Here's a project that I recently finished for just such an event.... We are sending a friend and his wife this 19th-century Japanese sword (late Edo/ShinShinto).  The blade has an old polish.  The saya is mostly in its original condition, but I had to rebuild the tsuka (handle), and I was able to find an older Higo style tsuba (guard) with his wife's family crest. I also used ito (silk braid) and menuki (hilt ornaments) that they selected and reflected their interest.

Here are few pics, let me know what you think.

What we wound up creating was this: a modified version of the "Master Sword" by Garrett Kearney that contains a battery, electronics and LED strips.  It lights up when you swing it and changes colors on impact.  

Let me know if you'd like the instructions, and/or the 3D .STL files and I'll send them your way... Below is a quick pic of the finish product.

We will select a blade, usually in shirasaya, and ask the couple several questions related to their favorite colors, styles, and themes, then build a set of koshirae for the blade.

For this gift we selected a late Edo period 27.5 inch katana, signed "Kane Uji".

Below are a few pictures of the blade, and several quick snapshots of the mounts that I took before we gifted our nephew and his fiance with the sword... Let me know what you think.

If you're not familiar with this type of Tanto, as you can see in my photo below, these blades are characterized by their tips' significant lengths, appearing visually dominant and longer than the width of the blades.

From what we could find, this was desiged to provide some kind of enhanced slicing power for cutting through armor and/or follows the popular Nanbokucho style that was to create the impression of powerful battlefield swords. 

What are you thoughts?  Let me know what you think...

NBTHK Nihonto Shinsa

The May Shinsa for Japanese swords by NBTHK had 1700 available slots and was filled in less than 40 minutes.

Anyone considering sending swords to Japan for shinsa needs to be aware of the time constraints. Swords shipped to Japan must arrive prior to the end of the month in order for a licensing appointment the following month. Once licensed, the sword is eligible for shinsa registration after the month of licensing (if shinsa is offered). Shinsa submission follows in the month after shinsa registration. This means just getting a sword into Japan and submitted for licensing and shinsa is a minimum four month process or longer depending on when the shinsa is offered.

For reference, here is a link to the NBTHK (English) Website with the Shinsa Application, and below is the current Shina Schedule for 2024 & 2025:

2024

• April Tokubetsu Juyo Shinsa Submission dates 4/1-4/3 on-line registration 3/1-3/25
• May  Kodogu Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 5/7-5/9 on-line registration 4/1-4/25
• June  Swords Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 6/3-6/5 on-line registration 5/1-5/25
• Aug.  Kodogu Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 8/5-8/7 on-line registration 7/1-7/25
• Sept. Swords Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 9/2-9/4 on-line registration 8/1-8/25
• Oct.  Juyo Shinsa Swords/Tosogu Submission dates 10/1-10/3 on-line registration 9/1-9/25
• Nov.  Kodogu Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 11/5-11/7 on-line registration 10/1-10/25
• Dec.  Swords Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 12/2-12/4 on-line registration 11/1-11/25

2025

• Feb.  Kodogu Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 2/3-2/5 on-line registration 1/1-1/25
• March Swords Hozon/Tokubetsu H. Submission dates 3/3-3/5 on-line registration 2/1-2/25

This WWII Japanese Tank Corps Sword (Gunto) was taken from a captured ‘Type 95 Ha-Go’ light tank on Guam Island. It was brought to the US as a ‘war souvenir’ by Leroy Joseph Miller, and recently purchased for a client of mine at Leroy Joseph Miller’s estate sale auction (Mar 28, 2024).

Leroy Joseph Miller was born February 26, 1926, and grew up in the Beaumont, Texas area.  During World War II, Leroy served in the U.S. Navy from January 1944 to January 1946, and was assigned to an amphibious operating base in the South Pacific.  Leroy passed away on October 17, 2023.

About the Sword

I rewrapped the tsuka in traditional Type 98 Gunto style. The blade is in near full polish, with a few minor scratches and several small chips, but overall it is in very good condition.  One of the things that caught my eye was the tag attached to the saya (see pictures below).

Sword Signature (Mei): Seki (no) ju Fukuda Sukemitsu – Made by Fukuda Sukemitsu in the town of Seki.  Shin-gunto koshirae with a Suguha temperline (hamon), a blade length of 23.75”.  All the stamped part numbers on saya, seppa, tsuba, and fuchi match ("08"). Note, this sword has an unusually small tsuka (8.25") and saya (26"), similar to other Japanese Air & Tank Corps swords. About the Smith Fukuda Tesshinsai was born on the 10th of October 1909. He became a Seki Tosho (Sword-smith) at the town of Seki in the Mino Province of Japan on 12th Sept 1941, changed his name to Fukuda Sukemitsu, and produced both gunto and gendiato until the end of the war.  After WWII, from 1945 until he retired in 1958, he produced both traditionally made Japanese  swords and high-end cutlery.

Interesting Sword Pics

The Tsuka & Over-all Koshirae

Let me know what you think....