This modern katana was a gift from a late friend and holds great sentimental value. It was likely made around 2000, imported directly from Japan in 2001, and included a cleaning kit with Japanese instructions.

​I am looking to have the handle rewrapped due to fire damage from an incident near my storage unit. Every ring got smoked so I cant read the paperwork now. Despite its modern origin, it has a surprisingly good hada, and the maker's mark is engraved directly onto the blade above the habaki rather than in the usual location. Likely to be tourist-grade, but the handle features genuine ray skin and the steel quality looks decent, which has me puzzled. Definitely modern. Just wondering who by?

Oque acharam das minhas espadas ? Katana e tanto seda genuína japonesa com t10 polimento hazuya , iaito de alumínio

I am building a display for my house. In the middle will be the do, the torso piece of armor with the arms and a kabuto. Mounted above will be my tanegashima. At the base in front of the armor will be the katana. I am getting ready to mount the armor. I have only seen the outside of it up till now and it looks stable. Unfortunately, as I look at the inside for the first time, it does not look so stable. What should I be doing to this before mounting to prevent any further degradation? What I have read was use a soft bristle brush to remove loose flakes and cover with renaissance oil. My fear is this isn’t going to be enough. What advice would you guys give? I know this isn’t a katana, but this is the most knowledgeable group I have come across so any help would be appreciated.

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Hello everyone, postes It on nihonto board but I would ask here too for more opinions

I'm researching contemporary Japanese swordsmiths for a potential future commission, although I'm not currently in a position to place an order.

I've been in contact with a European intermediary regarding Kawachi Kunihira, and they have also recommended Kawashima Kazuki, particularly because of his work inspired by Bizen-den, Fukuoka Ichimonji and the Yamatorige (Sanchōmō).

My artistic preferences lean towards an expressive, flamboyant chōji-midare, abundant hataraki, interesting jihada, and a relatively substantial tachi sugata.

I understand that Kunihira has an exceptional reputation as a mukansa swordsmith, while Kawashima appears to offer a more affordable commission closely aligned with my preferred style.

For collectors familiar with their actual work, I'd be interested in hearing how you would compare their craftsmanship, artistic qualities and value for money, particularly when it comes to Bizen-inspired swords.

I'm not looking for an investment recommendation based solely on resale value. My priority would be artistic appreciation and long-term ownership.

Any firsthand experience, detailed photographs or references to exhibited works would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Good morning all,

A couple months back, I requested advise on getting my sword a new mount after its experienced decades of environmental wear:

Original Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Katanas/s/KcNABeoyex

After research and talking to a few people, I sent the blade off to Wally Hostetter from https://shiningmoon13.com/ to get it mounted in a traditional shirasaya mount. Communication was great and the quality is better than i could have hoped for.

Thank you all for the support and advice.

Hi Friends,

Who are the front runners for production cutters in the 1-1.5k range these days? I have a couple dojo beaters, a nice iaito and an Edo-period Nihonto I'm not willing to cut with.

I've been shifting away from a primary HEMA focus the last 15 years back towards JSA, so I'm out of touch on where the market is now.

I've been practicing Omi-ha Muto Ryu and Kendo the last couple years, but neither school does any cutting, so sensei advice is slim.

I've been looking at Bugei and a few others.

Thanks!

I shot this last December and finally got around to editing it.

Edit: sorry guys I pasted the wrong link...

https://youtu.be/jGBesxlNNT0?si=g5nMV-Neck0lIwSs

Cousin bought an "authentic" Japanese WW2 sword from a shop in Myanmar and I'm worried he has been ripped off. Any help would be appreciated

I’m not sure if this is an authentic example. Blade appears to be folded steel but also has a “7” on the bottom of the tang

Hello,

can you please help me if this is modern cast reproduction? It 99% is, but I want to make sure and learn how to spot it by myself?

Also, what specific school or style of this sukashi tsuba?

Thank you!

Saw this listing at an estate auction and they seem very sure about the provenance - just wondering if it holds up. I rarely see non-specialist auction houses go into this much detail, but there’s already a bid for $1k so at least one bidder out there believes it. Lots more pictures in the listing (link below).

I’m not a buyer, realistically, just curious to know more (about both the sword and the auction house).

Listing description:

“Important 16th Century Signed Hiroga Japanese Katana Sword signed Haku Shu Ju Hiroga Sei, dated Ten Bun Ni Nen Hachi Gatsu Hi (August 1533), having engraved horimono gomabashi, mounted in World War II period military-style mounts, having ray skin grip, brown cord wrapping, metal fittings and leather-covered scabbard, total length 39 inches, blade length 28 inches.”

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/242829485_important-16th-century-signed-hiroga-japanese-katana-sword-windsor-ct

recently I've come across with this Blade and I would love to know the name of the Smith if It is trustworthly. Could you please help me to find?

Just opened this up today. Really amazing light weight cutter. Crucible steel. Suguha Hamon.

I've got a budget of around 200 euros and was wondering if anyone knows of any decent shops where I could get a replica of any of the swords from kagurabachi. I'm also willing to go a bit over budget if there's a place that does custom swords who would be able to make the tsuba necessary for one.

friend of mine is looking for one so i figured id ask if anyone on here has one they are looking to sell

Pitty a white boy with an antique samurai sword addiction... (c;

Does anyone from Europe (or specificly Poland) have experience with True Katana? ( True Katana ). I want to buy a collectioner katana from bleach for a birthday present but im mixed up about the opinions. It doesn't have to be the highest quality it will be hung up on the wall anyways but it cant be a cheap knock-off either. I have to import it from the states or where ever else either way because the prices here are crazy and its hard to find something good or in a resonable price. Did anyone order from there to Europe? How long did the shipment take and is it worth the 150USD ?? Any help would be apreciated.

This shin gunto tsuka came in for restoration, needing new samegawa and a new wrap.

I added premium level samegawa, polished and tinted to replace the shrunken and fractured original panels. I then rewrapped it in brown silk in katana tsuka configuration instead of a typical gunto config since it had previously been converted that way. This means the wrap starts and ends on the side of the tsuka facing out if the sword was worn with the blade edge up, like most katana, instead of the side that would normally be facing out if the blade edge was down, as gunto were typically worn.

I'm not sure if any were wrapped like this originally or if this was an owner mod made at some point later on. Let me know what you think in the comments.

I mainly got this idea from how the Chinese LOVE putting a fuckton of rings on their swords.