Alex A

Hi Pete, cheers for that, an interesting read indeed. I rest the swords on a cushion on the settee. In turn i wipe oil off with alcohol, then dry before re-oiling with clean cloths. I use old white cotton t-shirt Its a straightish line through part of the hamon, looks a bit like a nioi, same colour, but obvious it isnt nioi. I would attach a pic, but too dark now. Im now wondering if it was from the polish or a previous owner and i just havent noticed it until now. Doubt it though.

Ive noticed a very faint scuff on one of my swords about an inch and a half long, im sure it wasnt there the last time i looked. Im really careful about where i leave cloths, so i dont think they have picked up any grit, but cant say for sure. I did use these cheap micro-fibre cloths once or twice before i threw them away. I started using a light sewing machine oil about 5 months ago, very runny, not like the usual gloopy gun oil i used before that. The saya is only a few years old, its not a tight fit with the blade. I was thinking that there is either something in the saya or ive wiped down the blade with something i shouldnt have. If there is something in the saya, then maybe the previous gloopy oil did a better job of protecting the blade from what was in there. Anyway, ive ran a pipe cleaner down the saya the best i can, and bought a thicker oil. I dont want to turn this into another thread on oils, i just want to know if anyone else as used standard BREAK FREE CLP without any issues for a number of years?, i think one or two of you guys do. This is the oil i have bought, but got a bit edgy about using it when i read "may be fatal if swallowed" on the bottle, suggests it contains some harsh chemicals.

Hello Steven. A phrase ive often read here, buy the sword, not the papers. As for the spending, well, i suppose it depends on how much someone wants something, how much their into something. I watched a tv show recently, in the show was an average guy who liked a particular modern artist, he paid £20,000 for one of the artists paintings, although a big spend, i get why he did it. Folk spend their hard earned cash on lots of things, cant take it with you. Im an average guy, blown tens of thousands on cars and bikes over the years, now theres an investment lol, do i regret it, no.

Christmas has come early

I wouldnt like to hazard a guess Piers, uncharted territory. All i know is, it looks older than me :lol:

Seen this one a while ago at Aoi http://www.aoijapan.com/kusarigama-nany ... kichijitsu

It doesnt surprise me. When i started collecting i bought my first sword from these guys. Whilst on the phone i asked the guy did the sword have any flaws whatsoever ?(he had the sword in hand), he seemed a real gent, told me the sword was flawless. The sword arrived two days later, it had a small opening. I suppose some dealers will occasionally bend the truth to keep the cash flowing in.

Hi Pete, your right, very interesting write up by the Lanes indeed. To me, the holes in this tsuba (ive circled them) are from casting "Gas porosity", the Lanes describe the tsuba as "Chisseled on a shinchu plate" . The Lanes also describe the tsuba as a Superb "SHAKUDO" kinko tsuba, is this appropriate?

Im tempted, but dont know anything about them, i could not seem to find a great deal of detailed info on the internet.

Hi Romain, papered swords with cutting test inscriptions are quite expensive. If your going down that route Id start with some books (someone was going to say it). Search books for beginners.

Hi Romain, do a search on here for "why mumei?", the thread will answer a lot of your questions. The sword does not have a cutting test, but the smith/school had a reputation for making sharp swords, was in the rankings, a bit like a football league viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12164&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Hi Romain, looks a decent sword with Hozen papers. Be aware that Edo/Mumei can be a bit more of a difficult re-sell, but as long as you get it for a good price, then alls good. At the end of the day though, the only opinion that really matters is your own. Know exactly what your buying, you will apprecate it more.

Excellent work, particularly like no8 with the two trees.

Coldy B Moore

:lol: , I love a good conspiracy!.

Interesting read, heres another theory. The swords where handed in at the police station, but where not the real deal , hence a low key handover...Someone put me right

Understand Aleksandr, was just thinking out loud, done a few myself. Buy decent fittings, if you buy low end parts you may end up regretting it, especially if you value your sword. Maybe worth considering having everything new, Tsuba, fuchi koshirae, menuki and seppa, it gives it that personal touch, rather than mixing the old with the new. No fit issues, which can be an headache. I enjoyed searching for parts too, educational. It can take some time sourcing correct parts, which can be a blessing, spreads the cost out.

A wiser man once said to me "enjoy your blade as it is, in shirasaya".

Hi Km, i would assume some smiths would only sign an order after receiving payment, unless it where a gift/presentation. Maybe that would explain a few of these "general" mei dates. Maybe that would also explain more mumei pieces (non payers), but lets not go there...

Haha, sorry Chris, couldnt resist that one, i know, hot springs

And heres the proof :lol:

This clearly demonstrates that replacing tsuba is an exact science. A while ago i had the opposite result, the tsuba i purchased was half of a mm too thick, so everything was too tight. As the habaki was solid silver i was able to file a skim off the back, being extra careful about removing any filings. An easier fix, but still a pain.

Hi Km, back then (in the good old days), folk where not ruled by the clock or time, as we are. A case of getting up when the sun comes up, then having a few healthy beers throughout the working day , but then some trouble maker invented the clock, then shifts, then productivity/profit charts, then a device called a "clocking in machine :cry:" etc etc, rant over . My point being, times where different. I type this whilst looking at my watch.....

Hi Mark S, I noticed yesterday that the example you put on was signed tachi mei. Now then, that was typical (but always an exception to the rule) of Tadakuni line katana. From what i understand, wakizashi where signed katana mei, but then again, maybe exceptions out there, not sure. Anyway, the mei on your example is shoddy to say the least, especially "wara" . An attempt at "Harima no kami", the son of Shodai Tadakuni or possibly the Shodai in his later years (so ive read, gets confusing). The example in Jims link is that of the Shodai. 20 watchers, someone looking for a bargain Josaku smith maybe, wishful thinking.

Newbies are often asking how to spot fakes, maybe there should be a compilation of mugshots, a prize at the end of the year for best and worst fake :lol: