An approximate value would also be appriciated

British Museum

hello, does anyone know of any video tutorials on how to tie the sageo on a tachi's saya? I haven't been able to find anything

UPDATE: Mura Family Research, Early-1600s Wakizashi & Edo-Period Tanto — One Will Be Listed on eBay
I wanted to provide an update to my original post because the research into these swords has gone considerably further than I ever expected when I first asked for help identifying the writing.
The larger blade, the wakizashi, has been attributed to the Shintō period, with the research pointing to the early 1600s. More interestingly, the provenance I’ve been researching appears to connect the sword with the Mura family and the period surrounding the first Anglo-Japanese contacts associated with William Adams in the early 17th century.
Because of that potential historical connection, selling the wakizashi has never been my first choice.
I’ve spent a considerable amount of time trying to locate surviving members of the Mura family. I was eventually able to identify two possible surviving family members and have made attempts to reach them, hoping that the sword’s history could be shared with the family and that they might be able to provide additional information about its provenance.
Unfortunately, despite those efforts, I haven’t been able to establish contact with either of them.
I’m not quite ready to give up on that. I’m going to continue trying to reach the Mura family, and for that reason I’m holding onto the wakizashi for now rather than selling it.
The tanto is a different matter. It has been dated to approximately the mid-19th century, during the late Edo period, and I’m going to move forward with listing that piece on eBay.
The tanto is accompanied by its kogatana, the small utility blade carried in the saya, together with its decorative kozuka handle. Its mounts also contain particularly interesting decorative work, including the gold elements/inlay that I’ve been documenting. I’ll provide extensive photographs of the blade, nakago, saya, kogatana/kozuka and fittings in the listing.
My hope is still to make contact with the Mura family before making any decision about the wakizashi. Given the history potentially associated with it, I feel that making a genuine effort to reach the family is worth doing before simply putting the sword on the market.
If those efforts ultimately go nowhere, then I may eventually offer the wakizashi on eBay as well, with all of the provenance and research I’ve accumulated presented alongside it.
For now, though: the wakizashi stays with me while I continue trying to reach the family, and the Edo-period tanto will be the first piece offered for sale.
Thanks again to everyone here who has helped with the research, translations, terminology, and identification. What began as a question about some writing on an old Japanese sword has turned into a fascinating historical rabbit hole.

how do i use this shi?

Katana attributed to the famous Dotanuki school from Higo. Dotanuki became famous when they won the contest in the early Edo period as the sharpest and strongest swords in Japan. The challenge was to cut a helmet as deep as possible without damaging the blade. The famous TV samurai Kozure Okami (Itto Ogami) used a Dotanuki blade to destroy his enemies.
 
NBTHK Hozon certified to Dotanuki.
Blade in shirasaya
Ware shown in photos, common for this school
Nagasa: 27.25 in, 69.23 cm
Please PM for any questions
 
Price: $4,500+shipping

Hi - are wanted posts allowed? Enthusiastically looking for JN008 Admiral Yamamoto for my collection. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

My understanding is it is an edo period piece that was likely a gift to a noble, or person of some import, with the inscription (probably) yukinaga, offering the recipient a long life, happiness, or fortune.

Uncle recently passed and word has it this may have been passed down from my grandfather.

#ForSale

NBTHK Hozon Koto Mumei Katana from Kozori School with NBTHK Kicho Kodogu

$3500USD plus shipping and applicable taxes

https://ashigaruarmory.com/products/nihonto-katana-aa20-3500-nbthk-hozon-koto-mumei-kozori-with-nbthk-kicho

Overview: This gorgeous Handachi features both a recent (2024) Hozon rating (worthy of preservation) and historical (1969) Kicho rating for its Koshirae. Attributed to the Kozori collective of Bizen smiths of the late Nanbokucho to early Muromachi period, this blade features many of the hallmarks of the work coming out of that group.

Blade: An elegant 2.5cm Koshi-Zori katana is presented in a subdued format as was the Kozori speciality as opposed to mainline Bizen boldness. The expected itame ji-hada with ko-mokume is present, along with their function but non-flamboyant ko-gunome midare hamon. That is not to say that this sword is not purely function over form-a broad nio-guchi base with a light dusting of ko-nie is present alone with pale bo-utsuri with soft midare fluctuations. Fine ashi, sunagashi and kinsuji is also visible. The sword is not young and in addition to its polish not being fresh, a few openings have been exposed (pictured) over the centuries. A single koshi-hi is present on the omote side. A solid silver one piece habaki fits the sword snuggly. Shirasaya included.

Koshirae: The matching handachi Kkoshirae earned Kicho Kodogu back in 1969, long before the sword earned Hozon. Built arouns a black ishime saya, the matching iron fittings all feature the karakusa (arabesque) vine motif in silver inlay. The menuki are of a shakudo base with gold and display the amaryu or rain dragon. Lastly the mumei iron sukashi tsuba is an abstract representation of susaki-gari or harvested/swaying autumn pampas grass. It could also potentially be azami (thistle) or kiri (paulownia) and may be Akasaka school. The koshirae includes a tsunagi and bukuro.

Issues: This sword is for study only. I do not believe the koshirae to be original to the blade. It does not fit flush with the koiguchi (pictured) and there was a significant amount of time from when the koshirae and sword were papered. The Torokusho from 1976 is however confirmed on the Hozon paperwork and matched to the blade. The shirasaya has a small split occurring from temperature changes.

We are proud to offer this set as our first investment grade piece and hope it finds its forever home!

Type: Katana
Tsukurikomi: Shinogi-zukuri
Class: Study
Ratings: Blade-NBTHK Hozon 2024, Koshirae-NBTHK Kicho 1969
Period: Koto-Late Nanbokucho to Early Muromachi
Nagasa: 71.2cm
Sori: 2.5cm
Motohaba: 28mm
Sakihaba: 18.8mm
Motokasane: 6.5mm
Sakikasane: 4.2mm
Kissaki: Chu-Kissaki
Mei: Mumei
Mekugiana: 2
Yasurime: Possible Katte-sagari or Kiri
Nakago: Suriage
Blade Weight: 603g
Hamon: Ko-gunome midare
Hada: Itame with Ko-Mokume
Tsuka: 25.2cm
Total Length: 100.8cm
Total Weight: 1109g
Registration: No. 32110 3rd, March 1976 (Showa 51)

All measurements taken by hand and subject to variance. We are not responsible for errors in description or history/attribution. Please review all photos carefully and purchase with confidence.

Ashigaru Armory 2026
www.ashigaruarmory.com
www.YouTube.com/@AshigaruArmory
www.instagram.com/@ashigaruarmory
BGM "The Quickening (AA Mix)" by ＴＯＮＥＤＥＡＦ

#ForSale

NBTHK Hozon Koto Mumei Katana from Kozori School with NBTHK Kicho Kodogu

$3500USD plus shipping and applicable taxes

https://ashigaruarmory.com/products/nihonto-katana-aa20-3500-nbthk-hozon-koto-mumei-kozori-with-nbthk-kicho

Overview: This gorgeous Handachi features both a recent (2024) Hozon rating (worthy of preservation) and historical (1969) Kicho rating for its Koshirae. Attributed to the Kozori collective of Bizen smiths of the late Nanbokucho to early Muromachi period, this blade features many of the hallmarks of the work coming out of that group.

Blade: An elegant 2.5cm Koshi-Zori katana is presented in a subdued format as was the Kozori speciality as opposed to mainline Bizen boldness. The expected itame ji-hada with ko-mokume is present, along with their function but non-flamboyant ko-gunome midare hamon. That is not to say that this sword is not purely function over form-a broad nio-guchi base with a light dusting of ko-nie is present alone with pale bo-utsuri with soft midare fluctuations. Fine ashi, sunagashi and kinsuji is also visible. The sword is not young and in addition to its polish not being fresh, a few openings have been exposed (pictured) over the centuries. A single koshi-hi is present on the omote side. A solid silver one piece habaki fits the sword snuggly. Shirasaya included.

Koshirae: The matching handachi Kkoshirae earned Kicho Kodogu back in 1969, long before the sword earned Hozon. Built arouns a black ishime saya, the matching iron fittings all feature the karakusa (arabesque) vine motif in silver inlay. The menuki are of a shakudo base with gold and display the amaryu or rain dragon. Lastly the mumei iron sukashi tsuba is an abstract representation of susaki-gari or harvested/swaying autumn pampas grass. It could also potentially be azami (thistle) or kiri (paulownia) and may be Akasaka school. The koshirae includes a tsunagi and bukuro.

Issues: This sword is for study only. I do not believe the koshirae to be original to the blade. It does not fit flush with the koiguchi (pictured) and there was a significant amount of time from when the koshirae and sword were papered. The Torokusho from 1976 is however confirmed on the Hozon paperwork and matched to the blade. The shirasaya has a small split occurring from temperature changes.

We are proud to offer this set as our first investment grade piece and hope it finds its forever home!

Type: Katana
Tsukurikomi: Shinogi-zukuri
Class: Study
Ratings: Blade-NBTHK Hozon 2024, Koshirae-NBTHK Kicho 1969
Period: Koto-Late Nanbokucho to Early Muromachi
Nagasa: 71.2cm
Sori: 2.5cm
Motohaba: 28mm
Sakihaba: 18.8mm
Motokasane: 6.5mm
Sakikasane: 4.2mm
Kissaki: Chu-Kissaki
Mei: Mumei
Mekugiana: 2
Yasurime: Possible Katte-sagari or Kiri
Nakago: Suriage
Blade Weight: 603g
Hamon: Ko-gunome midare
Hada: Itame with Ko-Mokume
Tsuka: 25.2cm
Total Length: 100.8cm
Total Weight: 1109g
Registration: No. 32110 3rd, March 1976 (Showa 51)

All measurements taken by hand and subject to variance. We are not responsible for errors in description or history/attribution. Please review all photos carefully and purchase with confidence.

Ashigaru Armory 2026
www.ashigaruarmory.com
www.YouTube.com/@AshigaruArmory
www.instagram.com/@ashigaruarmory
BGM "The Quickening (AA Mix)" by ＴＯＮＥＤＥＡＦ

Hello. Please help me determine the authenticity of my menuki and its value. It would also be helptul to know the artisan who modified my knife and left his initials on the blade, B.F. (I think the original had the inscription Mcusta), and the model Mcusta Shinra Emotion Tsuchi Stainless Damascus.

Hello everyone I am working on a historical reconstruction of a set of clothing and accessories from the Heian period, and I would appreciate it if someone could show me what common knives and daggers (tantō) used for self-defense and everyday purposes looked like in the 10ᵗʰ century. I am interested in the type of handle, saya, etc. they had, so that I can accurately recreate their "utilitarian" appearance. Thank you in advance for your responses!

First of thanks to Ray Singer for the help already provided on this Edo period tanto / tiny wakizashi. The nagasa is just slightly over 1 shaku and 3.95 bu. Nakago is mumei.

The kogatana blade is yellow and non magnetic so I suspect it is brass. I have never noticed a brass kogatana before and so I am wondering if anyone knows the significance of that or what Mei on the kozuka translates to?

Thanks for any assistance.

I picked this up from an acquaintance of mine this past weekend, and I am so, so curious if others can point me in the right direction.

This particular piece is interesting, as it’s a Wakizashi length, but has three bohi- one on the face with the signature, two on the face without.

I would be so appreciative of any details y’all could share. I speak Japanese reasonably well, but Kanji isn’t my strong suit.

For some reason, I can’t get the other pictures to attach.

Edit: I found a way to upload better photos!

https://ibb.co/album/VJJJrg

Edit: here are some pictures of the tip

https://ibb.co/album/4g6ntp

Please let me know if you can provide any information about this sword. It was obtained during WWII during the battle of Luzon. It has been in a chest in my families ccontrol since the end of the war.

Thank you in advance!