Ed

YOU HAVE TO ADMIT IT IS REASONABLY PRICED. :lol:

Hi guys, I can not inform you of the laws per se. However, by importing Nihonto you are considered an Art collector and these are Art Swords or Art Objects. There must be allowances in their laws for collectors. I say this due to the fact that I have sold and shipped a number of nihonto to the Netherlands. In fact I have shipped to most every European country as well as to Taiwan, Korea and China. Contact the European Branch of the NBTHK, perhaps they can provide specifics on laws. For one of the best places on planet earth to purchase your next Nihonto or Tosogu, go to: http://yakiba.com/

AM, I have not been able to view the photos. I get a "currently unavailable" message ?? If you took it to SF and one of the club memembers gave you this info, then you probably have as much as you will get without sending it to shinsa. You will have to decide whether or not it is worth it. It was not uncommon for swords not to be signed at all, or to have lost their signatures due to being shortened. Yours has been shortened (suriage). Swords are today generally catagorized into three main groups according to their approx. length, Katana (>24") or, Wakizashi (12 - 24"), and Tanto (<12"). O-Wakizashi (long wakizashi) is a sword which is from 1 shaku, 7 sun to 1 shaku, 9 sun, 9.999 bu or just under 2 shaku. That's 50.51cm or 20.28" to 60.60cm or 23.86". This should make things clear as mud.

... this one has been discussed. It is as Rich stated a very fine representative work. The price is not an incredible one in regards to incredible tsuba. However, this particular piece seems to be somewhat overpriced, simply due to the fact that it has not sold. It has been on this site for some time. Most high end pieces go quickly when they are made available. As far as what turns you on, is simply personal preference. You have heard the old saying, "One man's trash is another's treasure."

Carlo, NATA TRANSLATES LOOSELY AS HATCHET. NATA WERE A TOOL USED FOR TRIMMING PLANTS AND SUCH, SIMILAR TO THE KAMA. HOWEVER, THEIR OWNERSHIP WAS RESTRICTED TO THE DAIMYO FAMILIES. PHOTOS OF THE ONE YOU POSTED, CAN BE FOUND IN THE GALLERY SECTION OF MY WEB SITE: YAKIBA.COM http://yakiba.com/nata.htm

Hey Rich, Danny has a great site, but the shibayama koshirae is on my site. :lol: So is the Nata on one of the other posts. Here is a photo of tortoise shell used for the Hatome on a shirasaya. Ed

Rod, I suspected your homeowners would cover it. Glad it worked out. Brian, I was told when inquiring about EMS at the USPS that once GP left the US, it was EMS. But, I have been given incorrect info there, so I wouldn't swear to it. Also, I had not seen the other restrictions you listed, good to know. Grey, No offense taken. I do understand your point.

I resent the "shuck and Jive" slur, as it is indicative of something dishonest. Using the terms "Antique Japanese Art", "Antique Japanese artifact" or "Antique Nihonto" is not dishonest. These terms are commonly accepted within the world of Art and Nihonto. It is comments such as these which have led so many to no longer participate here. Brian, EMS is USPS Global Priority. Rod, I agree that your best bet for insurance is a private source. I have had no dealings with the company mentioned in the other post. Your homeowners insurance company may offer a "rider" for specialty items. If your item is lost in transit with any of the major shippers, you bear the burden of proof in regards to collecting any insurance claim. I'm betting they will "shuck and Jive" when it comes to paying you. I feel that the problem is related to UPS store employees who are not knowledgable in regards to the policies. Here is the policy taken from the UPS web site, perhaps you can use it for your benefit. The following articles are not accepted for transportation by UPS to countries outside the United States: * Animal products, nondomesticated * Cash * Corpses * Firearms * Furs * Human Remains * Industrial Diamonds * Ivory * Letters of Credit Shipments * Live Animals * Pornographic Materials * Precious Stones * Postage Stamps It is the shipper’s responsibility to comply with current government regulations or laws applicable in each country. You don't see swords or antiques included. Antique Nihonto or swords should be covered as well as accepted for shipment, according to this policy. If you tell them it is a sword or weapon, they won't accept it. At least not in every instance I am aware of or have been involved in. UPS ships edged weapons all of the time. I sell a few of the Paul Chen training swords, which are nothing more than weapons as they hold no artistic value. CAS Iberia ships them all (thousands) through UPS. After trying the honest "antique sword" approach and being denied, I took an unopened UPS box of PC swords to the local UPS store and had the owner open it. He was lost for words. Bottom Line: Make your own decisions. Good luck.

Hey Rod, You are correct, USPS only insures up to $5000 USD for international shipments. Also, they do not offer registered mail service internationally. Fed-ex will not insure international shipments for over $500 USD. UPS is your only option. They will insure your sword for up to $50,000 USD. See Link below, click on "calculate time and cost". However, please note if you tell them it is a sword or weapon, they will not accept it. I always use the terms "Antique Japanese Art", "Antique Japanese artifact" or "Antique Nihonto". When the counter attendant asks, "what is that" or "can you be more specific", my answer is "It is a style of Japanese Art Work". PS: How did the demo go ? http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/index.jsx

1024 x 768, works fine. color blue / white.

Moriyama, Thank you for the information, it was a big help. I have seen information on Arikoto as a sword smith, but nothing on his poetry works. Again my thanks. Ed

..NEEDED. I recently aquired a small wakizashi with what appears to be a poem or prayer engraved on both sides of the blade. It is done in a mixture of hirogana and kanji. I have translated it (I think correctly), but have no idea what it means or relates to. The only information I have is that it was said to be made by a court noble named Arihira. Supposedly he was a poet who worked exclusively for the emperor, and whose hobby was making swords. Any ideas ??

Peter, Where did you hear of this show? I have never heard of it. Is it on dvd in Japan? I keep watching this post for an answer.

Guido, I appreciate your input. If there is no legal definition, then it is just a matter of opinion. And we all know what they say about opinions!

10-4. Milt is right, the top one looks ok. The second is definate paperweight, chinese paperweight. Ed

"Then, how many years a new sword can be called Shinsakuto? I really do not know, 1 year, 2 year, or more...? " Moriyama san, good question. I agree that it doesn't seem that it would be called shinsakuto after 20 years??? Perhaps next time you visit the NBTHK you could ask this question and get clarification. It would be good knowledge to have. "And I also think that even if the sword is young enough say 1 year old, it is not called Shinsakuto when it is secondhand." I would tend to disagree with this statement. If the sword was made last year and purchased by myself, then sold to you this year, I would still think it a shinsakuto. Just my worthless opinion. EdM

They have been working on this web site for quite some time. The kodogu sections has many wonderful pieces. They hold one of the largest collections of Nihonto in the western world, sadly they rarely allow this collection to be seen. Many of the Compton pieces are there. It looks as though they are slowly adding a few nihonto pictures. A good friend visited and viewed this collection twice with Junji Honma. He was a friend of Compton as well, and states the swords were donated for the public to enjoy. It infuriates him that this has never been done, and this great collection sits in a basement all but forgotten. Everyone in the Nihonto community should write and ask that this collection be put on permanent display and perhaps on the web site as well. Ed M.

That is a good question. The definitions are quite similar. GENDAI: nowadays (a-no), modern times, present-day. SHINSAKU: new work, new production. It can also mean prosperity. Broken down even further: GEN: original (prefix) DAI: title, subject, theme, topic TO: sword SHIN: new, genuineness. SAKU: work or made (we know this to translate into "made this"). TO: sword I too, as Rich Stein stated above, had always heard that the term Gendaito was used from the end of Shinshinto (1867) until post war production re-emerged in the early 1950's. A couple of years ago I saw in Nagayama's book where the charts show "Gendaito" from 1867 thru Heisei 1989-. The books definition states, SHINSAKUTO: Contemporary swords made by smith's who are still living. I suppose Shinsakuto are technically Gendaito, but not vise versa. Shinsakuto are apparently designated as Gendaito when the smith dies. Markus was right on track. Ed M.

AUGUST 17 - 20, 2006 THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Japanese SWORD CLUB WILL HOST THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL TOKEN KAI AT THE SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT MARRIOTT HOTEL. NBTHK SWORD (BIZEN ICHIMONJI) DISPLAY AND LECTURE. NBTHK TSUBA DISPLAY AND LECTURE. NTHK JIDAI KOSHIRAE DISPLAY. THOUSAND'S OF SQUARE FEET OF WALL TO WALL EXHIBITORS. THOUSANDS OF SWORDS, FITTINGS AND RELATED ART. THIS AND SO MUCH MORE, BE THERE!!

Brian, Congratulations on this new endeavor. While these are "Big Shoes", I am sure you will do a great job, as have those who came before you. I am sorry to see Rich T step down, he has been a fantastic resource to the Nihonto Community. His tireless and dedicated service to this board are a tribute to his name. But more than that he is just an all around good guy. Thanks Rich. In closing, I leave one word for all: GANBATTE !!! Ed M.