Hans Kondor

Kunitaro san, why can oil be used only on swords in shirasaya? And if oil cant be used, what you suggest to use? or nothing is needed?

Are there any estimation about how many nihonto exist?

Thank you Ken for the link, it was very exciting to read.

Hello Adam, thank you for your reply. I didn't say that there is no funbari on that sword, just was interesting to me that in the previous post, I thought and still think that a decent curve is good if a blade has for cutting. I think you are right a sageo would be definitely mentioned, but I think there are more things on that sword which are newly made, but my question was not just for that particular sword, but to any others, that I saw it many times that dealers not mentioning several replacements like new saya, ito, sageo etc.

Kunitaro san, thank you very much for your reply and expertise!

Hello guys, about funbari, these Takeda swords are very interesting to me: http://www.nihontoantiques.com/fss514.htm This sword has a very straight blade. The seller writes: "at times they were sought out because of their cutting ability and sturdiness." From the writings of Kunitaro, it would sounds me the opposite and I would think that a blade with curve shape cut better than these straight swords. Also one question about this sword, to me the sageo, ito looks new. Is it common that dealers not write to the informations that which parts of the koshirae are renovated?

Hello guys, as most of you agree with that Nihonto should be not used for practise, could you share with us what kind of blade are you use for cutting practise? Shinsakuto, chinese swords were already mentioned. I forgot to ask that what do you think about the higher quality made shinken for example made by Rick Barett, Howard Clark. These swords are usually not cheap. Pictures are also welcome from the blades are you using!

Thank you for the additional information Kunitaro, you helped me a lot in the future when I'll be able to buy a original blade what to looking after!

Kunitaro san, about the Funbari, I had to search a bit, but now I think I understand what you are talkiing about. There is one blade I can't decide whether it has funbari or not. Can you please guys help me to judge? Best Regards, Hans

Dear Kunitaro, thank you very much for your replies! Only one more question about the polish. If an art polish was made to the blade, but the owner had to use his sword again in battle, could the polisher remove that art polish from the blade or just after the sword was not used again it got another art polish to remove the "damages". So what I am trying to asking that was it possible to bring back the "true" hamon of the blade?

Dear Kunitaro, thank you very much for the informative answer! On my pictures there were more blades, some of them made from T10 toolsteel, one of them made by san-mai technic all made from carbon steel. I don't know much abozt the process, all I know is that they were hand polished on Japanese wetstones and had a Yaki-ire and Yaki-modoshi tempering process. What do you mean when you say hard target? Plate armor? So if the art polish process which you said started around the Meiji era, it means that the older blades for example from the Koto period, don't have an art polish at the beginning, they were "added" to the blade later? Kind Regards, Hans

Hello, what is interested me is, on Kunitaro's pictures the blade looks like it has a dark hamon. (I don't know what its name sorry). I guess its the clay temper line. So far I have only seen very whitish, milky pattern on original Japanese swords, even on cheap examples, the name of that bright colour pattern is hadori if I know well. I would have several questions about this. I have some swords, not original Japanese blades which has in my opinion a similar darker hamon. If I read it right the hadori polish comes over that dark hamon. Is it true that cutting objects damages that hadori polish? If yes, why most of the Japanese swords have it?

Chris, it would be good if you would understand that I didn't want to insult anybody with my question. My knowledge about japanase swords are very limited, thats why I am asking questions on the forum. I just told a story about a guy I know who cut his finger when he did a nukitsuke. I myself used iaito when I practised iaido, it was not allowed to use sharp blade. I am practising at home with sharp sword also, but do the noto and nukitsuke much slower than with iaito yet. All my respect to those who are only practise with sharp blade, hope I will reach that stage one day too. I would have several questions about Kunitaro's sword which maybe you will also not like as I don't know the exact terms for what I would be interested in, but where could I have learn it if not from here? Kind Regards, Hans

Thank you for your kind words Chris. Good to you that you are well experienced already, but I didn't know that there are schools where only sharp swords are allowed to be used for iaido, I guess even for starters. I thought that the meaning of Nihonto is Japanese made sword, didn't know it must be sharpened too. Of course I guess every nihonto was sharpened, but the owner can unsharpen it.

Hello Ken, the man I was told bout practised the art only 1-2 years after changed to sharp blade. When you say that in the other school only Nihonto allowed, do you mean that only sharp swords can be used?

Hello guys, thank you very much for your reply. I also use iaito for iado. I know a man, who started to use a sharp sword for practising, one day he cut one of his finger on the training.... I was just interested that does anyone has experience that how the cheaper antik swords acts on a cutting test. So if you use modern shinken, do you mean chinese blades? I use a modern T10 tool steal blade with made in Japan koshirae parts for battodo. I know some people that like to use WW2 blades for cutting practise.

Hello guys, I am interested that those from you who are practising the art of sword (battodo, iaido), what type of sword you use it for? Do you use for cutting practise a modern chinese blade, antik nihonto, shinsakuto?

Thank you guys! Thanks for the link, got lot of information there!

Hello guys, I would like to ask you some questions about Daisho's. I am interested in that are there any kind of rules about them. The following things interested me: Do both blades should have the same hamon style? Can be one blade has a horimono and the other ones not? Both of them must have a bo-hi if one has? Thank you in advance for your answers!

Yes Adam, I agree with you, thanks!

Hello Brian, I think you misunderstood me, I never sad it has papers, I said he wanted one, but the NBTHK refused to issue one.

Hello Martin, I don't know who made the statement, just the owner told me that. Kind Regards, Hans

Hello guys, thank you very much for your comments, you saved me lot of money! I will pass on it than.

Hello guys, thank you for your comments. Yes I agree with you Paul, buy the item not the story, thats why I put the sword to the forum. I checked the informations from Kotetsu earlier and was sure thats it can't be his work as the sword would cost 3500 dollars, which I don't know that the sword worth as much, but sure that a real Kotetsu made one would cost much more. About the NBTHK, all I know that the owner asked his agent who said the signature looked correct and he would submit it to the NBTHK for shinsa. The rest of the story I wrote down to you. I don'k know who replied from the NBTHK to him. The most important to me was that the sword is original, has a real hamon, carving and similar age as it was signed. So far it looks that the carvings are bad and I guess the manufacturing date too.

Hello Jacques, thank you for your comment. So the signature is a fake. And what about the swords, it can be made in Japan or a modern made chinese example?