gtstcactus

kusunokimasahige, I'm terribly sorry about the quotes, it was very inconsiderate of me. I will in future try to make my posts more acceptable to the other members. My apologies to everyone! You say the hamon doesn't bring out the beauty of the sword.... Is this something that could be improved with polishing or are you saying the hamon is just plain crap.... My camera shots really aren't doing the sword justice!

Moss, I don't particuarly find it annoying, I've got better things to worry about than people quoting others posts or not. I just skim over stuff I don't want to read, it's really quite easy, you should try it!. So lets stick to the topic at hand.

Christian, I really have no idea when it was polished that was just for example...... It could have been 50 years! I really have no idea. Perhaps it needs a better polish to bring out it's characteristics. I've just been trying every different angle of light I can to view the blade, I believe I can see vague hints of itame hada. I won't be able to photo them tho my camera isn't up to the task...

Just passing on what people on this board keep telling me to do... QUOTES REMOVED

Here is the website http://www.jigokustudios.com/polishingnihonto.html Read that page... funny enough Bob Benson says I quote "I am confident that you will be more than satisfied with the polishing and other restoration services provided by James" So is Mr Benson wrong?

The Nakago hardly does smell at all, just the faint hint of metal/iron. I paid $1200 New Zealand dollars for it. I also read an email from a polisher in the US to the seller, he wrote that the nakago showed "quite some age" whatever that means. I'm by no means think that buying nihonto is easy! I hear you loud and clear and have done since I joined the board. I appreciate your thoughts, I hope to get it to James Jordan (if I can contact him or find out how to) for a hands on opinion. I plan on attending a militaria auction in a months time, if nothing else just so I can examine the small number of nihonto on offer... There are not a lot of swords I can get my hands on to view in NZ. I know that there are swords out there I'm just yet to meet some people who can show me some "good swords" The tang on this sword at http://www.nihontocraft.com/Hirazukuri_Koto_Katana.htm shows no yasurime that I can see, granted mine is slightly darker in color. Either way, this is a vast improvement on my "satsuma rebellion" sword.

You could try here http://www.jigokustudios.com/ They are aussie based but use a guy James Jordan in NZ for polishing.

Does anyone know how I can contact James Jordan? It's regarding my wakizashi.... Would like to get his opinion on it. I've been to the website which uses him as their polisher but the emails go to Australia and I've not had a reply.... Any help appreciated! Jason

thank you.

Christian, Thanks for your reply. I don't know when it was last polished..... Just that it was done in Japan, for all I know it may have been polished 25 years ago... Did you have any particular Osaka school in mind as a possibility? Are you saying better pictures of the kissaki and boshi would help you give comment on it? I can try again for better pics. I have to say this wakizashi has a great feel to it..... Actually feels like it was made this way, either that or in shortening it they've done a great job. It feels nice and solid, yet still agile enough to use effectively.

I'm not sure what you mean by dry..... Of course it is dry, it's not dried out like flakey dry if thats what you mean. It doesn't feel "dried out" like I would expect something too that had been burnt. The color is a darkish grey over metal...... It was suggested to me the tang looks the way it does due to age....???? The tang smells like metal. There is perhaps minor pitting, I'm not 100% on that. I can not detect mizukage..... regards Jas

No, the previous owner purchased it from Japan, where it was last polished. I have not had it polished.

Hi I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction regarding obtaining Bob Bensons article on Masamune exhibit at Sano Museum. I just picked up the book for a bargain on the NZ auction site, and would like to read his article if possible. thanks, Jas

Hey, I picked these up, purely to display as decorative pieces. 1 Fuchi and 1 Menuki...... Apparently they came off a very old blade, where the blade and other bits gone nobody knows! Can anyone tell me anything about them from the pictures?

Is there anyone in Oceana (NZ / Aussie) a respected member here who I could perhaps send the blade to for inspection? It would be nice if it was good enough for Shinsa in Aussie but thats probably a dream! Most New Zealanders didn't fight the Japanese.... They were in africa and europe mainly. When the Japanese came through malaya etc the Aussies recalled their troops home to redeploy. I'm sure some kiwis met the Japanese in battle but the numbers were on the smaller side. Many New Zealanders were part of J force and the occupation that followed but a lot of the nice swords had already been souvinered! I'm not saying the swords and collectors aren't here just not so easy to find.

I don't think the tang has been burnt. As for the hamon sliding down before the hamachi, I'm not so sure.... With it in hand in the right light it looks like it could go that extra inch maybe....

Sadly in New Zealand there aren't a heap of knowledgeable collectors, and I don't know of any study groups. We don't have a JSS. Someone suggested "cultivating a relationship with a chap called Phillip James" here in NZ. He is not in my city, I have dealt with him once. I purchased a replica pair of edo period tiger menuki. He currently has a katana listed on ebay for $29,000 selling on behalf. He also has a $1200-$1500 kokinko tsuba (papered) on ebay. I'm going to a militaria auction in mid-april. There is a small Japanese section of interest to me, I might be able to meet some fellow collectors there but most go for the guns etc.

I just seen this sword for sale... It being sold as a Japanese sword, but I didn't recognise it as Japanese. So can anyone tell me what country it's from, and it's assignment eg army, navy, etc

Thanks for that. Has anyone used James Jordan in NZ for polishing? Can anyone recommend him?

Does anyone know of anyone qualified to polish nihonto in New Zealand?

Thanks for the link to that thread. Does anyone know of any nihonto mounted in bone, ivory, deer horn or similar that have been for and passed shinsa?

Where decent blades ever mounted in ox / cow bone tsuba, tsuka, and saya. Are the tsuka normally fixed to the blades so they can't come off? Were these just a meiji period and after occurance? Were they mainly made for the western tourists?

Hi Moss, I took some of Jeans advice, like using a sheet as the background and changed the lights a bit. I'm actually going to go out and see if I can get an LCD torch for photos as It will be useful in the long run. I set the camera to the shooting items closer than 70cm for some shots. I might try get a halogen lamp as well. I am very pleased with this blade..... It is a huge upgrade from 1st purchase of a "satsuma rebellion" wakizashi. This one is in what I think seems to be a reasonable polish, the shirasaya is really nice. I love the notare hamon. I'd just like to try and learn more about the piece... Hopefully some kind members can make something of it!

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