stevel48

It passed shinsa last week in Chicago. I don't have any detailed info yet but it's authentic.

I first got into nihonto back in 2009 and began collecting them right away. I have to admit that is was the Gassan Sadatoshi docentary that really did it. Some of my swords are papered and some not but, most of them are what I'd call study blades. I bought swords with specific features so I could study different hamon, jigane, nakago etc. Now I want to give some focus to my collectiing. The next thing i want to plan for is reducing the number to 5-10 paperd swords with a focus on the 5 main koto traditions and typical examples of the style from each. So, can you recommend a shop, website, a smith(s) to focus on or a person to work with? Note that i am not looking for juyo blades. Please and thank you, Steve

Off to shinsa in april....then we'll really find out.

Appx 60mm

It was a lucky find. Full niku and just so strong. It's is the first sword I've owned that is as it was made.

I forgot to update the thread. It checked out with a very well known polisher who I consult with when I purchase swords. I sent him 12 high-res photos when it recently arrived. It's the original shikomi polish from when it was forged. It's as new still "This is a perfectly good traditional hand forged Japanese blade. It has a definite grain structure. It is clearly visible in the striations at the top of the hamon. It is just a very dense pattern which is actually a mark of high quality. It appears to be water quenched. This looks like a winner. Either shin-shinto or very early gendaito."

I'm not getting acid vibes from this one but the polish is off or incomplete. The shinogi ji isn't burnished it seems.

Yes..i agree. It could be a Bizen sword done in the soshu style.

Gunome choji with tobiyaki? Its got a little bit of everything.

So is this now sold?

I have 2 orphan/mismatched bird themed menuki. I don't need them so if you have a match and want them pm me.

I have 2 orphan fuchi. I don't need them so if you have a match and want them pm me. A rabbit/hare theme on one and the other is non themed.

Maybe starting with banshu, bishu?

Its a tight itame and the polish is too poor to see the boshi. I'll get to the school and smith after polish. Certainly a nihonto and probably shinto. More study tonight to place the era based upon sugata, jigane and shinogi/ji.

You might be on the right track now that i study it. It'll be off to the polisher soon to see what can be done. This is my 5th nihonto and i might have made a mistake for the first time in 10 years. Luckily it was only in the hundreds of dollars . I still feel it will turn out well after polishing. I do have some gems though. Found in deplorable shape from WW2 and sent to Japan for restoration. Papered as Yamato no kami Sukemasa NTHK.

Interesting theory. I dont see a lot of the damage or discoloration you might see with acid. David Hofhine is evaluating. Here is the steel for more information.

It needs an updated finish polish to clean it up a bit.

Isn"t it confusing? It has so many elements from the ones listed above. More photos today

I'm leaning toward toranba but it has so many elements of others. I'll add better photos in a few days but here are some b&w photos and examples of hamon that it might fit. Thoughts on style?

All very interesting and informative responses. Sorry for the delay in responding. No thread notifications made it to me. This was a study piece that i was interested in purchasing somit was not in hand. I believed it to be a naningata from the muromachi but it was sold while i was investigating. It was an interesting piece that I would have liked to own for a while. Thanks to you all.

A real interesting one here. Could i be a cut down kamakura naginata or waki from bizen muromachi?

This one i own and thought to be moritaka but im not so sure. The mori kanji seems condensed where the bottom section of the mori is brought higher. Very thick kasane.

Thanks for all the help everyone as I evaluate purchases. This one may be Tame. Tamesugu. Thoughts?

Hey. I'm getting better at my translations