steve oakley

Hi Again I have attached the papers that came with the sword, dont know if it helps?? regards Steve

Hello All Again Eric i have looked at the nakago of the shin shinto and alas it is not the same, i asked my friend google and came up with this: http://www.nihonto.com/11.14.08.html. The mei are pretty close but i am no expert. Any comparison opinions on the mei of this site compared to mine would be appreciated. If it is from 1751 as previously mentioned by John then i would be wrapped and i brought it thinking that it was a late edo piece. I wish to have no discussion about the item for sale as it is irrelavant to this thread and wish no negative comments about the sellers item or to discourage any future customer. It is for reference only so that i can have an idea of which Kiyoshige i have got. Thanks for any help regards Steve

Hello All From some enquiries, i think the smith is from the Bakumatsu period 1853-1867? I have attached a photo of the nakago. Also attached is a photo of a horizontal 1cm opening which is 6cm from the habaki. Would this be considered a forging flaw or kizu. Would it affect the overall value of the blade. regards Steve

Hello All A couple more photos, the saya is black roiro, so nothing special im afraid. regards Steve

Hello All Received my new acquisition and photos attached. Can anyone that has a reference tell me the rough year that this smith was active, i believe that this one was late edo. regards Steve

When it arrives i will post some more photos. Regards Steve

Hello All I am soon to acquire Katana with Koshirae with Signature: Cho shu ju Fujiwara Kiyoshige Saku. It is said that he is Chu-josaku ranking. Choshu province. I know that he is from the late edo period (so i have been told) Just after info from the time he started making swords and to possibly when he stopped making them. Any references or opinions would be great and appreciated regardless of good or bad. From the research i have done Chu-josaku rating is above average. Did all swords get a rating in that period or only if it was requested by the owner or smith. I recently saw another sword by what i think is the same smith for close to $10k, but the lsiting stated that he was a smith from about 1751. 1751 to end of edo is a big time gap for the same smith? regards Steve Katana.doc

15 bids at 3 days 6 hours to go for the auction. No reserve. How did i miss this on ebay. Steve O

Hi These were/are available from Australia, vol 1 & 2 with the blue cover for Hawly's, link is below. Scroll about half way down on the site http://www.thingsofjapan.com.au/Books.htm Steve O

Hi all I merely raise the issue of the smith and whether he can be traced and by no means wish to start angst among forum members about the mei. regards Steve O

Hi From other discussions it sounds as if it is just pre WW2. regards Steve O

Hi Does anyone know anything about a sword smith by the name of FUJIWARA RAI KUNIFUSA. Just after when he was making swords and the quality of his blades? Regards Steve O

Hi Greg after posting the references i am again not sure, either way i supppose it could be one or the other, thanks for the help. Could the date solve the problem or were both smiths active in that time? regards Steve O

Hi The hamon is there but even with the naked eye i have to say that its just there. In regards to the previous posts, i know there has been some discussion with the mei characters. Am i to read from your posts that it is signed as KIYONOBU or a different smith. Also can we confirm the date on the other side which will give us the exact maker of the blade. There was mention from Bruno that is could be SEKI KAJI TOSHO? And finally would this be the machine made but finished off by hand considering the hamon apprearance??? Lots of questions, i know, still going through old posts to inform myself better. regards Steve O

Hi From searching the site i found some references to KIYONOBU. The references indicate 4 characters for the smith, but i can only see 3 on the one side of the nakago. I have posted the photos, i also used a bit of powder to bring up the characters. Why would there be only 3? On the other side of Nakago is the date i believe? There are no stamps or other marking on the Nakago. regards Steve O

Hi Can you clarify the term Nobu as i am not sure what you mean by this. Any opinion whether it would be machine made or man made, what do i look for to determine this? regards Steve O

Hi All, The link below from ebay states the details of the sword but i have a few questions that the seller could not answer. 1. Kiyonobu was a sword smith around 1943 who was known for making medium to high grade swords? Also can anyone tell me about the smith Osumara Kiyonobu. Any opinions. 2. I have also been told that the deciphered mei or tang writing, one side says kiyonobu and the other side is in the 18 year of the showa period which is 1943? 3. What the seller did not know was if it was machine made or hand made. Any help there would be appreciated as from reading posts and it would determine value? I have been reading that although a sword can be signed it can also be machine made. I got some advice before hand and told that it was geniune Shin Gunto. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... K:MEWNX:IT regards Steve O.