tokashikibob

Wow, The auction house must have popped the Champagne after this lot. https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/61123645_japanese-tanto

Trip to Chicago I really don't write much anymore but will give my two cents about my to Chicago for the sword show. The weather was cool and crisp and just danggum nice. There were a lot of .... hmmm.... what's the right word? Luminaries? Characters? Sword hustlers? Gentlemen? Well lets just say it is a diverse neighborhood Mark is the Mayor of in the Hotels basement. I must confess that hanging around for 3 days while Chris B helps me out by finding a few unplanned slots for me does lead to Nihonto overdose as you browse everyones table over and over taking in all the hada and nioi ones eyeballs can handle. I remember Peter Bleed stating something to the effect that "My eyes have had it" after we did the shinsa school apprentice program offered on Saturday. I wish I was rich because on the first day there was a delightful couple in the back of the show. It was a boyfriend and girlfriend. They drove from Colorado with a whole collection of the widow's deceased husband. (The future of many of our collections) Nobody was there at their table, and there was polearms galore in the corner, and a table full of swords. These people did not look like your typical Nihontoya proprietors, and the pieces had fingerprints and whatnot. I pull a long koto blade out with a long faint signature. "How much" I ask. " I don't know" he says. He tells me he is looking for help to price his Girlfriends dead husband's collection. (Where is Ray Singer when you need him to pull these people out of the tatara kiln?) "Well I can't help you I say, I'm just a amateur and cannot give you good price estimates, but I am sure some of these guys will" The next day I went back to see how things were going and the table was about bare. "Wow, you guys sold out!" The guy says they were cherry picked pretty good when Saturday rolled around. But they got the cash in hand I stated! Friday, lots of covered tables, Where are all these sellers? Saturday, very busy at the tables for the bulk of the day. Sunday light crowd and sellers packing it up. The Shinsa team worked very hard and it was interesting to hang around and watch them work. Also, watching some of the pros bring up tons of swords, right next to the guy who found his first authentic katana in shirasaya at a yard sale for $40 was really a joy to watch the interaction. "How would you like to double that" the pro says to the kid, and we all laugh. I had thoughts about what to wear? Suit & tie? Shorts and flipflops? Jewelers glasses? Menuki earring? There were all of those extremes with most inbetween. If i were a young collector like Vlad, I'd go more formal as there seemed to be a lot of good looking airline attendants hanging around the lobby from Korean air. Sword guy Joe had the look down with a sport jacket and loose collar, no tie. Mark and his family put on a fine show and were always there to make you feel part of the sword show family. I think the only VIP missing was Stephen, somebody has to pick him up and bring him in next time. He can sign autographs on posting ichiman! NMB commemorative postcards are in order I do declare!

BaZZa, I think it is a hair under katana length, wish it wasn't but it is. I found it very surprising it was a Kanemoto as I am programmed to think Kanemoto=sanbontsugi . Now, I have 2 Kanemoto, so I guess I am a Kanemoto collector.

Tying up this old post: Good Mei & Papered to Minamoto Shikibu no Jo Nobukuni

Chicago Shinsa - Kanemoto 3rd Gen. Next generation after the big guy

finally Tsunemitsu I would LOVE to see it. Jeremiah, This one papered to Ishido Tsunemitsu at Chicago last week.

Lance, take a look at the dirk, it is rare but a few of them had traditionally made blades

Good, I have not bought anything, (use amazon) or sold via Ebay (sell direct via email list) for the last year. It was just getting too muddy. I was having problems with people saying they could not bid on a item in the last minute on rare items. I was wondering if there was a program that suppressed last minute snipe bids. Anyway, don't care about it anymore. Best regards, Bob

Thumbs up!

Congrats on the purchase, it looks like a fine blade! It looks to be a osuriage sword so I would hazard a guess it is much older than you are thinking.via your papers. It's getting late I'll read the pro's opinions tomorrow. Nite nite

Very nice for a first sword! Congrats!

Good deal all around!

Nice bohi work on this one, whomever is making these is putting in the effort. https://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Japanese-Samurai-Sword/232661686328?_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D44039%26meid%3D0d587438937b4f6bb5406005b37f7bc5%26pid%3D100037%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D232651766892%26itm%3D232661686328&_trksid=p2047675.c100037.m2107

The Togishi really knew how to work the hazuya.

Looks good Brad, You've been looking for awhile! I would not worry about the little line, looks like a minor delamination in a area not seen. The Shinae wrinkle patch can't be seen either so that's a good thing! Nice and pointy with no chips that is the way to get them!!! Congrats, Bob

Wow, The burnishing on the shinogi ji is fantastic!

Anybody see the X-Files last night? That lawyer had a nice impressive inset set up for his katana collection in the wall's with set back lighting. Too bad he got his head cut off with one by the Voodoo golem.

Super Pick Martin!

Nice file work on the nakago, tsukamaki looks like I wrapped it. You going for it Stephen?

Rob, Here's a picture. Cousin if afraid to take the handle off. Probably nothing special but the price was right. The other thing I left a bid on I won which was a box of 15 & 30 round Mil Surplus M1 carbine magazines with bullets! Super stoked about that as I love my carbine and just have a couple 10 round mags.

Those shodai and nidai Kanewaka blades are really nice blades, also expert horimono too if I remember right. How did the mei match up to references Chris?

Very nice!

Thank you Uwe!

Gents, I left a phone bid in Nov on a Owakazashi at small local auction near my cousin's non internet. Just one picture to look at and it looked good, classic closet queen, very light discoloration in spots, maybe light rust, in shirasaya with Okissaki. They did not take the handle off and neither has my cousin. I'll pic it up on the way to Chicago. Anyway, he did send a pic or what looks like a registration card taped to it. Anyone see anything they can comprehend? Best regards, Bob

Thanks Stephen! And happy new year Marine!