stevel48

so these war time smith's signed blades that they made in factories or weRe they hand forged and then stamped?

Steve. the signatures are an exact match...exact. it must be the 2nd saneyuki. I bought this one as an example as an example of a good survivor showing use. a few small chips, and some good wear. I'll keep it that way for a few years and paper ito in a few years

I don't know what the full signature is yet. it may be Tanshu. but what's with the stamp? what does it say and what does it mean? gendaito? steve.

At least that what I think it reads. I have sen a few examples of the signature searching on google and finding past swords for sale. Probably the fist generation Saneyuki in the early 1600's but it has a sori more in line with the Koto Bungo Takada school and not the Shinto Bungo Sue Takada. The blade just came in tonight so I have to study it more to provide more details. steve SANEYUKI(3) BUN-AN: Worked from EI-KYO 1429 to HO-TOKU 1449. SUGU and NOTARE KO-MIDARE HA.

I have spent time studying the blade and school and it is most certainly a text book example of Sukenao s work done by Sukemasa. It follows all of the style and school characteristics that have been recorded. It's really nice to have such a great example of a school done by one of its smiths. Maybe one of the last of the school.

Photos here http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12772-sword-polishing-service-in-Japan/page-3?do=findComment&comment=172707

It's here and it's awesome. Photos later tonight and a write up on the polishing thread offered by Kunitaro. 1. Stamp of Judges : Miyano , Oosawa, Kawashima, ??, Oohashi 2. Remarks : Jōkyō-koro (around 1684-1687) 3. Nakago : mekugiana : 2 Yasuri : Sujichigai 4. Curving : 5. Boshi : Sugu-cho ni komaru-kaeri (based on suguha and Komaru turnback) 6. Hamon : Yaki-takame (high/wide Hamon) Konotare-shitate no Gunome-midare (based on ko-notare with Gunome-midare 7. Kitae : Itame-tsumu (tight itame hada) 8. Tsukurikomi : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, 9. Mei-bun : Settsu ju Yamato Ika-kire (cut off) 10. No. : 6234

not that i have stumbled across gold but this seems to be a lucky find from the piles of junk on eBay. I'll have to have it appraised for insurance purposes. All in i'm only $2,500 into the sword so I am quite happy.

NPO

There's lots of patina but the angle and direction of the file marks match Kesho.

NTHK Tokyo branch.

I wish I had more details for you but it is most definitely o gunome midare To toranba as in the image above. I just have the copy of the paper so far. It's shipping back to me this week from Japan. I'm thrilled!

It matches to Suzuki Yamato no kami Sukemasa Yamamoto Jitsubei. Awaji Islan chief smith Yamamoto family 5th generation. He went to Osaka in Genroku period, became a student of Takagi Sukenao (student of Sukehiro), After he received the title Yamano no kami, he went back to his home land Awaji island, became Tokushima Han-ko (work for Tokushima han).

NTHK papered the sword as Den-Seshu ju Yamato / no kami Sukemasa 摂州住大和（守助政）

NTHK papered the sword as Den-Seshu ju Yamato / no kami Sukemasa 摂州住大和（守助政）

Thanks. I love the patina. Chocolatey

Cool. I can read up on the info posted now. It's big. 88mm x 80mm x 4mm

I'm a novice and just wondering what style this may be in. Shoami, Mito Shoami? Maybe that will lead to a school. Thanks Steve http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba/tsubapic.htm

I'm wondering if my fuchi can be restored or repaired? As you can see it's missing several of the small inlays in gold. Also, does anyone know how these inlays we made and installed? Thanks

Thanks Peter. My 2nd set of these is on its way from Japan. Never in a million year did I think I would find another pair.

I saw that. it's nice but might be too much. to fancy.

I'm pretty excited to have found them again. What are the odds right...

interesting 1st image is the pair I owned and the 2nd is the pair for sale now. The pair I owned were really mint (regretting selling them). This 2nd set needs a little restoration work.

Or do they make 1 set of one type and then never again? the reason I ask is because I found an exact, and I do mean exact copy of a set of menuki for sale that I owned at one time that I know to be currently mounted on a waki.