Brian

What's your "extra special, NMB-only" BIN price on that one Milt? Brian

Yep..Jinsoo is a highly respected member of the Nihonto community. But as Stephen said, last we heard he moved to Korea and dropped out of the scene, then posted a single message a long time ago saying hi, and he was getting his site up and running, and then nothing again for a year. Make sure you are able to get hold of him and that it is indeed him. If so, he's a knowledgeable and decent guy. Would be very interested in hearing if he is active again. Brian

I hardly call possibly saving interested members a few $1000 that were unaware of the gimei a "post of death" :lol: :D It's a good service. Now how do we get a representative group of NMB members into those Sothebys and Christies auctions? Brian

James, I have had this happen before, and I'm afraid that it seems that this is the truth. Canada has very high shipping rates, and I think we are often spoiled by the USA postage rates which are very reasonable. EMS and Priority International from the USA get a sword anywhere for around $40 to $75, but other countries don't have EMS and it often goes over $125 for a sword (Japan is ok too I think) Purolator and the other methods from Canada are going to be around that rate imho. Just lucky that the USA is still cheap compared to other places. Regards, Brian

Moriyama san also pm'ed me his doubts and pointed here: http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT111197.htm Sadakazu was indeed meticulous with his mei, and I would have to agree with Ford and Moriyama san. I guess it was a long shot anyways to find a shoshin sleeper like this Nice polish still, and I would love to see the mei on the f/k. I revise my opinion in that it is gimei, but someone put some money into it with polish and fittings. Am sure we will have some other comparisson mei soon to verify. Can't say the NMB aren't on top of things Brian

I haven't checked the mei yet to see if it is gimei, but I hope someone will do that and let us know if this one is as good as it seems? Will try and check it myself a bit later when I get a chance. Brian

Well..i would like to see it to go right here to my home :lol: Wow. Nice one. Who was the guy that said it read Bishu Osafune Sukesada Hmm....nice in polish and great condition. How on earth do militaria dealers end up with good stuff like this? Brian

Bojan, While ware are common, I think it would be unusual to see one running the entire length of the sword, as that would indicate pure masame hada, and the grain structure should follow this. Is it possible that the construction method is one of the other methods such as honsanmai or warihatetsu etc (see http://www.tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/d ... sword.html which I think is copied from Dr Stein's site?) and you are seeing the join line between the shingane/kawagane/hagane? Based on the fact that you say this is a shinshinto, maybe they were using different construction methods? Just a thought, since long ware are sometimes seen, but usually not as long as you describe. It is it indeed a ware, then I don't think it would be fatal, but definitely undesirable and espcially so on such a late sword. Maybe a fairly unskilled smith? Brian

Was thinking about this in bed this morning. Attention Milt, Grey, Barry etc.. Don't you think that this would make a great article for the JSSUS newsletter? "Is my sword worth polishing?" This is such a common question, and the answer could certainly make for a great article. There are all kinds of points such as "Is it sentimental" "Can it teach me something" "Will it raise the value" and "Is it necessary" I think the article could be very informative. Basically there isn't a finite answer. I often see it like adding an expensive sound system to your car or redoing a room in your house. Often you won't recover the cost when you sell, but you do it for your own enjoyment. And as Grey mentioned, it is sometimes not just a question of restoration and is not always better. Hope this raises a spark in someone, and they do the article (unless it has been done before?) Regards, Brian

Anne, In this case they are talking about the one in the control sample posted. It is a joint work, whereas yours is (hopefully) by the one in the left side of the pic (each smith signed one side of that example sword) Regards, Brian

Yep, they are known fraudsters. Total criminals. I'll repeat their name.. armor8 so that anyone searching for info sees this. There is more on them somewhere here on the NMB. Brian

Ah..I get it now. Antelope = Ante = Auntie I think Anne is less confusing I too have been told many times that the tsuka when properly wrapped might be too tight to take the nakago after. Best to have the sword with it, although maybe some tsukamakishi might make up a form to replace the nakago. We have a good post on this previously at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1561 including some good info from Keith. Love the way the NMB search fuunction is becoming an encyclopedia of many Nihonto subjects Brian

Max and Martin are correct, it is common practice to use "signed by xxx" (implying shoshin) and "inscribed xxx" or "ascribed to xxx" (implying gimei or questionable) Not a rule though, but it is the right way to do it. However when a sword doesn't have papers, I would be wary of any of those descriptions anyways. Don't expect swords at auction to be any different from those you find at the dealers. I am sure Darcy and others will be able to give more input on this. Brian

Ok..I know I am guilty of starting it (Milt...puns and subtlety work wonders, you should try it! ) but let's try and steer this one back on track now. Not sure if any more can be said about dai-sho-sho though. :lol: Brian

Not to promote Ford's work or anything, but I did want to say how impressed I was when checking out a recent Nihonto kanji Pages link to the NBTHK 2005 Forging Competition results, and noticed way down at the bottom among the Chokin (chasing) Nyusen awards (accepted for competition) a solitary Western name http://www.tousyoukai.jp/english/17th_e.shtml Nice to see you listed there Ford, I can only imagine how hard it must be to compete with local Japanese on their home ground and be accepted among them. Regards, Brian

Hi Anne, I assume you have also checked out Ford's own excellent page on Japanese metalwork at http://www.followingtheironbrush.org/index.php ? I am pretty sure it is the leading resource on the actual processes, and they have detailed step by step tutorials. I am sure nanako is one of their specialities and they will have your technique refined in no time. I look forward to seeing the pics of the sword, and am sure we will do our best to assist where we can. Regards, Brian

I agree. Many of us have that same fantasy of a threesome. Brian

I've also received a few emails from Xuan, elaborating more on the auctions and asking if he could be reinstated here, and apologising for the lack of judgement in his prior posts. I am not vouching for him, but I feel that a seller who is prepared to give his address, his contact details at the university, and allows someone to come and see the tsuba personally is probably above board. And I am sure that any custom photos of the sword when it arrives would be sent. Yes, it is all different and odd, but I would be more hesitant if he wasn't in the USA and contactable. I believe caution is advised as mentioned, but for the sake of a possible real charity donation and a good cause, perhaps we can wait and see what happens with the auctions and decide from there. He has also promised to post scans of the actual charity donation slips once they are done. As said before..odd, but possibly still genuine and with the right intentions. I think also that payments done through the charity function on eBay are automatically sent to the charity itself via the eBay system. Brian

Yep..that's what I suspected. I would think that if it was done, then probably by a modern collector making up a (what would you call it anyways? :?) set for himself...or if there were any earlier, then probably by a wealthy merchant who didn't carry them, but just wanted to own them. That's a big if of course. Either way, I don't think it is too realistic, and the OP should be looking for a daisho to remain historically correct. Brian

Lawrence, Tachi were usually paired with a tanto, or katana with wakizashi. I am sure there are matching sets of all 3 out there somewhere, but they would be unusual, and extremely rare/expensive. I haven't seen one myself. Brian

Piers, If it's too much, how about you only attempt every second kanji character, and we'll ask the next guy to do the ones inbetween? Sorry, couldn't resist. I can't even attempt them, way beyond my level. Brian

Personally I like the look of the sword, and I expect it is well within the abilities of a good polisher. The rust pits don't seem as bad as many I have seen removed, but of course only a polisher would be able to tell you more. However this one looks like it will be very nice after a polish (length is going to cost quite a bit to polish though) but I would say it is a very good candidate. Brian

Valid points, which is why my reference to "good lots" wasn't based on the catalog descriptions,, but the descriptions by Clive Sinclair who I am sure is qualified to comment. Of course anyone bidding would have to attend and see for themselves, but I maintain that whilst some of the lots weren't superb, there were good swords that went for lower than they should have. This is based on opinions of those that did attend. No point debating this, as we all agree that the market is down, and good swords don't go for what they should. I am sure there are many factors causing this, but remember that Nihonto are still a bargain in the art world. Brian

Maybe, maybe not. Remember I snipe..just like you. Only I am good at it. Brian

Ok..so I know this one is not Nihonto related at all, but since it happened in Japan...and is such a cute story, I just couldn't resist Please forgive my hugely off-topic for once Brian