Strider

My question tonight is about cleaning and restoring shira saya. Does it affect value on a sword if you clean and refinish the storage saya? I have a tadayoshi in an old shira saya that is about the color of red cedar and although I like the aged look of the wood, I was wondering if collectors prefer clean and sharp looks. Regards Scott

Hello, I really enjoyed your "Tour de Tsuba" and reading the comments from members. I especially like the last item, is it for sale? Not that I need more stuff, but at least this would be easier to hide from the wife HA HA Regards Scott

Not to be insulting, but an even simpler explanation might be that it was a cheap fitting when it was made and was never really in great shape to start with. Scott

Does anyone know if electrum (a gold and silver alloy) was ever used for habaki or other fittings. I have done quite a bit of silver work, and was going to try my hand at at custom habaki. I have a small amount of this mixed material that I have no other use for and I would like to use it if it would still be authentic. Regards Scott Pictures appreciated

Is tsuba F a daikon radish or a gourd? Regards Scott

I acquired my first nihonto when I was 19 or 20 years old (25 years ago yikes) it was a gift from a dear old friend that I new my entire childhood and he had brought it back during WWII. Being young and stupid I did some things with and to it that I now regret and am going to rectify regardless of cost. My second nihonto came to me about 5 or 6 years ago from an antique mall, Gunto mounts on a family blade, mumei , o suriage but with very tight grain, hope to post pictures someday. I did not purchase another until this year from of all places eBay.This one turned out to be Hizen Tadayoshi wakazashi that I am still researching, hopefully a hidden gem. I am sort of learning and purchasing at the same time but with reserve. Regards from Missouri Scott

Thank you very much Moriyama San, I did not make the connection with you original reply. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question twice. I went back to the picture on eBay and could see what might have been the remains of the first kanji. I am now looking for another mei to attempt to translate. Thanks again, Scott Enloe

If anyone has any idea about this mei translation,please chime in with your opinion. I was very excited to get the translation correct even though I did not know it at the time, this was only my second translation attempt. The TA or DA character is what had me puzzled. Merci beaucoup Scott

Hello et bonjour, Although I do not have anything to offer to the raffle(I am still in the book buying phase of my education), I would be more than willing to participate when it come to buying chances. I have found this board to be invaluable when it comes to answering my questions and would like to see it continue. Please let me know how and when to buy tickets, I really want to help. Regards Scott

Thank you for the replies. I did not really want to bid on this piece because as Darcy said it was in poor condition and I did not think there was a good foundation for a restoration. I chose this item to translate because I am new to nihonto and I thought a three character mei would be a little more realistic for me to practice on. I am glad to know that I came close, but I am interested in understanding what the first character represents and how it is used in mei. Thank you for your consideration, Scott

Hello, I am watching this item on eBay and could not do the translation myself. I kept coming up with ta or da suke nori or suke take eBay number is 200158247649 Helop much appreciated Scott

Thank you my friends, I especially like the square Myochin tsuba Mike posted. I tend to find myself drawn toward subtle or simple patterns in Nihonto related items, maybe that is why I like Mokume. Scott

Has anyone ever seen a tsuba that was finished to show off the layers of iron/iron carbide like we see in blades? My first inclination would be that a tsube did not need the repeated forging/folding that a blade did. Input anyone? Scott

I know that this has probably been discussed many time before, but how would I go about having a wakazashi blade evaluated to determine if it was a good candidate for proffesional polishing? Does the price vary in relation to size? Do you send them off for an inspection/appraisal? So many questions. Scott

Thanks guys, I knew the term I was looking for had something to do with fish eggs :lol:

Well I took a gamble on eBay and I think I did alright. I purchased an old rusty Wakazashi because I had a good feeling about the fittings and they turned out to be what I would consider above average or better. The habaki did not photograph well and it turned out to be tarnished heavy silver foil although there are some separation issues.The F&K were shakudo with tiny shibuichi and gold (plated) floral designs and that tiny seeded or punched(come on guys I know there is a term) background. The iron tsuba has two animal inlays, one in a reddish material that might be copper or a different alloy of shakudo and one with a greenish gold color that I take to be shibuichi. I am really excitied about this find and would like to know how to clean the grime off the fittings without losing patination? PS , upon opening a window in the blade, I discovered a lovely gunome or based on gunome hamon 17 1/2 inch nagasa and 9/16 sori with ubu unsigned nakago. If I ever figur out how to post pics from my MAC, I would like your opinions SCOTT

If you look closely at the transition from blade to nakago, you can see small pitting or bubbles that might be indicative of a weld seam. Is it possible this was a legitimate nakago attached to a questionable blade. Not only were they bad grinders but bad welders as well. Scott

Hello, I have a wakazashi that has a very similar mei. If I can figure out how to get the picture from my MAC to the board, it would be interesting if someone could make a side by side photo for comparison by the board. Unfortunately, am technologically challenged and was much happier back in the 80's. If any board member can give me step by step instructions intended for a dummy, I will try to post the picture. I am very interested in determining if my mei is authentic or just another gimei. Scott [/i]

Red crowned crane perhaps? Very important bird in Japan I understand. Just my two cents worth Scott

Good to see another scrounger. Just a hint for using pallets, There is sometimes grit/gravel imbedded in the wood from the forklift tines and it is hell on planer blades. Use a coarse 40 grit belt sander for a pre cleaning before surfacing Scott

Thanks Rich, I did not pay enough attention the first time I looked at these swords, the photos make them appear more curved than they probably are. As for the mei, it looks like it was done with a hatchet and I am not going to waste my time trying to translate, I have enough trouble with decent kanji. The only word I got was "saku"??? Thanks again Scott

I am watching a couple of items on eBay, I do not know how to make the link but the item numbers are 330147265662 and 330147265171. I am interested in others opinions about these items, the unsigned one seems to have a lot of the curve originating at the nakago leading me to think cut down tachi, while the signed item seems to have a very deep continuous curve , Koto ? Any thoughts are always appreciated. Oh by the way, I just completed my first mei translation and as soon as I figure out how to get the pictures from my MAC to this board I will find out if I am correct and if signature is gimei Scott I'm sorry I am computer challenged but until last year I was quite happy in the 1980s

Has anyone ever heard or read about any smiths with the name Tada Yoshi? I am trying my hand at a mei translation and think that this is the name I have found. I think that one of the caracters also can be translated as "Kichi" or lucky. Am I close? Any examples? Scott

I know that honoki is the prefered wood for saya, but I was wondering if any other species has ever been used? I have a wakazashi in shira saya that looks a whole lot like western red cedar, the same specied found in decking and outdoor furniture. Do shira saya darken that much with age or is this some other species? Scott

I was wondering something about the same on nihonto. With all the great care that was taken during the manufacture of blade and fittings, and the enduring nature of these objects, why did they put the seam of full wrap same on one side of the tsuka and not hide it under the bamboo splint on the top or bottom where it could still shrink with age and not show an ever widening gap? Scott