Brian

The forum software has the ability to go full store mode if we ever want to try that, like it was want to market books, shirts, mugs...anything at all. Would be nice to have some stuff to sell, but obviously the logistics are considerable. But oneday we'll explore that further.

Modern generation...instant gratification and everything handed on a plate. You get used to it. Many of the people are innocent though...some sign up and forget their details to come back and say thanks. Some just assume it's implied. I try give them the benefit of the doubt. But yeah...it's common everywhere online nowadays.

Technically, they can get away with calling any of them Gendaito, since that just means they were made in the Gendai period. It's us collectors that decided that Gendaito are traditionally made. So they can get away with it. One of the tricks to watch out for.

Yeah, for privacy and safety, I removed the number. But feel free to DM it.

I know they can 3D print in metal/titanium now. I wonder how far away we are from 3D scanning the part of the blade below and above the habaki, printing it perfectly to size, and sending that to have a habaki made? I guess in a few years that will be a reality

Trouble would be shipping a sword in and out of Australia just for a habaki, and the hassle that would involve. Surely there must be a competent person in Australia? Maybe @Andrew Ickeringill has some advice?

Have made a change to bring that up one level. Subscriptions is a software forced description, but maybe it is a bit more useful/visible now? Will see how I can fine tune it more. Thanks.

The flags are an immediate give-away. The flags are a red flag?

Welcome Kevin, and thank you very much for the support. It helps a lot, as we are about to consider upgrading to the new software (A major upgrade) and the quote for that alone is over $500. Do you mean finding where to look at the Gold membership options? Yeah, currently by default it is under the STORE tab at the top. If you are saying that is too hidden, I'll look tomorrow if I can make it more obvious and findable. The link is here for anyone who wants to see the benefits: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/subscriptions/ I'll see if I can make it more intuitive. Thanks, Brian

Very wise words, and worth reading a few times.

Steve, These encyclopedias are literally a list of names, with some brief description of the smith and when he worked. No pics, no description of swords. Just a dictionary of all the smiths and who they were. useful, but not if you are only ever going to look up 5 or 6 smiths.

Don't think more details are going to change anything. They are real, but very entry level/basic/utilitarian tsuba, except for #5 which is cast and of minimal value. The rest are fairly generic, there isn't much you will find out about them except they are real tsuba of average quality

@Markus If you contact him directly, I am sure he will be able to sort you at at a good deal for the eBook. he runs frequent specials, and his books are a must have.

Both look very nice to me, hard pressed to choose. Good job there.

A tool. Maybe something meant for woodwork or...? Nice item though.

My impression when I was in Japan, was that the requirement to change ownership within 20 days was very, very seldom followed when swords are sold...mainly among entry level and mid level collectors I suspect. Am I wrong?

Chidori?

I don't see anything genuine Japanese here, and if it was, it's toast. Sorry, but really too far gone. But I suspect Chinese anyways.

Charlie, I think Colin is correct. The MOP isn't inlayed into the metal, the base is lacquer over the iron, and the MOP is put into that. Still maazing craftsmanship, but they are putting the designs on lacquer with a clear coating to smooth it out, and not cutting out the shapes in the metal and putting the MOP in.

Definitely a bad Chinese fake, never been in Japan. It would be illegal there.

You can't. And you shouldn't.

No, they are real. Just in poor condition. I believe the one is fitted with half a double habaki and you'll want to get that sorted sometime.

VERY

That nakago was severely messed with. Junk with an acid wash

Yeah, would go so well with a small cased pocket pistol. Really nice bag flask.