Alex A

Hi Brandon, did you read the link above?. Its difficult for folk to flick between images for comparisons, especially when your mei/picture is not as clear/sharp as the example you put on. Much easier for you, as you have the blade in hand. You have been told above that your blade may be a possible Tadakuni 1st (no guarantees), not too sure whats on your mind. Your better off letting an expert see it in hand, as above mentioned, and then take it from there. Only so much can be done from photos.

A bit of a google as lead me to this page, you may find it interesting. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ik-E ... nd&f=false

LOL, Brandon, its half the price of a katana. Dont get too excited just yet!, a sword is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. NTHK Shinsa is in the states, you have just missed one. There are folk on here who can help you with Japan shinsa.

Hi Brandon, the styles you read about where likely the Hamon, not the mei. He worked in a wide range throughout his career. Take a look at my Tadakuni wakizashi below, look at the mei and the hamon. The mei has the "JO", that yours has , been a while since ive looked at it. The wak has NBTHK Hozen papers. The papers dont tell you the generation, so im guessing shinsa will still have you pondering. The Aoi art appraisel (well known sword dealer in Tokyo) has it down on the appraisel sheet as Tadakuni 1st, Josaku/wazamono ranking/ designated Harima Daijo at 37 years of age/ worked for Koshiro clan etc. When you buy a sword its natural that you want to know more about it, but as mentioned above, without the experience of seeing many examples, its difficult, a lot of books required. I think ive read somewhere that a later generation also signed Harima daijo, i think it was a Tadakuni thread on here. If your sword does get papered to Tadakuni, then i would be thrilled in any case. Take one step at a time, folk ponder over stuff like this for decades LOL.

Hi, yes there where a few signatures. "JO" in your mei does not match to the examples in Fujishiros. Not sure why?, hopefully someone with more experience will be able to help. See below, could be a good reason for it, maybe just a variation.

Im at work, from memory he signed different. Some just say Harima Daijo Fujiwara Tadakuni, i think there are 3 variants on his signature.... Tadakuni (1640,s), will check tomorrow.

Look at the strokes, how the characters are made. Is yours anything like the example I put on yesterday?. The "Kuni" character on your mei as curved strokes, unlike the example you put on.

Look closer, there was more than the one Tadakuni. Is it my eyes or does your mei not look more like the example I put on yesterday?.

Hi Mr Laws, difficult to tell with the photos, might be easier for you to compare with examples on the internet. I have just read that some short Tadakuni katana where signed katana mei (on the same side of sword as yours). Hizen blades where known for their high quality hada (grain). From the photos, it does appear to be a well made blade, maybe a clear shot of the hada might help. Im no expert, but one thing that concerns me is the amount of life left in the blade at the hamachi?

Im wondering why the signature is katana mei?, not tachi mei.

A small world.

Its the same code for UK too.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16947&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=rules+of+thumb viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15011&hilit=beginner+looking+to+make+first+purchase

I used that video last year, think its great, managed to do it without filling the swear jar.

The first site i come across, been of great help, glad to see it continue to help other folk.

Thanks Ron, advice to look into if considering flying home with a new expensive purchase, would help take some worry out of the journey, for sure.

Cheers Ken, a few more sensible tips there for folk wishing to travel with new purchases.

Interesting Derek. Reading your post on security as made me think of other problems that folk may have with traveling with expensive nihonto that they have bought and walked away with at shows. That of hotel security. You buy the sword thursday eve, your flight back is monday eve. Maybe to large for the hotel safe/they wont offer insurance for the item if stored in the safe/too expensive (something along those lines). Hotels do have a reputation for items vanishing, another worry to consider.

Ive read a few posts in the past about taking swords on planes, it had me curious too. Ive caught a few of those airport documentaries now and again, surprising sometimes what hassles can occur for folk. I got held up last year whilst a customs officer went off to xray some skipping rope handles . I can imagine a story about a $10,000 sword being quite interesting to an eager young customs officer having an uneventful day.

I would tell the girl because thats what i would do, a $10,000 sword, a concern. As for the customs officer, its described as an "art object", that i say i paid $10,000 for, not a set of golf clubs. If you think customs officers dont look into these things, your deluded. I think its best to agree to disagree.

Adrian, if you read my post you will note i have not stated it is illegal to take swords on a plane. I stated dealing with "inexperienced" airport staff can lead to hassles, dealing with arsey customs officers can lead to more hassles. Horses for coarses. If you believe that is the best way to get a sword home, then fine, its just not the way i see it.

Adrian, i was speculating about hassles that one may incur.

Im aware Ken as flown to and from Japan with iaito swords, i can only presume these are not worth say $10,000 and up and are described as sporting equipment in the paperwork. Purely speculation, but im hazarding a guess at some pit falls. Lets say you go to democratic country, the Chicago show and buy a sword from Joe the dealer at $10,000, he gives you the documentation in Japanese, plus a signed piece of paper saying its an antique. Your misses, to add a bit of humour is accompanying you on this trip of a lifetime (no ways shes missing this one). As always these kind of trips get of to a rocky start when you ask her why she needed to bring 15 pair of shoes for a weeks vacation. We arrive at Chicago airport, go the the check in desk. i tell an inexperienced girl on the desk i have a nihonto sword in my suitcase, she says "i beg your pardon", i say, "an antique Samurai SWORD", she says "you cant take that on the plane". After a lot of time holding up a large que quibbling, she calls for a customs officer. By this time your misses is not happy. Your led off to a room to sort things out. The main man who deals with this kind of thing is out, he arrives an hour later. He as a look over the papers, then says he needs to speak to the guy you bought it from. He calls Joe, but he is out partying with his sale money. It can go two ways, he can let you take the sword on board or not. If not then you have obviously missed your flight, if he does, by then you may have missed your flight anyway. You get the next available flight via Amsterdam (at extra cost), an added worry of baggage going missing, but the grief your misses is giving you makes that worry seem insignificant. Your wishing you just got it posted. There are other pit falls, but time is short. If you think none of this is possible, your deluded.

Your words Adrian. "If you want to be 100% sure, then probably something like Fedex with insurance at full value is the way to go." I agree.

, you lost me there, maybe Tunisia pulled some strings, lets stay on topic.