hddennis

Thanks Rienhard, I'll put this in my files for future use. Howard Dennis

Brian and Rivkin, thank you both for responding. I respect both your opinions and will use them in my decision. Appreciate the help, Howard Dennis

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Thank You Jussi, I'll check these out.

Thanks David , I was just hoping to get an idea of HOW depressed. Howard Dennis

Thanks Ray, I knew I was probably shooting myself in the foot by asking such a vague question but I will probably end up with this by next week BUT it's not finalized yet so I don't want to jinx the deal by releasing too much information yet. I promise I'll tell all if I end up with it as it will be the best sword I've ever owned. Guess in my excitement I'm suffering from "premature evaluation" ! Howard Dennis

Looking at an Oei Period tachi with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Kanteisho AND an appraisal by Cary Condell in 2001 saying sword's value was $25,000. My question is where would that value likely be in today's market? Just looking for a rough idea. Howard Dennis

SteveM, Thank You for your assistance. Howard Dennis

Would like to learn what this bonji translates to and it's meaning. Thank You, Howard Dennis

To be perfectly honest I'm insulted by your insinuation. I'm not selling this I just bought it. The discovery of this pocket was entirely accidental while I was trying to clean my new purchase. The seller never mentioned it's presence and I doubt if he even knew it was there. That's my opinion.

What is a knock up?

Since these swords were last carried over a century and a half ago does ANYONE actually know the history of their sword?

I had the same thought but I also thought that doesn't mean a later less talented owner couldn't have made the modification himself for the same purpose?

Separate chamber that has about a 1/8 inch of an opening into the drainage pocket of the sword cavity.

Just acquired a Yamagane Handachi Koshirae and while cleaning it the ishizuki came off the saya and revealed a chamber nearly 18mm wide and 83mm deep. Any idea what this is for?

As much as I appreciate your comments I've started to clean the verdigris off my fittings because it looks abused not preserved. My feelings are I wouldn't leave active rust on a blade so why should I leave verdigris (active corrosion) on my fittings. I'm using a piece of ivory, an antler and a sharped plastic rod. I've cleaned the fuchi and kashira and gotten excellent results. All the black and green corrosion is gone and it is leaving a nice polished dark patina surface. While cleaning I noticed the ishzuki was loose and removed it. I found a cavity carved into the saya tip. It is 83mm deep and just shy of 18mm wide. Any idea why this would be here?

Just acquired this Yamagane Handachi Koshirae and would like any advice or suggestions on how to clean it and still preserve the patina. The flash from my camera make it appear as if several areas are rubbed through to raw copper but it actually is a pretty even dark patina with some dark areas of old verdigris that I would love to get rid of. Howard Dennis

Thanks, My daughter will be doing it. She's one of the best art and antiques restorer I've ever seen so I have no doubt in her ability. Howard Dennis

Granddaughter is giving her boyfriend a sword for xmas and wanted me to find out the kanji for “The perfect blossom is a rare thing” so she could paint that on the stand. Could someone post the Kanji here in a form a non speaker could paint on a sword stand? Thanks, Howard Dennis

Bugyotsuji, Thanks for the translation. I wondered as well about the poor fit of this box to the set. Howard Dennis

Just got this today and wonder what is written on the box and does it pertain to the inro? Thanks in Advance, Howard Dennis

Thank You All for responding. I liked the subject matter too but didn't understand it till this post from Facebook member Tony Chambers: Specifically, "The Tales of the Heike" Book 11, chapter 4, "Nasu no Yoichi." I recommend Burton Watson's translation, if you want to look into it. "'What is that?' exclaimed the onlookers, for they could now see a woman of eighteen or nineteen, very lovely and refined in bearing, wearing crimson trousers over a five-layer robe of green-lined white. Attached to a pole she held a crimson fan with a golden sun painted on it." The Genji leader calls on Nasu no Yoichi to shoot the fan. Riding his horse as far as possible into the water, "Yoichi took out the humming arrow, fitted it to his bow and, pulling the bow all the way back, sent it whistling on its way. . . . With a crack it struck the fan about an inch above the rivet, knocking it loose. As the arrow plunged beneath the waves, the fan rose up into the sky. For a moment it fluttered about in the empty air, buffeted this way and that by the spring breeze, and then all at once it plummeted into the sea. In the rays of the setting sun, the red fan face with its golden sun could be seen bobbing and sinking as it drifted over the white waves." The incident foreshadows the ultimate victory of the Genji clan (associated with white) over the Heike clan (associated with red). Howard Dennis

Found this today and wonder if anyone can translate the signatures? Thanks in advance, Howard Dennis

In defense of Robert Benson's skills's I have to add that the white spots are uchiko I failed to notice before taking those pictures. Howard Dennis