Alex A

As described, fast delivery, thanks

I would need to see them both in hand Once re-hardened though, its fair to say that the sword by the soshu master is no longer the sword by the soshu master. In that case, I would find it difficult accepting a saiha masterpiece with a big name (not that I can afford it). Same price though and I may be tempted

I was wondering about that. Ive always been concerned with using saran wrap incase condensation occurs?, but maybe I worry too much. I place a simple note in the box in the language of wherever its going, I use google translate. Not the best I know, but hopefully adequate. I also leave out photocopies of the shinsa papers with clear explanation of what they are. I was talking to Aoi a while ago, they sent me pics of a sword that had been examined by customs who never wrapped it back up properly, full of scratches. I sent out a sword a while ago, i found a thick cardboard tube, wrapped the sword in bubble wrap, put the sword in the tube, then in a box. My hope was that it would put customs off with too much messing about. It got there ok, but i suppose stuff like that can also maybe backfire. Always a worry.

If someone sees a gimei Tadayoshi in the for sale section I guarantee someone will state gimei On this occasion, Charlie asks $2000,000!!!!! for an item with no authentication, not even a write up, and were to sit and say nothing? A total mystery to me, strange thread.

Charlie, if you thought that sword was worth $2000000, you would not be on here looking to sell it would you?. You would have sold it to a museum by now, and be a local hero.

I think Charlie knows exactly what he has. His own words "I just pay half million for this roral dragon ruler", I don't believe that A guy asks for 2 million dollars for a piece of junk, taking us for fools or hes a troll, one or the other. ​Ps, Charlie, the only way you will get $2,000000 for that is if NASA find out its made of an alloy, not of this world Been an interesting thread, good luck with your sale.

For a minute i thought Charlie was putting together another very tempting deal, glad thats cleared up.

Well Charlie, you have certainly achieved your goal.

Ok thanks, I will think on it.

Thank you. Do you have any kind of authentication ?

Who is the famous fighter?

^Classic

Darius, thats an whole different discussion, perhaps a new thread would have been a good idea were im sure you will get lots of good advice. Briefly, fittings changed with time. I think its good to match age, but not crucial. Dont buy a tsuba that does not fit, measure the nakago, buy once.

I remember when I bought my first sword, owning one was adequate for a while, but as I started to learn more curiosity got the better of me. I don't plan on owning a room full of swords, cant afford it so if I buy a sword that sadly means that I eventually may have to sell a sword, but great owning and studying them for a while. It seems I may never be content, until ive seen everything i feel i need to see, could take a while

Grant, I'm nearly there, but not quite ready for Nihonto-Anonymous yet

with what you own in this hobby? Ive yet to hear of it. People say thats it, ive done with buying, then six months later there is a new sword in the post If you have managed it, be good to hear how you kicked the habit.

Whopps, Bizen, not Kaga, was on autopilot, sorry Darius, ignore that.......

Edit.

Hi Darius, what ever you choose to do, now or in the future, try and look for sensible deals were you are more likely to see your money back when you come to sell. Sometimes though, when you see something good that you really like, you may end up paying over the odds to get it, but I suppose that goes with any kind of collecting hobby. Johns correct, your taste will change when you learn a bit more, the good news is, learnings a lot cheaper than buying!

Good news, forget your gold and silver shares, the futures nihonto. I must say, some of the book prices have shot up too, buy whilst you can, boom times a coming!!

Mike, heres a few pics of what your looking for, the fuchi are iron or soft metal (not easy to find one short in height), the kashira is usually made from horn. Tsuba, ko-katchushi, ko-tosho, ko-kinko to name a few.

I see, thanks Mariusz.

That's the plan Darcy, going from old to new. I started with early tsuba, ive been looking at iron plate tsuba with simple sukashi and also bronze, yamegane and nigurome tsuba with simple decoration such as hari-ishime 針石目, kebori 毛彫 etc. I like these simple early tsuba, they are from an era that I like to study, but its not been easy to know what is considered top notch from those times. I see simple iron plate tsuba (plane jane, dare I say it) going for big bucks and then tsuba that seem more intricate going for a lot less, I guess the "history and rareness" factor has a lot do do with it. All got a bit confusing, but at least now I have some direction. I suppose I'm following the same path, simple to more complicated, easy learning program Cheers.

^^^ Great book, and you wont find many (if any) at that price.

Thanks gents for the pointers, appreciated Mariusz, fitting that you mention "some", Ko-Katchushi & Ko-Tosho, spending a month trying to get my head around them eventually led to this thread. I get what your saying, all utilitarian, but fair to say that some are more so than others. From then on, ive moved onto Onin, then Heianjo. (bit like the above, but jazzed up with brass inlay and prices seem more affordable) Il get there, cheers.