Alex A

Sounds expensive, and with more hassles than you can shake a stick at. Alex

1) RAI KUNIZANE 2) SUE BIZEN (AGAIN LOL) 3) AWATAGUCHI 4) CLUELESS Alex.

If possible Grey let it run for a few days, this bookworming takes time. Alex.

Class. Alex

Thanks Paul, good practice Alex

So tempting , even i had a look Alex

Out of curiosity, how many smiths would an army take with it to a battle?. Alex.

Cheers again Paul, here we go, dont laugh :D , this was done whilst taking flack from the misses for looking at swords, again. (used original 3 pics) 1) yamato ko mihara Masahiro(guess) 2) bizen sue bizen Tadamitsu (guess) 3 soshu odawara smith (clueless)

Hi Mariusz, agreed, as much as it may sound over the top, i am now assuming it may be possible to bend a fine tip as it moves down the saya, this sword has a very fine tip and the blade as deep sori and a long kissaki, it doesnt seem to travel well as it goes down the saya, maybe a fault on the saya. I may be wrong but just as a precaution im going to be extra careful. Alex.

Crikey George, nigntmare for the novice and double trouble for the guy who owned the sword! . A good while ago i was in sword shop with a wak looking for fuchi and a tsuba to fit. There was 5 or 6 guys spending a saturday afternoon looking at the swords in the shop, all great guys i might add, very helpful. I took my wak out of the shirasaya to show them, quite nervously, these guys know there stuff. Anyway, one guy came up to me and very politely told me that if i had took his sword out out of the saya the way i had took my sword out of the saya there would have been bother, a nice gent, he was half joking when he said it or was he . A learning curve, i suppose. Alex

Adrian, am i wrong to assume the tsuba on your wak has a bit too much movement? is this your concern? Alex

Slightly larger than the nakago, no need for a micrometer. Alex

In an ideal world Adrian a bang on fit will do nicely, obviously not so tight that its difficult to push on. Alex.

The few Japanese ebayers that i have dealt with have been 1st class too, very methodical and well mannered. I like the fuchi by the way, il be on the lookout for large fuchi kashira and tsuba myself, not just yet though, bit skint... Alex.

Thats is something that is likely to happen only once John. I have managed to re-straighten it, dont ask me how i went about it, lets just say its back to normal, very nearly anyway Alex.

Hi Thomas, the tip is fine, probably too fine for my liking. I understand now why there is a need for an iaido polish. Alex.

Cheers guys, its a strange one. Hopefully just something ive missed. Alex.

I am aware that when sheathing a katana its mune side down. Is there anyone out there who has ever damaged the very end of the kissaki whilst doing this. Im talking about the very fine point on a sharp kissaki. A while ago i noticed the very tip of one of my swords had a slight bend, hardly visable, im talking minute, but it is there. Ive never bumped it, im always careful. It was either there and ive never noticed it or ive done it when sheathing the blade, is this possible? Alex

HaHa, will do

Hi Thomas, that nakago sure tells a story!.Weird really, some freinds who come to my home think having such items in the home is unlucky, i cant say my luck as changed since starting this hobby but i do think about what these items have been through during the years. Cutting tests, war, etc etc...They do say the soul of the samurai is in the blade!, sorry, this would be a better post on halloween. I remember the night i got my first real sword, worst nightmare ever, weird, actually sent that sword back, not for that reason, but maybe it just needed to leave...spooky Alex

Aoi art is the only Japanese dealer that i have dealt with. Im sure someone else will comment. Alex

Hi Stu, the letter you get from the postal service is vague to say the least, ive never recieved one of these letters with a full discription on how the customs came to the figure that you owe.The item isnt that expensive but i am going away on hol friday and the misses will kill me if im hit too hard . The last time i spent £2k on a sword from Japan, the total fees where £160, so not too bad. Its just that i know that mistakes can be made and its a pain in the ass sorting them out. Maybe im worrying too much, hopefully. Alex.

The one thing that bothers me are mistakes by customs, it can obviously add up to a lot. I wouldnt want to wait 6 months to get my money back..I have an item coming in this week, im dreading the letter, and praying its correct. Alex

Hi Stu, its 5% on import duty if the item is over 100 years old. Alex

Ok, ok Adrian, it was your initiative. . well done Alex