max_levy

Wow! Huge amounts of information and so fast! Cheers I really appreciate that and will let him know! Great to know the history is back with the sword! Thanks again!

Hi there, A friend of a colleague just came to me to ask if I could find more details on a Katana they have been given. I believe it to be a 20th century gunto katana in sirasaya with cat scratch copper habaki. The blade is so immaculate my knowledge isnt great enough to be sure if it's nihonto or machine made, it does have a nice bold hamon and is signed to the nakago, the marks of which can be seen below. Any information or translation assistance would be truly appreciated. MAny thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone, Im afraid my lack of knowledge has left me in a hole. A friend has shown me this sword, in a terrible state with no saya in over-painted Gunto mounts. I just wondered if anyone could help me translate the Mei? Many thanks for your help and shared knowledge. It also has a small stamp towards the tsuba. Max

That was quick and looks right! Thanks a lot!

Hi there, I am quite a novice and have come across a signed Katana. I've only managed to get a relatively poor image of the Mei which is two character. I apologise in advance for the little informaiton provided but any help in translation would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Max

yeah the tigers do have stripes, i think its as though the stripes have been etched away so they're a fraction of a millimetre lower than the rest of the body so its quite subtle really

Ah wow! Even if I don't know the name of the maker, just to able to say his name allowed brings a smile to my face Thanks a lot! Max

Hi guys, Not sure if I'm meant to put this here, I've recently acquired a Japanese bronze, I believe to be Meiji period. I know a lot of Swordsmith's turned to making bronzes after the ban on carrying swords, so wondered if anyone could help me identify the signature (I know this isn't Nihonto but as its translation I wasn't sure where else to put it!) Many thanks for any help! Thanks Max

Hmmm, Thanks for the thoughts, does anyone else have any views on the potential age? What do you think the purpose would have been for the copy john? for mounting on a sword or simply an early Japanese ''fake'' as such? Thanks Max

Thanks for that john, only just figured out I could add files like that, always been guessing at which code to put and hoping for the best! guess attachments are a safer bet if everyones running different browsers! Thanks for looking everyone! If you're going to disappoint me, do it gently!

I'm a bit confused, from my computer and phone the pics are embedded and viewable within the post :s

Hmmmm, I kinda hope not lol, was sold to me as Edo, which was a bit vague. What in your opinion makes it appear new? here's a side pic if it helps (not me holding it) Thanks for any advice

Hi everyone and thanks for having a look, I'm a bit of a newbie in my knowledge, but I have the passion! Just wanted any opinions on age or school, or terminology for techniques used on this Tsuba? As you can see from the images it is iron with, I think, a silver fukurin Many thanks in advance Max

Hopefully I'll be able to confirm in a week or so after a closer look! Will get some detailed images and dimensions!

That's really interesting! And explains it perfectly with the pics! I'll take a look when it comes! Thanks again

Thanks for all the input everyone. I'm looking forward to taking a closer look in the flesh. Im aware the hamon looks rather odd, how exactly are hamons 'drawn in'? I'm aware of acid etching and wire brushing etc to me it almost looks like the hamon on this blade is more glossy than the rest of the blade, maybe just the light? What process in your opinion has it been faked with? Thanks for any tips! Max

I'm glad this is stirring lots of interest and debate! I cant wait to get some better shots for you all!

Thanks for the post! far more encouraging than I anticipated! :D I was half expecting people to tell me to stop wasting my money lol

Hi everyone, I purchased (very cheaply as a lucky dip rather than an educated purchase) This katana blade in lacquer saya from an auction on the other side of the country to me. Sadly these were the only images they could provide me, combined with my limited knowledge is a bit of a disaster. I appreciate the photo's don't divulge much and its a poor condition mumei blade, but I wondered if any of you guys with more knowledge than me could shed your opinions this way i.e. age etc? As soon as it's in my possession I'll post some detailed images. Many thanks in advance for your time. Max Thanks again

Thanks for all the help guys, after arranging shipping via nightflight, apparently the owner of the consignment piece didn't want it sent to the uk. Absolutely gutted!!!! but at least I know what to Do next time! So a big thanks to you all!

Thanks Peter do you recommend declaring it as a sword? Apparently uk couriers won't handle swords? Thanks Max

its kinda what im beginning to think, im thinking just pay the extra £100 odd to post it declare the full value so if everything does go pear shaped they haven't got a leg to stand on. In theory it should be fine, its a 48cm nagasa, and the UK 2008 legislation is only relevant to 50cm + blades, so even if they want me to prove its antique, if it was a brand new piece of junk they shouldn't stop it!

I'm in the process of trying to import a sword from the US to the UK, and decided what route to take and wanted advice from anyone that's done it. Firstly, the option of Fedex, fully insured, or EMS insured to $650 which is 1/4 of the cost of the sword? Also, what and how to include with it when it comes, it's NBTHK papered, Im not sure how would i get the vendor to attach photocopies etc? any advice would be great, from anyone that'd done it on who to use and what to put! Many thanks Max

haha! That was my intention when I bought it! just need the swords to go on it now, damn money!