dragonfly Posted July 11, 2007 Report Posted July 11, 2007 Hello everybody! first of all I have to introduce myself, cause this is the first time I post something on this board. Ive been following the discussions on this board quite regularly, enjoyed it and realized that there is a lot to learn for me. My name is Tobias, I study at university in the south of Germany and am interested in nihonto for about six years. I am 27 years old. my interest came out of my apprenticeship as a carpenter where I used a lot of Japanese tools and realized the outstanding quality of them. Then I bought a lot of books about nihonto, read them and occasionaly found something interesting on local flea markets or antique dealers. This is the reason for my post: I got this tanto for 100 € about two years ago. nothing to say about this price, I had to buy it although its overall condition is not that good, but at that price... It is signed "Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehiro" if I got it right.. I have no opinion if this is gimei or not.. any opinion? the hamon is nearly invisible and there are some minor and a bigger chip in the cutting edge (not through the hamon). The tsuba is choshu I think, made by Yoshi Tsugu? just my thoughts, dont know if I got it right. The set of F/K is matching but I have no idea which school this could be. Menuki and Tsukamaki are missing. The saya is split in half but has a very impressive lacquer technique using mother of pearl splits and coral pieces. The metal ornament is also interesting. As you can see, my knowledge is very limited and it would be very interesting for me to receive further information on this tanto and read your opinions about it. I will not sell it. Instead it would be interesting to know if its worth a full polish and a new shira saya and how much this would cost. If further pictures are needed, just send me a message. I hope you enjoy, Tobias Quote
dragonfly Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Posted July 11, 2007 excuse me, but somehow it is impossible for me to upload pics. Can anybody help me?? Tobias Quote
Brian Posted July 11, 2007 Report Posted July 11, 2007 Hi Tobias, Welcome to the forum. The How-To section should answer your questions. Make sure you fully upload the pics before hitting submit. Maybe they are over the file size limit? Check it all out here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... um.php?f=8 Look forward to the pics. Brian Quote
dragonfly Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Posted July 11, 2007 ok, they were too big.. Sorry and thanks! Quote
Darcy Posted July 12, 2007 Report Posted July 12, 2007 Hi Tobias, Sukehiro is one of the most important smiths of the Shinto period. I'm on the train right now and can't use any references, but I am pretty sure Ludolf will come along and give a nice analysis soon :-). Germany is a good place to be in Europe as a sword student because the NBTHK/Euro branch is active there and there are several high end collectors and many dedicated students there. I would look to attend a meeting and bring this piece in and get some of them to look at it. At first glance the signature style would be for late period work as it is all grass script on both sides. However, this smith was faked often and well, so first glance does not mean much. The smith is famous for artistic yasurime and this piece does not seem to have this, so that is a strike against it. The signature needs to be compared to references closely because he changed his signing style a few times. With a big signature one has to start from the assumption that it is gimei pretty much, and this is a big signature. The tsuba is signed Oshu (town?) Ju Yoshitsugu Saku. The koshirae seem to be fair quality. I could look up the town but again, on the train and things are bouncing all over heh. A polish will cost about $75 USD / inch of the piece. A shirasaya might cost $200 or so for a tanto, maybe less. Quote
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 12, 2007 Report Posted July 12, 2007 Hello, I agree to Darcy that you could take the piece to one of the European NBTHK branch meetings. However do not expect too much of doing so. Sure a great bargain at Euro 100.00! Regards, Max Quote
dragonfly Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Posted July 13, 2007 First of all, thanks for your reply!! I have to agree with Darcy that there is nearly no yasurime on the nakago.. And in fact Sukehiro was faked very often. Thats why I put this blade on the board to get some more opinions about it. Of course there is not much to judge about because the hada and the hamon are nearly invisible and impossible to bring out on photos with my equipment at the actual condition. Another question: Is there anybody on board I could contact for bringing the blade to a NBTHK meeting? Any further help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Tobias Quote
Bob M. Posted July 13, 2007 Report Posted July 13, 2007 Hi Tobias, I don't know if you will have much luck contacting NBTHK members via the NMB - I have tried without response in the past. I am a member of the NBTHK in England ( the poor relations ). You could try the email address - http://www.nbthk.net/nbthk/membership.html I understand that the next meeting in Germany is to be held in Bonn on 8th September. Good Luck ! Quote
Andi B. Posted July 13, 2007 Report Posted July 13, 2007 Hi Tobias, if you live in/near Munich I probably can help you with a contact... On this Sunday, 15.07.2007 there is the "12. Japanfest" in Munich/Englischer Garten around the Teahouse. http://www.djg-muenchen.de/veranstaltungen/?id=105 There will be a stand of the "Freunde des japanischen Schwertes" where you can ask questions ect. I will be there too... Otherwise we (the guys from this stand) meet regularly each month in a tavern in Munich, where you can bring your blade and get information. Some of them are really Nihonto-professionals You can send me a message for more details. Greeting from /to? Munich! Quote
Tokaido Posted July 13, 2007 Report Posted July 13, 2007 Hi Tobias, to contact the European Branch of the NBTHK please use the emailadress you will find here: http://www.nbthk.net/NBTHK/Membership.html The adress is suitable for any sort of inquiery about swords. Please do not use any other adress to contact NBTHK EB Greetings Andreas B. (member of NBTHKEB and somthimes lurking during high noon break Quote
dragonfly Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Posted July 13, 2007 Sorry to say but I am from Karlsruhe... Would be a great chance but I have no opportunity to come to Munich at the moment... I'll try to email the NBTHK with the given address, thanks for that!! have a nice weekend there in Munich.. By the way, feel free to add some more statements on this blade.. Quote
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