machinist

Not sure if this has been posted yet

Well I cannot not say much but; "It looks like it was shortened to fit in the koshirae. So is the blade older than the koshirae?" The blade was shortened, they often are, either for compliance with weapon laws of the day or fashion or individual preference or other reasons. The tsuka would have been made to fit the nakago not the other way around. Unless there is a famous name involved I think you can do better for your money.

A sayagaki looks nice http://www.nihontoantiques.com/Sayagaki.htm Of course you will have to learn to recognize the kanji a bit.

Carl, for a shirasaya there is this fellow http://japaneseswordpolishing.net/japanese_sword_restoration.htm Or this one http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/swordpolish.htm And a few others, I have not dealt with either but imagine you would be happy with them. I believe at least one is a boardmember. Choji oil is just scented with clove oil but I think is mostly mineral oil, I have lohmans is good for this as some of the cheap stuff on ebay is kind of goopy

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/japaneseintroduction.htm Kind of small, there may be better.

The southeast Asian board at Sword forum international would be more the place for this. http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146 I believe it is a dha from burma

Perhaps he has friends in the construction and renovations business. You will never know what is behind a wall until you look.

Kappa, Robert? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_%28folklore%29

With some carving http://www.japanszwaard.nl/zc11.html

That first tsuba looks like it should have a matching teacup to set upon it. Not knocking it mind you, I always love to see what folks have to show.

I have heard that some smiths just did it that way, part of their tradition.

looks like they closed it

I have been sad all weekend from not attending, I kept thinking of the attendees with rosy cheeked smiling faces as they ran with arms outstretched through a field of freshly blossoming nihonto. So yeah, post pics, tell story's, tell as any little thing that will make attendance next year more successful.

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/catalogue.html Usagiya always has some fresh blades down at the bottom of the page. http://www.e-sword.jp/newlineup.htm E sword also has many newish made swords. I think a lot of Japanese dealers seem to have them.

Would a service like this work for you Eric? http://www.japanauctioncenter.com/ I have never tried it so I do not know it's workings.