Alex A

Issue solved, put a screwdriver through the mekugi-ana and tapped down gently on a table, job done

A sword turned up yesterday, with shrasaya and seperate koshirae with Tsunagi. The tsuba was packaged separately. When I try and take the Tsunagi out of the saya to fit the tsuba it wont come out, pulled as hard as I want too, don't want to break the tsunagi or split the saya. Unusual issue, any ideas ?

Hello Jeff Your at the "Now that I have realized that life is unbearable without owning a katana" stage, we have all been there. I'm reminded of a friend who "always" wanted a motorcycle, he passed his test then went out and went straight for an R1. He didn't have it long for a few reasons, 1) It was too fast 2) bikes were not for him. My point being, before you go out spending big bucks on a sword, get your feet wet first to see if you would enjoy it (as others have pointed out). You don't need a 25k dose of buyers remorse. Think of swords as a luxury and not investments (as been said countless times), nothing comes with a guarantee.

Hi Mike, i meant his email address is on his website, for contacting him about stuff thats on Ebay. I dont do Ebay auctions for Nihonto related stuff for various reasons, although if i can get a good deal by going in through the back door, i will.

Take it from me, Robert is spot on ^, as I found out. Best way to reach him http://www.owazamono.com/Home.html

I just wanted to add that I followed Greys advice a while ago and contacted Eric through his website http://www.owazamono.com/Home.html I had been watching an item in his Ebay store. I found Eric to be professional, friendly and open to reasonable offers. Item arrived well packaged, on time and as described.

Hi Alton, I would never buy an existing saya to fit a blade = scuffed blade= polish=expense and hassles and back to square one. Have new made.

Clear as day, in this pic?, you have good eyesight. Ive just bought a sword from Aoi, wished id sent the images over to you for a once over. And for what its worth, I don't think it was me you where being disrespectful to, the guy could obviously do without the

Do you see that crack clearly in the Aoi pic because you know its there?, I wonder. Anyone can make that mistake.

Cheers Peter, id wondered about the use if the word Fuji in that school lately, now solved. https://markussesko.com/2016/04/06/fujiwara-ligature/

As above, to me it looks like its been chemically changed, then gone over with a wire brush. Reminds me of what rusty iron meteorites look like after sodium hydroxide treatment, a rust cure.

Strange, after reading that art sword thread, I ended up buying a Naokatsu too

Hoanh, can you tell us what the moto-kasane is please?, just curious.

What Paul said ^, my first thought also was Nanbokucho or maybe into early Muromachi, judging from what I can see of the sugata and dark jigane etc. I think the kissaki was a little longer at one time. Nice sword.

I like the fuchi, spent ages looking for one like that once, never found one.

The first thing that crossed my mind when i read your statement Jacques was what about an exceptional works by a lower ranking smith, is that not art?

You raise an interesting point about folk referring to "all" Japanese swords being "art" swords. I suppose even kazu-uchimono could be described as "art", as it obviously took skill to make them. As you know, there are many schools known not for "artistic" merit but for their non-aesthetic no nonsense approach, schools like Dotanuki (I'm also a fan). However, whilst they are known for being utilitarian, a lot do have "artistic" merit, but compared to the example at the beginning of the thread, then how much "artistic" value?. Hard to put into terms so il try a percentage, 20%?. What artistic value could you put on a kazu-uchimono?, 5%?. Think I'm looking too much into this Again, back the sword I presented at the beginning of the thread, for me an "art" sword. The hamon runs high, I doubt any Samurai Dotanuki owners back in the day would swap before a battle for something this "artistic". Beautiful sword though, I get the impression that the smith went all out to create "art". Everything on that sword is INTENTIONAL, there is even some spots of what looks to be tobiyaki on identical distances along the blade. For me "intentional" is a key word, if I put this sword as a percentage, id go with 70%. . Its difficult to be precise on this subject and as Ken mentioned above "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

You could say that they are "worthy of preservation and study on the basis of cultural history, craftsmanship and form " without the word "art", but as antiques. but I suppose your right in stating that "art" lends an hand. Interesting point.

Someone could get a Chinese knock off and add horimono etc etc etc Maybe add a cheap tsuba and fuchi (legit ones) Then sell at a profit. Steel looks wrong in the close ups, horimono looks weird, as though the metal crumbled as they were doing it and it looks like it was done yesterday. Then there is everything else previously mentioned above. Chromed did you say?, a museum discussing a "chromed" sword, unusual. I see enough to run a mile. £3000, oh dear, difficult judging from photos though, lets hope I'm wrong.

I read it occasionally. Subjective i suppose. I stumbled across a sword at Aoi earlier, made me think of the term. https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-taikei-naotanebunka-1nen-2-gatsu-hi-february-1804 Ps, just noticed its on consignment, not mine and not sales pitch, nice sword though.

Me too.

Hi Andrew. Il have be brief, boss has come up with a new clocking in phone app Seems the biggest issue is actually getting to accept swords over the counter, have a read of this, not Europe, US, but still applies. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23294-mailing-swords-to-the-usa-from-the-uk/ You have not stated what exactly you are shipping?, tanto, wak, katana, value ?. I have always used Parcelforce, once accepted then no problems. You might want to try booking in online. Has someone bought the sword?. Sometimes they want the cheap service, if so, then make it clear that the risk is their risk, either by way of lack of tracking or insurance (can be expensive) Best

I will find the thread, cheers Ken.

Thanks for sharing, nightmare that Grev. As well as damp, I was concerned about temperature fluctuations, especially in winter. Can cause problems with saya too, warping, leading to scuffed blades.

Cheers Gents. Richard, you may have a point, probably me In hindsight, an odd question, I suppose. You know how it is though, you see something you don't like and you go through the WTH stage. Ive bought a few boxes off Ebay, will need some adjustment. Some of those tsuba bags too. Going to put them in another drawer too. The drawer they are in at the moment is up against an outside wall. Ive never put swords there for that reason, same now with the tsuba. Cheers.