tokashikibob

If anyone setting up at the show has a WW2 Navy & a basic traditional saya / 1 Naval Menuki for sale I'll be looking for parts to complete a couple swords. Best regards, Bob

I think the lower to mid pieces are easier to sell and not lose money if you buy them right. High end I am not too sure of.

Those Those look like pretty nice nihonto with nice clean blades for under 900 George! I have a weak heart for things that need work, so a rusty blade always has a chance with me. I buy and flip a lot of things and things get packed away behind militaris, hi-fi's tape decks, lamps, chairs and everything else that's antique and collectable. There are quite a few nutters like me in the area with too much to deal with.

Wondering about current make up of the NMB in regards to the percentages of Volume verses quality collectors? It has been known fact that in the Nihonto collecting circle, enthusiasts often move from a collection of many blades bought over many years to just a few high quality/value pieces. I can’t seem to do that, the more the merrier. I like looking at each one. Sometimes forgetting blades that are out of the way and then finding them is just as good as buying a new one. I’m not sure I’d want to be the caretaker of Juyo blades and the high responsibility that those entail. What say you?

Mark, can you give details about the Chicago show for planning purposes? Best regards, Bob

Gents, Still can't even figure out a nimei, might have to move on to collecting Pokemon cards. I come up with Hiro Ryu or Hiro Ichi Shi. Neither sounds right. What say you? Best regards, Bob

Thanks for posting, I like looking at the wild side of nihonto!

Thanks for the opinions guys, I'll do a little homework on Yoshimichi and visit when I am out that way for a sale or auction, won't take time off to make the trip as a special event.

Who collects WW2 and said he had a nice pilot sword he'd trade for one of my high end WW2 firearms. Looks like he bought it from one of the big ebay sellers, however the koshirae does look interesting. Any expert opinions? Bruce what do you think? Haven't made any trades yet but not sure how motivated I should be to drive 2 hours to look at it. Don't think it would come cheap from the conversation. Best regards, Bob

Great buy, you can sell the parts for more than $300 and keep the blade for free. Not sure what 300 pounds buys in England but $300 bucks in the U.S. of A is a family dinner at McDonalds and the gas to get you there and back.

Hi Mike, here's a pic of the one I am working with

Looking for a Navy menuki if anyone has one laying around. I have a handle rewrap project and have one menuki but need the other to get the project started. Best regards, Bob

Sorry to hear about your father Rick. That is a very good sword in my opinion, very old and still carries length. Often old blades have been really shortened too a much smaller size over the years. Yours has not. Did your Grandfather acquire it in occupied Japan?

Great looking sword, a fine addition to any collection of Nihonto.

THanks for the info guys, and I will let him know. How you been Devil Dog? Might need to check your reserve status as the Corps is getting ready here at Lejeune! If anyone is interested in it let me know and I'll put you both in contact. Best regards, Bob

A friend of mine sent me pics this morning of a tsuba he bought at his local flea. Guessing under $100. I told him I'd post it up for the pros to comment on. It does not look anything like Juyo to me but tsuba's are a tricky business. Best regards, Bob

Thanks for the taking the time to translate for me Steve! Appreciate it!

Thanks, Jacques! The chiseler for the gimei had better looking kanji than Oya himself!

Got a call from the bunker downtown to look at a couple swords that dropped in. One was a common army parade, but the beat up wak may be a legit Oya Kunisada. Mei kinda looks like a couple in Sesko's meikan from the early 1630's. Anyway who knows. The blade under all the age staining looks to be flaw free. Tsuba is signed but cannot make heads or tails from the signature or if it is noteworthy in any tsuba characteristic collectors notice. Thanks for looking! Best regards, Bob

Now that is a sword! Please post some before pics of the blade. Is the story interesting on how you acquired it?

Jean, thanks for the tip! I did look at it with 10x headset on and most if not all is "spider rust" I haven't seen this before, but I usually buy blades with much more rust and discoloration!

Nihontophiles, I ended up with this sword, here are a few closeups of Nagahide's work for future people looking up this smith's work. Sword is machi-okuri for WW2 mounts. Forging is interesting with interesting metallurgy and flaws. The second pics shows these cloudy areas which I am unsure of it being a forging characterics or some sort of age stain?

1895.] A Japanese Sword-Song. 795 A Japanese SWORD-SONG. “ Loyalty to m y lord, and vengeance upon m y lord’s slayer.” — Old Japanese Motto. (Hush , listen — my Soul, my Sword !) Is he near, the Fox that skulks And kills in the dark, unseen ? Shall we, too, hide and strike In the dark a foe unclean ? Brave deeds are done in the day. Sun God, give me steel for sight, War God, give me arm of steel To avenge the deed of night. (His life for life of my lord.) (Hush, listen — my Soul, my Sword !) Not molten with toil of days Was the steel of your fashioning, But with labor of strenuous years, And the steel was a living thing. Through your eager, thirsting veins The red drops hissing ran, Pure blood of a fiery Soul, Proud spirit of a Man. (His life for life of my lord.) (Hush, listen — my Soul, my Sword !) You writhe in my grasp, my Own — He is near, the Fox we snare ! You lift your quivering length, One moment — one chance — if he dare ! The blood that is in you gleams Wicked red, with flashes of light —- Now, Sword, my Soul, cleave clean ! Revenge is new life, new sight! (His life for life of my lord.) (Hush, listen — my Soul, my Sword !) Am I, too, wounded to death ? What matter ? My foot can spurn His body, the Fox that skulked, That killed in the dark. I earn Remembrance for loyal love, For vengeance unto the death — And this is a glorious way For a man to yield his breath. (His life for life of my lord.) Mary Stockton Hunter.

Very healthy blade with better than average fittings, I would be happy to own it! Good candidate for submission for papers down the road.