Brian

Keep in mind that most of us here do not read Japanese fluently, and therefore necessary script is fine, but if it is not related to the thread or necessary for explanation, please either think twice before posting it, or at least provide a translation so that we can at least improve our knowledge of Japanese. Thanks, Brian

Judging by how close the top kanji is to the serrations, I would expect that the serrations were added on later, after the blade was signed? What age is this kogatana according to the site? The style of those serrations is very advanced, and is the type seen on modern knives with the offset teeth, and would have been extremely effective. I am curious to know more about it, and the age estimate, as I would be suprised if there can be all that much age to the serrations? Brian

Oh my goodness. I am one that believes the fittings should never overshadow the blade, but that is mind-numbingly beautiful to me I am in love with that habaki. The work is stunning, and contrasts amazingly with the shakudo. Wow..just wow. Brian

Hi Kurosawa, Please could you sign your post with an initial and surname or vice versa, as it makes it easier to reply. Afraid I had to give up on the pics..as being on dial up was just too much for me. Perhaps you could resize the images and re-upload to imageshack and edit the post with the new links? You can still post the links to those larger ones if anyone wants to see them really large I suggest around 750 width max if possible. Regards, Brian

Works fine for me in Netscape. Hmm..not sure why you are getting the error. Have you tried replacing the %7E with the tilde? (~) Looked at the code on the page, and there is nothing there that should scramble anything Brian

Although I have not seen one in person, I have been led to believe that a well done mei removal by a qualified person, is almost unnoticeable. The patina is redone to the point that you should not be able to easily see that any work was done on the nakago at all. It just looks mumei. Can anyone else confirm this? Brian

The swords in question here are NCO shin gunto with the cast aluminium handles. There must be thousands of regular shin gunto with older family blades, and they are definitely not all that uncommon. As for the serial numbers..these numbers on the tsuba, tsuka and seppa are assembly numbers, not serial numbers. They are to keep the whole lot together during assembly when they have been hand fitted. There are certainly no lists anywhere of any swords and to whom they have been issued to my knowledge. Brian

Thanks to the 2 users who picked that up and warned me. I have deleted the link and uploaded the image directly. Can anyone verify if that was a legitimate imageshack page, or a spoofed site? The link was img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tsubaandbladedi2.jpg (deleted the http to make it non-clickable) Brian

Well..if it was still for sale this morning..and has been for sale for a few weeks, then I would maybe like to think that we have some serious lurkers here with serious interests and money KM..maybe you should email Toraba and ask for your commission...LOL Brian

Brian

Ron, Try these 3: http://www.sanmei.com/shop_e/enter.html (under books) http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Cho- ... dZViewItem http://www.namikawa-ltd.co.jp/cgi-bin/list_e.cgi Regards, Brian

Yes..those are very interesting, and I agree that the quality does look very good. Certainly must be for a dedication blade, and not a normal sword intended for use? I wonder like Ron if they are intended for O-dachi as discussed currently in the General section? Anyone able to read the auction and give us a summary? Brian

Vitali, That's the one you have for sale on your website at $180? http://www.bushiart.com/shop/default.as ... Name=Tsuba Some nice items there at what looks like fair prices to me..including that sukashi basketweave tsuba I posted earlier at $350. Keep the fretwork items comming all..loving most of these Brian

Thanks Pete..all good info. And Rich is 100% correct....eBay is only getting worse when it comes to fakes. Most of us will still browse there..but expect to get nailed a few times if you do shop there regularly. If your seller does guarantee it is genuine, or real ivory etc...then he should have no problem offering you a money back guarantee if it turns out to be fake. If he won't...then be wary. Actually...be wary anyways..all the time :D I know less then nothing about netsuke, so I stay away from them. The imitation stuff is just too easy to do in the East..and hard to spot. Brian

KM, All I could find at short notice is from this page: http://www.knives.com/tsuba.html Of course I don't recommend the use of mercury nowdays :? Brian

Ken, That'll teach you to check in with the forum too infrequently :D When I checked the link the next day, it was still up, but already reserved, so someone was fast on the trigger. Maybe there are mantis spies here on the forum Maybe Aoi will send you the pic for your archives if you ask? Brian

I would have chosen that number for you even before you sent it Milt :D - B -

Dirk, Great fittings! I especially like that fuchi/kashira. I think those stylised clouds design might also make for an interesting theme...see them quite often. Not quite on topic..but since the keyfret design was linked to early basketweave patterns, I found this online today: (Not quite showing the manji, but you can see how it would evolve from the basketweave as shown earlier) Brian

John, The uptake is a bit slow, but thanks to those that have taken tickets. Yep...if you don't get a reply..then you do have my thanks..and your ticket numbers have been assigned as requested. If no numbers are requested via the payment or subsequent email..then I will just assign the next available numbers in numerical order. Your specific numbers are received and allocated Still lots of time until Dec 31st...and it is completely voluntary so I won't be nagging anyone (too much :D ) Regards, Brian Btw...as pointed out via email....New Years' Day 2006 is incorrect. The drawing date is the 1st of January 2007 of course.

Stephen, It may be that the pm inbox quota was set too low, and the inboxes were considered full. I have upped the limits, so there should be plenty of space in the inboxes. Please remember to empty the old messages out of both inbox and sent items occasionally. Sorry for the inconvenience. If anyone runs out of space or has problems with uploads or pm inboxes..please feel free to let me know and hopefully I'll be able to sort it out. Regards, Brian PS - Hoping to purchase a really decent amount of webspace and bandwidth soon..so all the more reason to buy one or more Tsuba raffle tickets and help contribute Will be able to set large upload and pm quotas then.

Thanks Stephen, great scans? and very helpful. From the Polish 100 tsuba book? I must still get it. Looks like good photos, but sparce on the info. I like the way they are done, and have been considering picking that one up if it comes up for sale again. I wonder what era these are from. Mid to late Edo? Brian

Mr Pedersen, Thank you for those comments. I couldn't help but notice that you list your location as Japan, and your occupation as polisher. I am sure I speak for everyone here when I say it is very interesting to have a Tôgishi on the forum, and if you are willing...I am sure we would love to hear a bit about your background etc. Are you currently apprenticed to one of the known togishi, and how long have you been studying in Japan? Would be great to get more insight into the world of polishing in Japan..especially from a Western point of view. Regards, Brian

Was just watching this one that failed to sell recently, and thought it looked to my novice eyes to be a bit unusual. The edges are not just folded over...it appears to be this way both sides? I find it quite interesting...but cannot say what appeals to me. The patina and overal look of the metal doesn't seem to be too good, but it does have something. Looks a bit rough and unrefined though? Just wondering if anyone could enlighten this tosogu novice with any comments? Brian

Guido, Thanks for that excellent article. I added it to the new Archives section linked above the forum if you don't mind. Brian

Hi Carlo, I think the problem is that many of the sites are still under copyright or have been taken down due to copyright violations. The best we can do is save them for ourselves and occasionally share some of the info that they contained. I know some of the members seem very good at saving pages that they use a lot, and Rich has been working on possibly hosting all of Jim's pages again once he has permission. A very useful page is here : http://www.archive.org/index.php It will pull up archived versions of pages that have long since disappeared. Well worth bookmarking...use the waybackmachine. Brian