Grey Doffin

Eric, Other than what's been mentioned so far I would suggest, if funds are available, the following for your library. The 59 issues of "Token Bijutsu" in English from the NBTHK is as good as it gets in English; nothing else tells you as much. The new 2 volume set, Sue Koto, put out by the JSS/US is in English, is attractively priced at $50, and covers some of the lesser known smiths from late Koto. Harry Watson's translations of Nihonto Koza are well worth the expense. I own Yumei Koto Taikan, Nihonto Zuikan, and Shinto Taikan, all of which are very useful. I can also recommend joining all the clubs that publish in English: JSS/US, NBTHK American Branch, Northern California, Florida Token Kai, does one or both of the NTHK groups still put out in English?, and sorry if I've forgotten some. Hope this helps. Grey

Ebay's president is Bill Cobb. He can be reached at: billcobb@ebay.com Grey

I spoke with an ebay rep; here's the straight poop on why the listings are still up. Only the person whose online photos have been stolen can complain about them being stolen. It doesn't make any sense to me but ebay won't stop the sale unless the pictures' owners raise a stink. On the Hidemitsu sale where the scam artist shows pictures of multiple swords, ebay won't remove the listing because "he isn't required to show pictures of the item he is selling." Once again, makes no sense to me. Buyer beware. Grey

Here's how to give ebay evidence, copied site for example. Click on 'report this item', next 'fraudulent listings', and then 'you suspect that a listing is fraudulent you didn't bid'. Continue to email ebay and then you will be able to tell them what you know. As to how far to go to fight the fake sellers, I never email bidders on fakes. I think it's enough to report the scam artists; those who don't have the sense to research what they're bidding on will just have to learn the hard way. Grey

because I see: phoney baloney tsuba wear on a nakago that is artificially aged and has a phoney arsenal stamp and a misplaced mekugi-ana, poorly done lines in the kissaki, a cosmetic hamon that falls off the ha, a # stamped on the habaki, a tsuka with too much tapering from fuchi to kashira, and a seppa that's too small, I don't think there's a snow ball's chance in hades that this is anything other than a fake. Grey

Interesting ebay fraud here; don't think I've seen this one before. The seller has a picture of the real Hidemitsu tachi, which he claims to be selling, and pictures of the Thai fake, which I'm sure the poor sap buyer will end up with. I reported the sale to ebay; hope they remove it. Grey

IMHO, unless money truely is no object, it makes no sense to polish this blade. Even without the ha-gire it is seriously compromised by the corrosion of the nakago; shinto nakago are expected to be in good shape. Then there's the ha-gire. Neither the NBTHK or either NTHK will paper the blade with that defect. You can get as many opinions as you like about the mei but still, nobody will pay you what you have into it after a polish if you want to sell some day (and you will want to sell some day). There are a million better ways to spend the money on your Nihonto collection. You don't want to spend the next however many years saying, "Too bad about the ha-gire." Grey

All I've ever heard is that you don't mess with the nakago, let alone the mei. If you fear the rust will grow and cause damage you might apply a tiny bit of clove (sword) oil to the affected spots, but that's as far as I'd go (if even there). Grey

I had the exact same reaction; sure I'd seen it before. But I can't find it in completed auctions, maybe too long ago. I emailed the seller and asked for a picture of the other side of the tsuba, figuring he'd have to have the sword to provide the picture. His answer: "I am sorry I can't help, I don't have other pictures available, I am travelling with business and I don't have the sword with me." I smell a rat. (5 minute break) I just spoke with an ebay rep. They're closing the sale because he required a wire payment to his bank, a banned payment type on ebay. Grey

I don't see the papers on ebay all that often. Maybe once a year I'll see a group like this. Too bad, though. There's a chance, maybe a good one, that these papers will go to someone who will use them to sell bad swords and kodogu to the unsuspecting. It really helps to be able to read the papers so you can be sure they match the piece. Grey

I think it's Choshu, also. Look for a bluish tone in the iron; something you'd expect on good Choshu tsuba. Grey

At 1st glance it looks real but looking again I wonder about the placement of the 3 mekugi-ana in the nakago. They're too close to the ha; to my eyes an unnatural placement. Still could be OK, though. Hard to tell for sure with the little I can see in the pictures. Anyone else care to chime in? Grey

Mariusz, Hi, Grey here. The only reason I can think of to do a suriage on a tanto is to disguise a defect in the blade close to the machi. If there were a ha-gire just above the ha-machi prior to the shortening it would be lost in the file marks of the new nakago after. Can't say why this tanto was shortened but I'm suspicious. The suriage looks recent. Also, the new nakago looks clumsy, too long. I think the opening bid is full retail, maybe even more than that. Yes, suriage always hurts value; ubu is preferred. I think suriage on a tanto is more damaging to value than on a shoto or daito. Grey

I called ebay customer support and reported the listings. They could be a fraud. Grey

Kanemori, unless I'm mistaken. Grey

Approximately none of the swords that I start at $5 sell for below $200. Grey

To exclude certain countries (China) I search USA only and then Japan only (and I suppose I could check on Europe also). If you exclude listings under a certain amount you miss out on my sales; I always list with a $5 starting price. No one should miss out on my sales. Grey

Both the paper and the blade read Yukihiro. The blade is the full length written out version of the Kanji and the paper has the common abreviation, which you often see written out as well. Grey

Extra holes in Koto is not more desirable. Best case: the sword is ubu, one hole. Extra holes usually mean that the blade has been shortened and you'd rather have the original length, no matter how old the blade is. Sometimes the extra hole is because of a change in mounts, not shortening. In this case the extra hole isn't a detriment at any age. Shortening on a Shinto or later blade does affect the value more than it would on a Koto blade. However, a shortened blade by Shinto Kotetsu would be far more valuable than an ubu late Koto katana by some no name smith. Quality always trumps length. You can't assume that a sword for sale online is in polish unless you have been told it is in polish. You should always ask. Whether in polish or not, Japanese swords tend to be very sharp. You can't assume a sword with Hozon papers is flawless. With rare exceptions, however, you can assume there are no fatal flaws (ha-gire, missing boshi, retemper). Those exceptions are very early swords by very important makers, which, in spite of the flaw, receive the paper because the signature and sometimes date are unique or nearly so. It is less likely that a Shinto blade with Hozon papers will have flaws than a Koto blade with the same paper. Shinto are expected to be flawless or nearly so and those with flaws don't get papers easily. Koto, being around a lot longer, can have a few more warts and still pass shinsa. But it's not just age that comes into play. The quality of the sword, how well it was made, has a lot more to say about paper possibilities than the presence of loose grain or a tiny opening in the shinogi-ji. The best way to buy a good piece in your price range is to buy books and study, attend sword shows and study, beg your way into collections, ask questions, and study. Then study some more before you buy the sword. Grey

The blade is a fake; no doubt. The habaki also, and the tsuka-ito (handle wrap) looks fishy. Grey

Definitely pine needles; don't know about the sukashi. I think it's possible the tsuba has been reduced in size (the diameter was made smaller; this happened sometimes). The sukashi seem too close to the edge to me; it seems unbalanced somehow. Be interesting to hear what others think on this. Grey

Martin, Look at Shinto Taikan, volume 1, page 139, Zuikan Tomei Soran, page 84, and JSS/US "Newsletter" volume 16, #2, page 27. Grey

I checked my Index of Japanese Sword Literature for Nobuyori. You'll find him on page 327 of volume 1 of Shinto Taikan, page 176 of Zuikan Tomei Soran, and page 44 of volume 17, #2 JSS/US "Newsletter". Grey

There is no mention of Tadaaki in any of the 50 or so references in my index. Grey

Hi folks, A long time back an old timer told me to be careful of any sword that had a shakudo habaki. He said they often have serious or fatal problems. Since then I've paid attention and found his warning to be true; more often than not the sword was retempered, gimei, or something else I wouldn't want to collect. Of course, there are exceptions. I know of a Tokubetsu Juyo tachi with a shakudo habaki, and I've seen plenty of other fine swords with the same. But still, the majority have had problems. Have any of you heard of this? Does anyone know why this would be? It doesn't make sense. It can't be dumb luck; the pattern is too consistent. But, if a shakudo habaki is a known red flag, why would anyone put one on a sword? I can't imagine anyone would want to advertise the fact that his sword is defected. Interested to hear your answers. Grey