tokashikibob

Fellas, Thank you very much for all the input on both Tsuba. Tsuba study is just about as difficult and diverse as the study of blades enough to make the eyes water in front of the computer or waking up with a black and white referance book next to you in the sack. If I find some time at home I'll do a Jim Gilbert on the stove to try and get rid of the old tag mark. The Coppery one I think looks nice held in hand, and does not seem to be a fake, but what do I know. Hopefully I can get to CHicago next year and trade some tsuba's for a decent gunto. Best Regards, Bob

Gentlemen, I have gotten a hold of a few tsuba recently two of the more interesting are these. My question is am I way off base thinking that the samurai themed piece can be labeled Ko-Nara? Very detailed piece, unfortunately the samurai's face has been rubbed. Is this something that may be repaired? The brassy one I could not find anything as a comparable in my few books or on any of tsuba sale/reference sites. Copper rim with gold wash, but the tsuba is a odd metal brassy mix I guess. Great detail, but also bird's breast has been rubbed a bit. Thanks in advance for any comments and additional information of these tsuba. Best Regards, Bob P.S Any ideas on how to get the ancient label goo off? It's on there.

Gentlemen, Thank you everyone for the supporting words. I bought these swords breaking one of my rules of seeing the item beforehand. But they looked good in the low res photo's I saw. When I got them they were just blades no koshirae, there were some clues to being fakes when held in hand but they were well made fakes artifically aged and easy to create illusions to a amateur. They were a excellent learning tool, but I sent them back to the antique shop with the link from this board for a refund, out some shipping $. Since I am a little gunshy, well.... nihonto shy nowdays, I handled this mumei tanto recently, blade looks solid and defect free, no describable hada to mention, has scratches and a sandpaper swipe. I like it as it's complete piece with no major issues. Best Regards, Bob

Gentlemen, As always thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and information. It was dissappointing and sobering. Lesson(s) learned. Same old story much like Nazi helmets, duck decoys, art glass, etc. Best Regards, Bob

Mumei Hada pics

Gentlemen, Acquired a couple of neglected blades recently. One is a mumei short katana with some neat hada but also some forging issues. The other which I thought was in all probability a showto or Iaido piece, may be something else. What do you think? Is it Kansei era? I read Yuki Yama Da but don't know the last two. It's a massive piece 47 inches total with 38 inch cutting length. As always thanks for taking the time! Best Regards, Bob

Thank you Gents, I figured that would be the outcome.

Gents, Doing some homework this morning during a break, a Gunto koshirae blade with some very light rust and blemishes may be offered for sale in the future. I'm wondering what you think about the Gimei possiblities considering the chisling style is off via the pictures, and the reference thread below. How common was it to change styles? I was taught here that my last purchase (the Kasama Shigetsugu) changed his signature. Best Regards, Bob http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2742&p=19440&hilit=shoji+jiro#p19440

Wow, that is quite a looker! I bet you can spend quite a lot of time in study on that tanto. Congrats, Bob

Thanks fellas, that was a poor stamping just wanted to make sure I wasn't letting something walk that was worth saving.

Gentlemen, An odd piece here that has been chromed, looks like a cut down older blade but has a arsenal stamp of some kind. Why? Also, Would a togishi be able to put this right if warrented? Have not got it yet but thinking about it for the right price. Best Regards, Bob

Thank you John, that makes sense. Not a fatal flaw I would think, but not good news. I'll have to see what it looks like in hand. Best regards, Bob

Gentlemen, Have not gone to see this one yet, but the picture(s) show weird spots on the hamon, shingane? Looks to be recently polished. Does the mei look legit? Best Regards, Bob

Thanks for the tips Barry, they should clean up nice!

Gentlemen, I won these dragon menuki on ebay recently and would like to use them on either a Kabun Wakazashi or katana that need fittings and tsuka repair. Is there a proper way to clean the menuki? Dish soap and toothbrush? Best Regards, Bob

Thanks for the info Mark, and by the way tremendous job on the Chicago show! I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for next years event. I did not get to spend as much time at the show as I wanted to but was one of the collectors doing tsuka wrapping for a fee? Best Regards, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com

Fellas, Looking at this sword tomorrow along with a couple Arisaka rifles. What do you think? Meiji era? There was a exact comp on the Sword forum that R. Stein said was probably Showa. Looks too old for that, but hey I am no expert. Did they make machine made blades back before 1900? Best regards, Bob

Any ideas Gentlemen on why it was defaced? Did the Japanese Officer snatch the sword somehow and did not want the "made for" inscription? I can't see any other reason why. Best Regards, Bob

Chris, Here are a couple of better shots of the date side. Hopefully it makes some sense. Best Regards, Bob

Thanks for all the feedback on the flea market find! 2014 has to be my lucky year on the Chinese calender as my 3 swords for the year have all been remarkable finds for a novice. My improving skillset in being able to spot these art swords at various auctions and ads are due in large part to you men of this board as you can earn a online master's degree in Nihonto right here! Writing down the name after Chris translated it, I didn't get to look up information until late at night when I pulled Clive Sinclaire's Nihonto for novices book and saw 3 or 4 entries in the index. Wow, hard to believe the same hands that made this sword made presentation blades for Yamamoto and even Hitler! In regards to the Nakano, I don't see any numbers on date side, as the characters look complex but hard to read, and faint, almost like something you see on a koto blade that is worn, it also looks to be chiseled by a different hand (assistant?). A couple other points where that the habaki / handle was stuck shut by old goo which was all around it and under it. I hope it was not blood but that is what it seemed like....I do not need another ghost problem which was a terrible ordeal in the past but seems to have abated. The handle is in solid shape, only thing there is that it is heavily soiled, so maybe this sword saw many front line campaigns or it was passed around the motor pool in 1945. After I talk to Grandpa those questions should be answered. As far as the blade goes it is free of any defects, and just needs easy polish. Best Regards, Bob

As always, Thanks Chris! I'll start doing some reading in my books then the net!

Not your typical flea market find; I set up at the Raleigh this past weekend selling all the estate sale/auction finds I could not sell locally doing my picking, plus garage debris, toys, and even beanie babies. Fortunately, at the last minute I decided to make up a couple of flyers "I buy war relics". Under the hot sun as I stand baking a nice young man with 2 young children who states he may want to sell his Grandfathers WW2 trophy. He says that his Grandpa had this sword surrendered to him. Very interested, I tell him to bring it by as I'll be here all weekend and sure enough he does return. " Wow, love the chain....., you say you've never had the handle off?", I tell him if there is no arsenal mark it's a nice WW2 sword for any collector. He also tells me that Grandpa is still alive and coming back from Florida next week, I pose a question about this flea market deal, to make sure that Grandpa won't get upset, and if not do you think he'd do an interview for my website. He assures me affirmative in both aspects, then we work on the stuck handle in the back of my van. I get it off with a little persuading and see no arsenal mark and hand drilled hole. I make a fair deal for the both of us as a blade with a living storyboard are relics I cannot pass on, and hopefully Grandpa has an interesting story to share here soon. Came back with less than a half full van so that was a success too! Of course I can't read kanji, so how did I do? Best regards, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com P.S. Even Super Collector Mr. Ed Hicks stopped by and introduced himself and bought a big Asian pot I had for 20 clams (probably priceless), Ed, In case your reading this I still have the Nippon vase!

Gentlemen, I hope you are all enjoying a splendid weekend! Taking a break from posting/selling common antiques on the bay. I was able to pick up a set of tsuba from I believe the Edo period. One looks to have been in a museum at one time. I looked around the web and saw on Grey's site a similar piece which he stated was inlaid brass on the colorful one. Another Nihonto e-seller had the statement inlaid gold on his. Is there a way to tell for the novice without a acid test? Another question is would the proper labeling be Ko-Kinko? Shoami? I've got two Nihonto that need menuki as part of the restoration process, the recent wak-rescue blade, and this one from a few years back. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14622 When I'm searching for a set of menuki for either blade can I pick out what I like or do I have to find a certain style or metallurgy to make it correct? In your opinion would I be able to trade either of these tsuba at a show like Chicago for a set of quality menuki(s) needed for the resto blades? Best Regards, Bob

Gents, Some close up's of the hada of what it would seem to be one of Kanetada's better efforts compared to other examples on the internet. In regards to the unusual sword strike on a seemingly showa period made sword, could it be supposed that they trained in Iaido with their personal sword vice a training sword sometimes? Thank you in advance for any comments. Semper Fi, Bob

Joe, The bad part of this auction house was the 18% premium. I guess that Kantada isn't in the hall of fame, but he put some effort into this particular piece. I'll keep it around and sell off a nondescript gunto to keep my numbers down and $ up. Hell, I may bring it to Chicago so the pro's can give it a emperor's thumbs up or down. Best Regards, Bob