachi, 59cm from a private collection. I had always thought of Masamune's long swords as tachi , nearly all o-suriage at this time. Although Ko-dachi were in use during the end of the Kamakura period this is the first one I have seen attributed to mainline Soshu. Looking at the oshigata in particular the yakidashi and the hamachi, this sword seems to be ubu. Obviously this is a significant study piece if it is indeed an ubu long sword and a Ko-dachi at that. Does anyone know the history of this blade? Is there more information available on it from older books? I have not seen it in any other publication. This book only shows the sword from one side, I would appreciate an oshigata from the other side of the blade if anyone knows of it from another book. Does anyone know of other Masamune Ko-dachi extant? It also does not seem to have any Japanese Government designation or rating. Since it is in this book I would expect it is accepted as a Masamune, I notice another 4 tanto without Government designation. :? regards, Adrian S

Here's another interesting link on this subject. http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/custom.html

You are right, I found Ryo Kuruma in hawleys but the characters are different to Ryo Kuruwa. Still don't have an answer. Rabro, Yes I collect daisho fittings and I recently bought this set

thanks nobody, I got it now. It means "Hip Cut through"

I'm trying to figure out what this says, I think it may be some type of tameshigiri mei?? anybody out there got a translation for me

So is Tanabe still around? I have heard that in the past few years the amount of Juyo blades being passed has increased 10 fold. Funny that