Marius

Dear All, a friend of mine is looking for a daito. He shuns gendaito, and he has seen a sword on eBay, which is described as a shinto by the seller. He suspects it is a gendaito. Could you please help him determine what kind of sword it is? Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.pl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... otohosting Many thanks and best regards.

Brian, I beg to differ. This is by no means amateur polish, nor is it rough the ridges are just to crisp for that. Please take into account that the pics are high-res, which makes even tiny scratches visible. The sword must have been badly rusted before it was polished, hence all those pits. But the problem with the boshi is that the tempered part is just at the cutting edge, which indicates that this sword has been over-polished. That is my humble opinion only. best regards

Roland, do you actually have the sword, or are you just looking at pictures? I have noticed that cheap polish often "hides" the boshi. The kissaki has not been sanded - the yokote is too crisp for that. IMHO, it is not ichimai boshi. Then again, I can't really see the hamon, although at this resolution of the picture I should. The yakiba seems to have been produced with hazuya. I see no grain, and I guess even if the hamon were nioi-deki, I should see some. My impression is that this sword has been polished down and that the hamon is somwhere near the cutting edge. What you see in the picture is the effect produced by the polisher. This is my opinion only, and since I am a beginner, it needs to be confirmed or trashed by the experts on this forum. They should probably see the sugata as well in order to determine whether the kissaki has not been cut down. Best regards

Hi Ford, many thanks for your opinion. I will include it in the description of my tsuba. Best regards

dear All, I would be very grateful for your opinions about this tusba I have purchased some months ago. I love the tale about Shoki, I love the tsuba, but I would love to learn a bit more. Sorry for being such a darn beginner and ask basic questions. I know, I should buy some books first (Actually, I have, including the Compton collection and other tsuba books, but this is simply not enough) best regards

Henry, I am not an expert, but I have tried this method, so I feel I can voice and opinion here without harming anybody. It seems to be working insofar that the surface of an iron tsuba gets very delicately polished over time (you need to keep in in your pocket for quite some time, that is). Any residue and loose rust will be to a certain extent removed by this treatment. I would, however, be wary of applying this kind of treatment to a tsuba with inlays made of a metal or alloy softer than iron. Here, the nice patina will be removed from the inlay's top parts and you will get shiny surfaces as a result. And this does not look elegant at all. Patina Which develops on iron over time is pretty hard - I have had some success with removing red rust from my katchushi tsubas without damaging the patina. I have used sharp pieces of bone (ivory is said to be good, but I would do absolutely nothing to harm elephants) and I have managed to get rid of most of the rust specks. Everything was done exactly as recommended by Rich Stein, carefully and slowly, that is: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/tsuba/tsubacln.htm You may want to try, but, mind you, do note exaggerate and be careful. Best regards

Reinhard, I beg to differ. There are some reputable dealers on eBay and you can buy some good swords from them. It is a good way to start with nihonto. Yes, you will not become an expert buying some low-end nihonto to study them, but still, it is fun and it encourages you to buy books, go to Japan, find a sensei (if you are lucky). Everything comes gradually. Your approach seems very rigorous, all or nothing, so to say. If I were to listen to your advice, I should forget about something which is one of my most cherished interests. Besides, not everybody can afford a "no matter what it costs" attitude. People got families, kids... etc. Not that I don't understand you, but I simply have to disagree. Best regards

Sorry, here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-sword-SIGNE ... dZViewItem

Hello, I have found this tsuba on eBay. Somhow the tsuba looks blotched to me, like it was cast iron. On the other hand it has got the "feeling" of the real thing. But the signature looks strange. Then again, I am a total novice in kodogu (and a novice in swords) so I can be wrong. Any opinions? Best regards

Koichi, thank you, this was valuable reference. I understand that the machi has been moved up, possibly to remove a flaw like hagire, but it is still very strange that the nakago has NOT been shortened to convert the katana into a wakizashi. Who would want to carry a wakizashi with such a long tsuka? Best regards

Dear All, could you have a look at this sword here, please: http://cgi.ebay.com/SAMURAI-Katana-swor ... dZViewItem Is the nakago "real" or has it been produced to remove some flaw of the blade? The sword looks like a nagamaki, but the shinogi zukuri does not fit this weapon. BTW, I have recently posted a request here to have the origami for this sword kindly transalated. How stupid of me I haven't put my question clear... Sorry for posting another thread. Brian, feel free to remove it (once you do it I will know that the answer is: of course it is a nakago someone has tampered with :-) Best regards

Hi Ian, many thanks :-) That's why I love this board - there is always something new to be learned :-) Best regards

Hello, Here is the link to the auction: http://tinyurl.com/2omnpy The tsubas look genuine, however, the red lacquer (?) makes them look really ugly (at least to me). What do you think of that pair? Have they been lacquered originally or is this an addition by some home-grown tsuba expert? Best regards

Richard, many thanks for your time and help. I do appreciate it :-) Best regards

Hi Remy, thanks for the reply. I don't care too much about origami either and they do not afect my judgment (as poor as it may be). However, I want to know if this particular nakago is ubu or suriage. I have simply never seen a nagamaki before and cannot judge if it has been shortened or not. Hence my request for help. Anyway, I do appreciate your advice. Best regards

I am awfully sorry to bother you with that, but depending on the result I might or might not purchase a sword. Could I kindly ask for a rough translation of the origami here? I am mostly interested in the nakago, is it ubu or suriage? Thank you and - once again - sorry. Best regards

Yes, I have bought a few pieces from historian333 (Mike Yamaguchi). Mike is 100% trustworthy (I wish all nihonto dealers were like him) and he never hides anything. You only have to know what you are buying. Study his photos carefully, read his item descriptions as well. He will always have honest descriptions, with all flaws listed (and visible in his pics). Do not expect him, however, to explain basic terms like "hagire" in his descriptions. BTW, Mike has now a second eBay ID - komonjo, which he uses for his consignment swords. Best regards

As for the toilet paper - as the late Jim Kurrasch has once written (admittedly quite cockily) - if it does not leave slinters in your ... ahem... then it is unlikely to damage steel. But taking microfiber is much more respectful, I agree. Use pure alcohol to remove older oil, avoid uchiko at all cost (it is abrasive after all) and do not apply to much oil (soft cloth like flannel will distribute it properly). Also, keep your sword in a horizontal position, lest the oil flows down to the tip of the scabbard. Careful when cleaning the area close to the tang - try to avoid moving the tissue up from the nakago - the tissue might catch some rust from the nakago and scratch the blade. Use choji oil or any other oil recommended by people on this message board. Aha, move the tissue in one direction - from the tang to the tip. Never ever move your hand up and down - you will cut yourself badly some day. That's all, I guess. Have I forgotten anything? regards

I have read on Richard Stein's "THE Japanese SWORD GUIDE" website that sword canes have been of inferior quality and that they were thin. This one seems really odd... Regards :-)

Dear All, What do you think of this one? Looks like an omi-yari converted into a... hm... into a what? http://tinyurl.com/3dgjjk Best regards :-)

I have once bought a sword from this seller and it was great. The seller is reputable, but his reaction was overdone (see Brian's thread). Best regards

Dear Board Members, I have started the Gassan discussion and I have subsequently been contacted directly by the seller. I agree with Brian's reactions, it was fair to remove the offending picture (since the sellers has not authorised to use it) and it was polite to remove the seller's eBay nick. I have sent the seller the following reply: "I do apologise for having used your photographs. I shall not do this again and I am sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused to you. I am afraid that I cannot comply with your first request (about not discussing the seller's swords - MK). I have never discussed you as a seller and I never will, but I do have the right to discuss the swords you put up for sale. Once you put something on eBay, it is subject of public scrutiny. The Nihonto Messageboard is a place where swords on eBay are being discussed and where people seek advice from experts." Best regards

Is this Gassan from (removed) real? Seems like damask steel and not the Gassan hada. It also seems like the hamon is missing ? http://tinyurl.com/29fmh9 Any opinions?

I have just bought one :-) Can't wait to get it :-) Hope you will sell thousands of these :-)

Dear All, I know, it is just a plain boring Mino nihonto but I wonder what your opinion would be about this naginata (signed Kanemaki). It has been bought from AOI Art and it is nothing really special, but If you had any info on the smith and any opinion on that naginata, I would be very obliged. You will find my amateurish pics here: http://web.mac.com/mariuszk/iWeb/Site/Naginata.html I attach AOI Art's picture as well, with oshigata. Sword data: Blade length: 38.3cm or 15.08inches. Sori: 3.0cm or 1.18inches. Width at the hamachi: 2.34cm or 0.82inch. Nakago length: 30.9cm or 12.17inches. Thanks in advance and best regards [/img]