"With out the proper knowledge you are just searching in the dark, using your wallet as a flashlight" Mike Duffy
The first place to start in learning about
Japanese swords and developing an understanding of this unique art, is by reading
some of the back ground and history. Here are three books that I strongly
recommend every sword collector should have and read:
The Connoisseurs
Book of Japanese Swords by Kokan Nagayama
This
book discusses the specific details of
craftsmanship in the main schools of sword making, and how it varied regionally
and during different time periods. It lists the important smiths of each school
and period.
Clic
on the picture to the right for more details or to order:
The Japanese Sword by Kanzan Sato
This
book explains the historical evolution of
the Japanese sword and how changes in the tactics of warfare affected the shape
and production of the sword.
Clic
on the picture to the right for more details or to order:
The Craft of the Japanese Sword by Leon and Hiroko Kapp, Yoshindo
Yoshihara
An in depth explanation with photos of how a Japanese sword is made along with the craftsmen who make the fittings, such as the scabbard and the sword guard.
Clic
on the picture to the right for more details or to order:
The following books are important for those collectors who are serious and plan on buying swords. You will be far better off spending your initial money on books rather than wasting it buying trash on e-bay.
Nihonto Jiten By Fujishiro along with Translations by Harry
Watson
This is One of the standard Japanese reference books which collectors refer to
as "Fujishiro's". It is a listing of about 5,000 smiths with their
ranking and a description of their work along with oshigata of their signatures.
It is in two volumes, one on Koto smiths and the other on Shinto. Unfortunately
this important set is out of print and you have to find someone who will part
with their set.
Nihonto Koza as translated by Harry Watson Translation of a Japanese reference that details specific schools of smiths and the individual smiths in those schools, along with examples of their signatures. Available from AFU Research
Swords and Sword Fittings in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston by Morihiro Ogawa This is a beautiful catalog of some of the more important swords and fittings from the museums collection. Outstanding photographs and descriptions in English.
Japanese Swordsmiths by Wm Hawley This is a listing and ranking of most of the Japanese Sword smiths that are known. There are some mistakes and duplications, but this is the best you will find in English. it is available on the Hawley website: http://www.wmhawley.com/products/books/hjs.php
I currently have a lot of books and sword journals that I am clearing out of my library as it has become to large. Here are a few, please inquire if you are looking for a specific book.
100 Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton Silk hardbound with slipcover in a hard slipcase price $125.00