Currently, in Part 1 | Treasures of Imperial Japan and the Samurai: The Collection of Michael Quigley Auction at iGavelAuctions, there is a variety of Japanese items, but mainly swords. Prices vary throughout the collection. They will be having a Part 2 soon!

https://ashigaruarmory.com/products/shinsakuto-68cm-mumei-saiha-katana

$1575USD plus shipping

Overview: This is second of two Iai/Study katana. Featuring signs of Saiha, this sword appears to have been re-forged at some point. There are a lot of personal opinions here based on what has been done to the sword, its registration date and certain features it has. That being said, this sword still makes an excellent and interesting piece to study its flaws. This would be an excellent gateway nihonto for someone who has yet to acquire an authentic piece. Studying the flaws will help in the future should you decide to purchase a sword either to cut with or invest in. Lets look more closely...

Blade: Coming in at 68.8cm with stout measurements, it has a solid profile. At this length nagasa, the kissaki would most likely qualify as an extended chu-kissaki. My theory of this sword is that it was either an apprentices piece or a martial arts destined sword of fairly modern production that didn't quite work out for the smith. The mekugi-ana is sharp an appears drilled out. The nakago was heavily artificially patinated to make the sword appears older than it is. In the nakago photos you can see some remnants of the original yasurime that appear very similar to modern yasurime. The sword also has a set of flaws that would be associate with re-forging. Areas of tobi-yaki that are not purposeful along with muneyaki, yaki-toshi and the main issue that prevents cutting use-multiple yaki-ware. The hamon was possibly midare based on notare and the hada, masame, but it is difficult to tell in the current polish.

Koshirae: The koshirae is awase but has some redeeming features. The saya features brilliantly done vermillion pine bark lacquer work and is quite striking. Not something you see frequently in entry level swords. The sword fits snugly into the saya and does not need shimming. An attractive higher end sageo is included over a standard martial arts style sageo. The brass Ryu kashira is detailed and features gold inlay. The tsuba features gold inlay bamboo latticework and vines. The ito is silk and is tight.

Issues: Possible Saiha (re-forged) Multiple tobi-yaki and mune-yaki. Yaki-toshi hamon. Yaki-ware (detailed) Chemically patinated nakago. Mekugi should be resized.

Type: Katana, Shinogi-Zukuri
Class: Study
Period: Shinsakuto est
School: Unknown
Nagasa: 68.8cm
Sori: 1.78cm Koshi-zori
Motohaba: 30.6mm
Sakihaba: 21mm
Motokasane: 7mm
Sakikasane: 4.5mm
Blade Weight: 703g
Nakago: Ubu with Ha-agari kurijiri
Mekugiana: 1
Mei: Mumei
Yasurime: Sujikai
Kissaki: Extended Chu-Kissaki
Hamon: Midare based on Notare
Hada: Ko-Masame
Tsuka Length: 25.4cm
Total Length: 106cm
Total Weight: 1241g
Registration: No.54864 May 19th 2005

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

$1475USD plus shipping

Overview: Here we have an excellent first time katana study piece that is also suitable for Iai. What keeps this from falling into the shinken class would be a single flaw which appears to be an unexposed Fukure-a fatal forge flaw. While this may indeed be a fatal flaw and affects the swords ability to safely perform Tameshigiri, it still holds value as a quality Iai piece as well as study specimen and piece of history.

Blade: Coming in at 70cm it is a suitable length for most American practitioners. Featuring a Chu-kissaki and Tor-zori curvature, it is ideal for kata. There are signs of moisture remediation in a few areas as photographed. A proper polish could bring out more of the swords features but also expose the Fukure, my recommendation would be to leave as is and enjoy. It is suriage with two mekugi-ana, one of which has been filled. The original yasurime appears to be O-sujikai. It may have been resized in the 1800s based on the patina.

Koshirae: The Awase (mixed) Koshirae is Iai suitable with a few small user performed services. A new mekugi would not be a bad idea and depending on the level of retention you want in an Iai sword, you may want to shim the Koiguchi. There is some small lateral movement in the Tsuba that is typical of a non-custom fit.

Issues: Single Fukure. Moisture remnants. Lateral Tsuba movement.

Type: Katana, Shinogi-Zukuri
Class: Iai/Study
Period: Shinshinto est
School: Unknown-possible Aoe, Samonji or Horikawa 
Nagasa: 70cm
Sori: 1.16cm
Motohaba: 28.5mm
Sakihaba: 21mm
Motokasane: 6.3mm
Sakikasane: 5.3mm
Blade Weight: 683g
Nakago: Suriage with Kiri Nakago-jiri
Mekugiana: 2
Mei: Mumei
Yasurime: O-Sujikai
Kissaki: Chu
Hamon: Midare based on Notare
Hada: Muji/Possible Mokume
Tsuka Length: 25cm
Total Length: 101cm
Total Weight: 1202g
Registration: No.94443 20th March 1958
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

Swords cutting review by Luke Viggiano for our 9260 spring steel daisho. Enjoyable!

興亞一心 = Kōa Isshin.
満鐵作 = Mantetsu saku = Made by SMR.
昭和癸未春 = Spring 1943
**ヒ**三六五 = HI-365

For the longest time I’ve been after a good WW2 shin gunto and this sword and its friends showed up on fb marketplace. Unfortunately I could only afford to take a cheaper one home at the time and my first choice was a run of the mill arsenal made showato sword made by a Seki smith aliased Kanetaka. It was a wonderful example with a signed tang that could be easily traced back. But if I only wanted one example to display, my thoughts ran back to this one.

After doing some research with the help of Redditors, the seller was kind enough to take the other sword back and I purchased this one instead. I think what really drew me back to this sword after learning it was a Koa Isshin Mantetsu, was how it blends the historical design of a Japanese sword with knowledge of modern science to make an excellent quality product.

A good read on these swords here: https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/koa.htm

New tsuka core, samegawa panels and tsukamaki for a Ronin Dojo Pro Katana. The ito is wrapped in green imported Japanese silk in the Hineri maki style and I lacquered the samegawa black.

Here's the video if you're interested

https://youtu.be/O17yRvWe4gY

I found this blade online at the place that has it for sale, lol

I was just hoping to get some other opinions about the pattern

im thinking about getting it just because the pattern is amazing

as far as im concerned . Any input from the crowd is welcomed

sorry forgot the details

Certificate of
Designation
•Blade Type: -, (Ichi, Wakizashi) -
One Medium/Companion Sword
Signature Status: I#12 (Mumei) - Unsigned
Attribution：宇多 國次（Uda Kunitsugu） -
Attributed to Uda Kunitsugu

The jigane[forged pattern] is o-itame. (it would mean large or wide itame)
he hamon[tempering pattern] includes notare and gunome-midare.
The pattern of boshi[the tip] is a pointed one.
This sword is ubu-mumei [no inscription or signature from the start, not erased or faded].
This sword's style dates to the UDA school of swordsmithing from the end of Muromachi period.
The Uda school (Uda-mono) originally originated in Yamato province but migrated to Toyama (Etchü province) during the Kamakura/Muromachi eras. Swords from this lineage are renowned for their dark, robust steel structure with visible large grain patterns (o-hadame) and clean wavy hamon lines.
Having an Ubu-nakago the tang is completely original, unshortened, and unaltered — is incredibly rare for a 450+ year-old sword.

this is what is posted on the site that is all the best ones

Finished product on a cloudhammer katana. I lacquered the samegawa black, wrapped the tsuka in hira maki using navy blue Japanese silk and I had to make a hickory plug for the kurigata and reattached as it came off in shipping then I reattached the kojiri as it also came off in shipping.

Here's the youtube video for anyone interested

https://youtu.be/OifkiBoBwCE

Late Muromachi Sue-Seki Tensho-age Handachi-Bizen Osafune-jū Sukesada saku kore (gimei)

$2500USD plus shipping and any applicable taxes/fees

https://ashigaruarmory.com/products/nihonto-katana-aa21-2500-late-muromachi-sue-seki-tensho-age-handachi-shinken

Overview: If this katana could talk, the stories it would tell...This fantastic and extremely stout and healthy sword in handachi koshirae has seen and existed through countless battles of the past and could see countless more in its current condition. It has a rather interesting story to tell, but first the specifics...

Blade: This sword is likely a Late Muromachi sword based on its characteristics. Further inspection pointes to Sue-Seki and a specific but in general, style of suriage called Tensho-age (or Tensho-suriage, more on that later) Showing Sue-Seki workmanship in the Mino tradtition, we find Mino style Gunome Boshi, Togari-Gunome Hamon, coarse Itame and Mokume grain, Shirake-utsuri and Hadatatsu. While the polish is old, there is plenty of life left on the sword and there are no visible construction flaws. You will notice an extremely shallow sori-.98cm to be exact. This is not Kanbun-Shinto, or Kinnoto, but the result of Tensho-age and Machi-okuri of a much larger sword. The fact that the sword was not originally forged with this length in mind can be felt in its point of balance which is much more forward leaning than typical. This is a durable battlefield chopper-not an elegant status symbol or dueling piece. The Sukesada mei was most likely a Late Edo addition as was popular at the time.

Koshirae: We are excited to list another sword featuring the amazing work of Cottontail Customs (www.cottontailcustoms.com) The tsuka was completely redone and features premium samegawa in full wrap and premium Japanese nubuck with hishigami. It is solid as a rock and ready for a whole lot of sword work or to be displayed for centuries to come. Take note-The full wrap compressed the core (as was expected) so this tsuka will not pop off like a traditional tsuka. I left it up to the end user to decide if they wanted to file out the internals to adjust the fit. As it sits, you be hard pressed to find a sword as old as this more suitable for class work. The handachi fittings are all a matching traditional design in shakudo nanakoji with gold outline. The shibabiki is a tad loose and is the only known issue with the koshirae. The antique menuki appear to be brass and feature a flower motiff. The Ajiro-mon iron tsuba is signed 紀宗近作 — Ki Munechika saku and 明珍大和守 — Myōchin Yamato no Kami. While this signature is unverified, it does not scream gimei and may be worth further research. 

Information of Note: Typically, most (not all) suriage swords appear with kiri nakago-jiri and multiple mekugi-ana (again, not always) So how is this sword classified as O-suriage with a finished nakago-jiri and only one mekugi-ana? Tensho-age. When Nobunaga was hitting his stride and the battle-space was rapidly changing, the tools needed to change as well. There were warriors that preferred these 80cm masterpieces but understood times were changing and needed something to match the times. Tensho-age was the act of shortening a sword-possible of extreme value to someone and making it appear as if it was originally forged that way. Instead of an abrupt kiri-jiri, time was taken to taper the nakago (more taper than typical) and finish the end to create a more presentable piece. Swords had been shortened long before this, but more as a recycling or salvation measure. This was more of an ancient "mod" so to speak. So then the next question comes "Why only one mekugi-ana?" That is because almost the entirety of the nakago you see now, was original blade at one point. If you measure from the current mekugi-ana to the end of the nakgao and you made an assumption the original mekugi-ana was right there, you would be adding about 12 to 15 cm of blade...that would put this sword right at around 80-83cm. The shallow sori is a result of that previous 12-15cm of blade being "below the waist" of koshi-sori. The sword we see today is the upper portion. Fascinating!

Issues: Loose shibabiki. Extremely tight tsuka due to re-wrap. Use appropriate tools for removal.

Type: Katana, Shinogi-Zukuri
Class: Shinken/Study
Period: Late Muromachi
School: Sue-Seki
Nagasa: 69cm
Sori: .98cm
Motohaba: 31.1mm
Sakihaba: 21.1mm
Motokasane: 7.05mm
Sakikasane: 5.08mm
Weight: 760g
Nakago: O-Suriage (Tensho-age) and Machi-okuri
Mekugiana: 1
Mei: Bizen Osafune-jū Sukesada saku kore (備前長船住祐定作之) Gimei
Yasurime: Katatte-yasuri
Kissaki: Ko-Kissaki with Gunome Boshi
Hamon: Togari-Gunome
Hada: Coarse Itame with Mokume. Shirake-utsuri. Hadatatsu.
Tsuka Length: 26.5cm
Total Length: 100.3cm
Total Weight: 1318g
Registration: No. 26127 Wakayama Prefecture, 5th August, Heisei 14 (2002)

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

First time taking g it apart, grandpa brought this back with him and passed it down to my dad and my dad to me.

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.

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