Alex A

Dotanuki wakizashi with long kissaki on Aoi http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-kyusyu-higo-dotanuki-uemon

I didn't know, I was always under the impression that a negative couldn't be removed. Anyway, thanks for the heads up.

As long as you like the sword, and you don't pay a Tadahiro price, all is good.

Yes, nice hada, Osaka Master. Il top window shopping for now, but carry on with the lottery.

Joel, did you list the problem when you left a negative feedback for other folk to see? High5 is definitely the wrong name

Quality Horimono http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-awataguchi-ikkanshi-tadatsuna-hori-dosaku Not my consignment by the way

Yes, don't get too attached and keep doing the lottery.

I like them, but that's where it ends. I was looking at a collection in the latest Bonhams London catalogue, the "Solomon Fuld" collection, interesting.

Cheers Barry, just ordered me one

Personally, I would never part with any cash on the promise of a Shinsa guarantee, unless it was by someone I have known for a long time and trust. Ken S, don't buy a sword with a ?, simple as that.

Cheers Paul, appreciated. Kanbun was a popular word in this exercise, once owned a Kanbun shape Katana, very little sori, only 6mm

Doh!, thought no2 could have been Late Muromachi, seem to have lead my self astray wondering about the nakago.

If I'm wrong its because I rushed to get the results in on time 1) Shinto. 2) Mid Nanbokucho 3)Late Kamakura 4)Early Kamakura.

Ford, you must have the patience of a saint, I used to get worked up doing spot the ball, 260 Xs on a sheet, in the end I bought a stamp with 260 Xs lol

Haha, well done Ken.

Hi Ken, all I will say is do your homework, its a lot of money, check the sword and mei against other examples. Over and out.

Hello If i were you, i would do some reading. I mean well

Ye, I know a lot of head scratching goes on in there too, all fun

Im joining you and Jean in the Koto missing mei department

Perhaps I could sum up my thoughts in a different way. A fictitious example Lowry the painter works with a few sons, possibly two or three students, their work is indistinguishable, he has taught them well. He signs his name, they sign his name, all a bit confusing. Buyers want his name, Lowry likes that, he charges more! Now, back up to date, Mervin, the buyer in the future buys a Lowry with an authentication paper, stating its by Shodai Lowry (1st), he pays big bucks. BUT, and its a BIG BUT we don't know its a Lowry 1st lol, the Tardis had broke. So maybe the papers should state.........." Lowry school, possibly by Head Lowry 1st, we don't know for sure". so, how can authentication papers state that it is by Shodai Lowry 1st?

Hi Arnold, silly me, thanks for the clarification, I link the word with "authentication", should have used that in there instead maybe. Lately, I'm wondering if a lot of big name blades with papers may have an hidden ? One may own a blade with a ?, but alas, ignorance is bliss Maybe I think too much lol

Hi Reggie I suppose the only time a fake Tadayoshi mei might bother me is if i had paid for a Tadayoshi mei Looks a decent blade with everything visible, a nice buy.

An example, this is what I would assume would happen on some occasions (amusing scenario maybe) A customer turns up. Theres a dozen katana unsigned in the back, half by master, half by student. Boss don't like the look of the customer (doesn't have much cash, possibly a poor Ronin), so he picks up a student blade, hands it to the student and says "run me my signature over that whilst i have a brew".

Hi Diego, i understand the error bit, they are just educated opinions afterall. What im getting at is stuff we may not know about, who else may have worked in busy forges and who may have done this and that. I'm talking 300+ years ago. Speculating I know, but curious

Hi Joe, I'm talking about Shinsa Odds are that there are blades out there with a few unknown truths, cant be 100% sure of anything when we are dealing with the past, history we don't know nothing about.