Antique Japanese swords and blades from my private collection.

Masatsune Katana Mino blade

Shinto O-Wakizashi, Sukenao

YOROIDOSHI-NBTHK Gassan school

Rai Kinmichi Shinto

Naginata -NBTHK

If interested in purchasing any of these swords please contact me at sales@swordsmanandarcher.com

You must be 18 years old to purchase anything on this site.

   A true gendaito (hand forged, water quenched, etc, etc.). In fine polish (original polish, probably at 99%) and with no flaws. This is a blade made in the Mino tradition, signed "Noshu Seki Ju Amachi Masatsune Kitau Koreo", ca 1940. The blade is guaranteed 100% authentic, as is the mei (signature). 26 and 3/8" nagasa (cutting edge length), 3/4" tori-zori (slightly koshi-zori), weight of 1 lb 14 oz (850g), motogasane 6mm, sakigasane 4mm, motohaba 3cm, sakihaba 2cm.  Solid, robust, and extremely healthy. Comes in top grade shirasaya with high quality silk bag and fusashimo. With all of that being said, it is really the absolutely outstanding hamon that makes this piece special. It is a flamboyant choji-midare (very midare, literally "chaos"), with ashi, lots of ashi. All kinds of stuff going on in the steel here. Hamon has depth and a tremendous amount of activity. Hada (grain) is nice itame mix. This is truly an exceptional piece. So far, it is the best gendaito I've ever owned, or even seen in person for that matter.

To return to the top  

SOLD

    This piece is an shinto O-wakizashi, robust, thick, and healthy the entire length of the blade, 23 and 3/8". Pretty good size (Actually gigantic) for a wakizashi. Mounted as handachi.  Hamon is Toranba (waves), as developed originally by Sukehiro himself, and implemented in the works of his best student, Sukenao. Hada is a fine itame mix. Both hada and hamon are absolutely beautiful, with great depth and lots of activity. Tang is ubu, signed and dated. Dated enpo...1673. Signed "Tsuda echizen omi (no) kami Sukehiro", a very famous shinto period smith. However, the mei is in fact considered "Daimei", which is actually treated as an authentic mei, even though the blade was actually forged and signed by Sukenao, one of Sukehiro's most talented, successful, and famous students. Students signing their master's name (or the school's name) was a common practice during this period. It is considered authentic because it was done under the supervision of the master and with his full approval. This signature is absolutely 100% guaranteed that of Sukenao of the Sukehiro school, Kyoto.  Hawley's rates Sukenao at 150 points!!!!!  Sukehiro himself was rated at "only" 100 points, and just as a frame of reference, the great Masamune was rated at 400 points, with 5 to 10 points being a typical rating, 20 to 30 being pretty good, and 50 to 100 very good to excellent. 150 is truely an extraordinary smith).  Anyway, the curvy, script-like mei is the mark of Sukenao, and actually also of Sukehiro himself in some of his later works. For some basic information regarding "daimei" and the Sukehiro school, see photos of passages I have photographed. The passages come from "The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords" by Kogan Nakayama. Another feature which distinguishes the work of Sukenao from that of Sukehiro, is the positioning of the "tama" or "jewel", a small independent circle of tobiyaki (hardened steel disconnected from the hamon). Comes in shirasaya, with full original koshirae and tsunagi. The kozuka is notable in that the hamon is very active and prominent in the kogatana, and of exceptional quality of materials and craftsmanship in general. That is a worthwhile and valuable piece in and of itself. The tsuba is simple, basically a tapered iron disc, but very elegant. Nice, very large nodules on the same, wrapped in white silk tsuka ito. Quality sageo. An absoultely perfect, all original, pristine shinto piece, with both shirasaya and full koshirae.  An extraordinarily fine example of quality, innovative, shinto period work, representative of the school of Sukehiro.

To return to the top

    The yoroi doshi, an armour piercing style of tanto,  first appeared in the late muromachi period (Sengoku jidai) in response for the need for a good weapon to use while grappling with armored opponents.  It had a very thick kasane at the bottom, tapering towards the top (kind of like a spike), a tapering mihaba, iorimune, a mune gently sloping towards the tip. starting about 3/4 of the way up the blade, and hirazukuri. Occassionally, it was known to be forged in the moroha-zukuri (double edged. Sometimes known as kogarasu maru) style. This particular hirazukuri yoroi-doshi one is certainly one of my favorite pieces.

A Shinshinto Gassan school Yoroi-doshi, signed "Yoshiteru", dating to 1865. 100% guaranteed authentic (mei is guaranteed genuine as well), with shinsa origami issued by NBTHK. Motogasane is a full 1/2 inch!  Extremely thick and 100% healthy (thickest blade I've ever seen), in its original polish. 10 inch nagasa, tang ubu with 1 hole. The mune is very interesting, and very unusual as well. Begins as mitsumune (3 faces to the mune), then tapers into iorimune (2 faces, like a pointed rooftop), as the edge slopes slightly towards the tip, starting about 3/4 the way up the blade. Hada is a prominent, maybe even flamboyant, ayasuji (sinusoidal wave like pattern), characteristic of the Gassan tradition. This type of jihada was produced by selectively filing the ends of the block at regular intervals on a piece that would otherwise have masame hada, while the blank is being forged.  I thought at first it might be Naminohira work, but the hada continues through the hamon in the Gassan school (as it does here), but not in the Naminohira school. See photo of notes that I discovered regarding this. The hamon is a bright white, crisp, suguha. Full boshi with hakikake. Simply a beautiful, rock solid blade. Absolutely massive for its length. In its original shirasaya.  

To return to the top           

Price $4,600.00. Please contact me if interested in purchasing this item at sales@swordsmanandarcher.com

This is an early (ca1648) shinto wakizashi, with a nagasa of 17 1/2 ", mihaba 1 and 1/8", sakihaba 7/8", and a 2 inch kissaki. Before I begin my description, I'd just like to say that ultimately, I'm not entirely sure as to the exact smith who produced this blade. I'm ALMOST positive, and several knowledgeable sources have concurred, but there seem to be many possibilities. However, only one seems very likely. After much deliberation and consultation, the best educated guess I could get would be DAI HOSHI HOKYO RAI KINMICHI. This came from a very knowledgeable japanese friend of mine in Hawaii. The gentleman who polished it also did some research and concurred, as did my dealer (although not the one who sold me this blade). I got this piece when it was in need of polish. I had it polished enough so that it was clean and presentable, and so that I could see what was going on in the steel, but not completely (probably about 90%). If it seems that it will be worth the cost, I may yet have it fully polished. The polish already has revealed a fine, healthy blade with interesting activity, and a full polish will absolutely reveal a whole lot more. So, with all of that being said,  Like I said, I'm fairly certain, but any additional information is always welcome and appreciated. In any event, this would be the second generation Kinmichi (jo-saku, wazamono) in that particular line, eldest son of the second son of Seki Kanemichi, founder of the Mishina school. The first generation Rai Kinmichi (also jo-saku, wazamono), after making (or overseeing the making of) 1000 tachi for Tokugawa Ieyasu for the battle of Sekigahara, was subsequently awarded the title of "Nihon Kaji Sosho", or, "Master of Japanese swordsmiths" by the shogun as repayment for his services. Rai Kinmichi (I believe both first and second generations) are listed among the "Kyo Go Kaji", the "5 swordsmiths of Kyoto". Also, the family also had imperial ties, and I believe it was the uncle of this particular Rai Kinmichi (the eldest son of Seki Kanemichi), who was given the authority by the emporer to give out rankings and titles to swordsmiths. This post stayed in the family for generations. This blade definitely shows many Mishina school characteristics, such as kyo-yakidashi, wide mihaba, itame hada with masame, and the effect of the hamon sprinkled or dusted with nie (lots of sunagashi). Please judge blade by photos and mei. As I get better photos, and acquire more info, I will continually update the listing. This is just the naked blade and habaki, and a saya I'll use just to protect the blade for transport. This blade is 100% guaranteed authentic, and is physically exactly as described. All other information is drawn from my own conclusions or opinions based on fairly extensive research, or those of others whose judgement I trust, as their knowledge far exceeds my own.  

To return to the top

This blade is being polished. If interested please contact me sales@swordsmanandarcher.com

NAGINATA-NBTHK

This is a very impressive, healthy naginata in shirasaya.  Not often do you come across a naginata of this size, quality, and beauty.  It is Kanbun Shinto ca.1660., signed Kanefusa. Has NBTHK paper. Tang is ubu (uncut) with 1 hole. Cutting edge is 14 and 1/2 inches long. Wide and thick the entire length of the blade, robust to say the least. 1 and 3/16" wide at habaki. No kizu or other flaws, and it's surface is superb. In fine original polish, revealing a very nice Itame hada mix, and large, active choji hamon. This is a rock solid piece, as well as a solid investment. Not much more to say about this one, as the pictures should do most of the talking for me. An absolutely superb piece in every aspect, and I'm 100% certain you will be very happy with your purchase.

To return to the top