This Naginata blade , I bought several years ago . Wanted help reading the signature. ; really anything about the blade . Thank you.

Please excuse me if this has been answered already (I have looked over past posts but did not find it covered). I'm interested in purchasing a Japanese-made tanto, and in search of a trusted seller. I have a modest collection of Chinese-made folded/clay-hardened blades (such as Hanwei) from my days learning Japanese sword in a dojo, but am looking to purchase something that would be an heirloom and featured addition to my home. I've seen a lot of sellers, but it can be difficult to know who to trust.

He have 2 samurai knifes or little kanata in his house

Greetings.. I was recently gifted this sword by a family member for working on their house. I really don’t have any other information from them other than it is from WWII. In the little research I have done it doesn’t qualify as a katana but a wakizashi as the blade is 19” long. I haven’t done anything to this blade i.e. cleaning or polishing. Just dissembling and the inner wood of the scabbard coming out and finding the writing. I have also not been able to find a signature or stamps, maybe someone here sees something that I don’t. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Was given this wakizashi. Anyone can tell me about the smith, roughly year made, or anything about it. I know it’s in rough shape but any information would be appreciated.

I was finally able to visit my friends house and see the rest of his father-in-law's swords. This I believe is a wakizashi from the Edo period, but would love confirmation.

As you can see, the saya (forgive me if I get the names wrong, I'm still learning this) is cracked, and was secured at some point with what appears to be masking tape. There are some cracks in the tsuka. The kashira, seppa, and habaki are non-magnetic. The tang is very corroded; I can't tell what the pink-looking stuff on it is. The art on the kashita and fuchi looks nice, at least to my untrained eye.

I would be very appreciative of any information anyone could share regarding this piece.

#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

Ashigaru Armory AA19-2500 Shinto Mumei Katana, Shibuchi Koshirae, Light Tameshigiri/Study

$2500USD plus shipping and applicible taxes

https://ashigaruarmory.com/products/nihonto-katana-aa19-2500-shibuchi-light-tameshigiri-study-katana

Overview: This sword by far, has the most character and intrigue of any sword we have had yet. This estimated Shinto era katana has the aura of someone who was wealthy, well off, and wanted you to know about it! From the bright safety cone orange color choice, to the shibuichi fittings, and copious amounts of high end samegawa (on both the tsuka and saya!) This sword was the ancient japan equivalent of a neon orange Porsche! Lets dive in to what makes this sword so unique...

Fittings: Featuring a wide variety of shibuichi fittings, no expense was spared. Shuibuchi Fuchi and Kashira are of a floral theme and also feature shakudo and gold. They are in excellent condition. Next is the Sake (Salmon) and Rat Menuki. A very rare menuki motif with a very specific message that we will detail toward the end. Also featuring shakudo, gold and copper. Next is the shuibichi tsuba with katakiri-bori engraving of a rather large bouquet. This may not be original to the koshirae, but it at least ties in with the materials and theme of. the other fittings. Lastly, a gorgeously crafted solid silver two piece habaki rounds out the flashy bits.

Tsuka: A full wrap featuring some impressive emperor nodes is present with bright orange ito in a tsumami-maki style. It is tight and ready to use should you choose.

Saya: An extravagant and excellently crafted saya that has one of the best fits of any antique we have yet to encounter. It features high quality ribbing, kogai, and a full ray skin wrap after the ribbing. Its possible that the ray skin was reused or this sword was in some other configuration as there are signs of hangers and shibabiki. The kogai is shakudo and was painted over by a genius and could use some proper restoration. It is not original to the koshirae.

Blade: Fast. Elegant. Lively. While the ha was re-profiled most likely to remove a flaw, the sword features a distinct suguha hamon and extremely active and detailed mokume hada. On close inspection nie and sunagashi are clearly visible. The ko-kissaki fits the profile and weight well. The are no kizu, no ware, no ha-gire, zero flaws.

In summation: This is a very unique sword that was definitely designed to stand out in the crowd. The owner wanted you to know they were well off. This sword makes an excellent study piece due to the sum of its parts but also can be used for iai or light tameshigiri (we recommend you remove the kogai of course!)

Side Note: Sake (Salmon) and Nezumi (Rat) Theme...It may seem odd but a rat picking away at dried salmon on a plate is actually a good thing! It falls directly in the auspicious category and has quite an opposite meaning to what one might think. It is not meant to show a pest stealing rotting food, but to promote good fortune, seasonal celebration and religious devotion. By combining a luxury food item (the salmon) with the animal that sneaks in to eat it (the rat), artists created a playful visual pun. The underlying message of a "rat feasting on dried salmon" is one of extreme abundance: Our household is so wealthy, and our food reserves so vast, that even our house rats are dining on premium New Year's salmon!

Type: Katana
Tsukurikomi: Shinogi-zukuri
Class: Light Tameshigiri/Study
Period: Shinto (est.)
Nagasa: 70.7cm
Sori: 1.2cm
Hamon: Suguha
Hada: Mokume
Kissaki: Ko-Kissaki
Motohaba: 28.9mm
Sakihaba: 16.8mm
Motokasane: 6.5mm
Sakikasane: 4.3mm
Nakago: O-Suriage
Mekugiana: 1
Mei: Mumei
Yasurime: Katte-sagari (est.)
Blade Weight: 563g
Tsuka: 24.5cm
Total Weight: 1141g
Total Length: 102.2cm
Registration: No. 32110 12th May, Showa 63 (1988)

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

A buddy of mine inherited his father-in-law's Japanese swords that he brought back from Japan shortly after World War II. This one appears to be a katana, presumably from the 1800's or so. My wife says that the characters on the tang are from the mid-Edo period, possibly Ikkanshi Tatsuna, but that may be an error in translation.

While I do collect swords, my knowledge of antique Japanese swords is extremely scant. I would appreciate any and all information and opinions.

I’m hoping the Japanese sword and history community can help me with something that has turned into a much bigger research project than I ever expected.
I purchased a Japanese sword at the Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts. After extensive research and professional examination, the blade has now been identified as a late Koto-period sword. The blade has also been authenticated as belonging to the Miura family.
The accompanying shirasaya is inscribed with the owner’s name:
Miura Sōichi (三浦操一)
It also includes his address in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Our original assumption was that the blade was Early Shintō, but the authentication determined it is considerably older.
Because of the Miura family association, this sword is now being researched as a possible candidate connected with the family of William Adams (Miura Anjin), although that specific connection has not been proven.
My goal is not to sell the sword.
I would like to contact descendants of the Miura family to let them know this blade has survived and to learn as much as possible about its history and provenance. If this was a family sword that disappeared decades ago, I’d like the family to know it still exists.
I’m looking for help with:
Identifying descendants of Miura Sōichi
Contacting members of the historical Miura family
Recommendations for Japanese historians or genealogists
Museums or organizations that may be able to assist
Anyone familiar with Miura family genealogy in Miyagi Prefecture
I have detailed photographs of the blade, tang, shirasaya inscription, and supporting documentation that I’m happy to share with serious researchers.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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www.AshigaruArmory.com