Grey Doffin

Hi folks, Richard George has passed on. Richard was a serious student of tsuba and he was able to take excellent photos of the same. A great guy also; he will be missed. Grey

Hi Khalid, You get a minimal description and lousy photos; what's not to love? Unless you can attend and see the swords in hand, I find it hard to believe you can't do better with a knowledgeable dealer you can trust. Grey

I believe this is referred to as Ninja is because, with a sturdy saya, the Ninja could lean the sword against a wall, point down and with the flat of the tsuba against the wall, step on the projecting opposite edge of the tsuba and get a boost in climbing over. The flat stops the tsuba from rolling. I have been told that there is little evidence ninja ever existed. Makes a good story, though. Grey

Hi Christine, Look here for a care and handling brochure: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ I don't know where in Minnesota you are. I'm in Duluth and would be glad to help if I can. Cheers, Grey 218-340-1001

Hi Jeffrey, Look here: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ for a brochure on care and handling; you should read it. If you'd like answers to a bunch of questions with one phone call, feel free to ring me up. 218-340-1001 in central time. I'm not an authority but I was where you are today 40 years ago and I won't ask you to sell the sword to me. Cheers, Grey

Hi Arnaud, If you take your pictures on a black background we'll be able to see what you have. Grey

I have to disagree Bruce. Paying to polish (even less expensive: amateur polish) this sword will be throwing good money after bad. If Sam wants to study/appreciate Nihonto he should move on. If all he wants is a sharp, shiny trinket, he is there already. Grey

Hi Sam, If it has been sanded or buffed (including the tang/nakago) it is an unsigned wakizashi with defects (pits/openings) mounted in shirasaya (sleeping or storage scabbard) that is falling apart and, consequently, it isn't worth much. Maybe $200 or $300 if you can find someone who doesn't know better. Even if not buffed it is no treasure. Don't mean to be a downer but no sense sugar coating it. Nihonto is a fascinating field; you need to find a dealer you can trust to steer you towards better. Grey

Hi Brandon, If you have a seppa (washer) or, if not, cut a piece of paper to the proper size, place it on the tsuba as it would be if this were mounted on a sword, and ask yourself if you like the tsuba and its design as much as you did before. Grey

Hi George, Find Care and Handling here: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ Grey

Hi Cody, Here you will find Care & Cleaning, which will teach you proper maintenance: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ Your sword's length means that it is a wakizashi, not a katana. Nothing wrong with that; just a different length. Best advice I give out to all beginners: don't be in a hurry to do anything. Forget about shinsa and polish for now; you don't know enough to make an informed decisions and that leads to regret later. Take some time to learn more about your sword and Nihonto in general; your sword is perfectly fine with waiting for you to catch up. Polish doesn't preserve the sword*; oil and proper care take care of that. The more you know before you act, the happier you and the sword will be with the results. Grey * When a Japanese sword is sent by a beginning collector to a polisher it can end in damage, not preservation. Beginners often choose poorly trained polishers and beginners don't know how best to care for the polish.

Hi Julien, Here you will find a Care and Cleaning lesson. https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ Unless you know all this already you should read it. I'm nearby in Duluth; if I can help let me know. I'm no authority but I have been studying for 40 years. Grey

The book I tried to buy out of Japan was on ebay and it was ebay that told me I'd have to pay the tariff and service fee up front; didn't think I'd have much luck reasoning with ebay. The new tariff regime is stupid. It isn't going to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US (there has been a decline in those jobs already since January); it is just going to make a mess. Grey

I recently tried to purchase a book from Japan. I was told that I had to pay the tariff up front; that the shipper wouldn't proceed unless the fee was paid. On top of that, the shipper would charge a service fee somewhere between $5 and $30. The deal didn't happen. I recently sold a book to Europe and the buyer arranged with a 3rd party to have UPS do the shipping. I was required to forward an extra $20 to the 3rd party, to cover tariff in case the buyer didn't pay. The buyer wasn't charged the tariff so UPS probably paid it and I'm stuck with it. I can't tell you how happy I am with our current government. Grey

Hi Trevor, I see little to be excited about here. At $120 you did fine, unless you get the tsuka wrapped and all that, in which case you're likely too deep into it to ever get your money back. I wouldn't spend another cent unless someone knowledgeable and honest sees it in hand and advises otherwise, but I wouldn't expect that to happen. My advise is to turn a quick buck and look for better to collect. Grrey