WellsFargo

Thanks for the explanation, Carlos!

My apologies for hi-jacking the thread and possibly asking the silliest question ever.... Why do some people use the term "nihontou" instead of "nihonto"? Are both correct? Jan-Wouter

Yes, I saw it and already in use!

Thanks Alex! - yes, very wide hamon for sure! - Tonight I will sit in the dark in the living room with a flashlight in my hand, checking the shinogi-ji for masame hada and to see if I can discern any Nioi or Nie...

Thanks Francois!

Hi guys, Please find below the feeble start of my kantei process. Please correct me and tell me I'm wrong whenever you can, but please do not give 'the answers'. It will then just be up to me to study more. What I have so far: Possibly Kanbun shinto katana Mumei Iori mune Chu kissaki Nagasa: 60,5 cm sori: very slight saki zori (I still need to measure) Kasane: 63 mm Motohaba: 29 mm Sakihaba: 20,5 mm Moto kasane: 6,4 mm Saki kasane: 4,1 mm Hamon: Gunome midare koshi-no-hiraita? Hada: ko-kitame? Sugata: shinogi zukuri Nakago: ubu kurigiri yasurime: kattesagari What I have been able to find is that blades with this sugata and a gunome midare hamon which started with a straight line from before / under the hamachi and then gently progressed into gunome midare (or do I see koshi-no-hiraita as well?) were made in Echizen. It is very difficult to see hada, but if I'm not fooling myself, I might se a tight ko-itame? I do not know if this fits with Echizen. the slightly stretched chu kissaki is also 'typical' for Kanbun era but again I have not been able to determine if this was done in Echizen as well. I will study more and let you guys know.

Thanks guys! I will definitely let you know what I come up with. (at the moment, the more I read, the more I doubt my first thoughts... hahahaha)

Good morning gents, I have no questions or anything of major importance to discuss other than the fact that I am once again a proud custodian of a Japanese sword. Thanks to Okan I am now in possession of a Kanbun Shinto katana. I am an antique firearms collector and had a few nihonto a few years back, but unfortunately sold everything one by one to buy other things. Always missed having a nihonto to study, and now once again I have that chance. Nothing special and apologies for my horrible pictures, but just wanted to share my excitement with you guys. Okan gave me the kantei-assignment to determine what school this sword is, so I have something to study the coming period. Jan-Wouter

Well, even though I've never seen them for sale, but koshirae that features swastikas would be a deal breaker for me. Not a real problem, because the ones I've seen in literature would most likely be WAY above my budget. They would of course have no connection whatsoever with that horrible period in history, but it would just not sit well with me......

I'm sure someone will have better info, but Mr. Duindam is always present with a stand at the Dutch Weapon collector's fair every three months with BEAUTIFUL items. His website however has been very inactive for multiple years, now. EDIT: what I'm trying to say with the above, is that he's definitely still actively selling items. His personal email is: pduindam@xs4all.nl I'm sure he has no problem with his email being shared as this is publicly available on the Dutch Token Society website. (he is the chairman of the society)

Oh yes, a lot of nice pistols and revolvers on that site. That 's actually the reason why I visited the site in the first place. And then I saw this kyu gunto.... Ah well... The search continues.. Henk Jan, I am actually also a member of the Dutch Token society, but unfortunately never had the time to join any of the meetings. That's probably one of the best places to find nice swords...

Hello Henk Jan, i already know Lody. I bought a wakizashi from him but thanks for the pm. It was actually a different site than marktplaats (antiekewapens.nl) and yes he's asking € 2250 for this sword. Again thanks for the warning.

Wow! Thanks for the heads up, Henk Jan. Yes, that's the seller. So glad I asked here first. My interest is gone.

Good morning gentlemen, I came across a sword for sale here in the Netherlands. It is a Kyu Gunto with a koto wakizashi blade signed 'Norimitsu' and dated 1523. the mount has a silver mon from Asano family. I have asked to see the blade in person and am waiting on response as the pictures provided show very little. For some reason I apparantly have a weak spot for old blades in kyu gunto mounts, hence my interest. I would like to own this sword, but the problem is my limited knowledge and the fact that the sword is not papered. Translating the mei is not difficult, but determining if it is not gimei or otherwise is reaching too far for me. I have been searching for info and found an Ebay auction with this exact sword. It sold for US $ 860,- in July this year. The previous seller gave the following info on the blade: Length cutting edge: 45,3cm Total length in koshirae: 86cm motohaba 2.6cm sakihaba 1.9cm moto gasane 0.5cm saki gasane 0.3cm Unfortunately no information is given on kitae / hamon. I would be interested to hear your opinions, as far as possible, even though it is probably just a mass produced wakizashi with little collectors value. Thank you in advance. Regards, Jan-Wouter Thijssen

Yes, I like that one as well. I actually saw it in real life when the Dutch Token society had an exhibit at an antique gun show in Holland several years ago. It was the first nodachi I ever saw... I was in awe. Regards, Jan-wouter

Oh... I just saw there's another nodachi for sale on that same site. By Hizen no Kuni Mitsuhiro made in 1952. This one is 99cm. The first one I mentioned is 90cm. Price for the second one is € 14.900,- Regards, Jan-Wouter

There is a Nodachi for sale on this site http://www.japanszwaard.nl From 1850 by Takahashi Naganobu for € 19.500,- Incredible sword. Regards, Jan-Wouter

Hello guys, My apologies for digging up this old thread, but I have a wakizashi attributed to Aizu Michitoki and a board member pointed out something to me when I showed him a picture of a ware in the blade.... There is a 'punched' triangle on the nakago, normally covered by the habaki. He knew of a sword which was "refused" by NBTHK shinsa for this same mark, as it might be a Shinobi mark and therefore making it a weapon of murderers and spies not worthy of having the title of art-sword... Guys, I am a nitwit on Nihonto, so I have no clue.... but I thought it would be interesting to show a picture of it in this thread.... why not ey? By the way, my sword has a NTHK kanteisho. So the NTHK shinsa didn't seem to be bothered by it.... presumably (??) Greetings, Jan-Wouter

Hello Morita, Thank you for the translation. Yes, it is a mumei wakizashi attributed to Aizu Michitoki. Thanks for clearing that up. Greets, Jan-Wouter

Thanks Piers, I figured as much.... but you never know. This is the only paper I have so I can't compare to others. Do you actually know what is written, or do you simply know that this is the usual place on an envelope to write down small remarks regarding content of envelope...? Jan-Wouter

Good day gentlemen, On the envelope of a NTHK Kanteisho from a wakizashi of mine there is something written in pencil. I would very much appreciate it if someone could help me with translation. Thanks in advance, gentlemen. By the way, it's a kanteisho from Heisei, 19th year, 8th month, 12th day (August 12, 2007) Greets, Jan-Wouter

Good morning guys, I was just reading a post from Mariusz regarding Yanone which was very interesting, but on his blog I also saw an article regarding two similar tsuba and a reference to this discussion. I am not a tsuba guy, but it was interesting to see this style of tsuba, because I have the same on my wakizashi attributed to Aizu Michitoki. I've attached some pics. (the wakizashi has a kanteisho from NTHK) Greets, Jan-Wouter

I was once at an arms fair in the Netherlands and I was just looking at some swords when a gentlemen walks up and removes a sword from its sword bag. It was the most beautiful o mi yari with a beautiful handle forged to the blade. It was in Ken mountings. It was one of the most beautiful and "different" swords I have ever seen. Man, would I like to own that sword. Actually even owning a picture of it would be great. I only saw it once and briefly. I believe a member of the Dutch Token society mentioned that it was probably shinto period. but wow... the handle looked brass-like and had a sculptured "crossbar" as handguard similar to a European sword, so no tsuba.... I really love these out of the ordinary weapons as well. J.W. Thijssen

Mr. Torres, I do not know exactly what you mean with a "pirated sword" but I can imagine. As a matter of fact, I can blame no one but myself for this purchase. It was purchased from a fellow guncollector who admittedly had no interest in, nor knowledge of this sword or Nihonto. Further more this sword was of course not expensive. I will most definately keep it for sentimental value and to remind me to be careful of emotional purchases. It is what it is..... a sword made for war but not true Nihonto. Greets, J.W.

Thanks John and Jaques for your replies. So "chu saku" it is. That would be great if there is a shinsa in the UK next year. Jan-Wouter