Alex A

Microfibre is man made, quite coarse, kind of feels like your polishing your blade with a fleece jacket. The next time you clean your blade just try a cotton cloth afterwards, you will know what i mean. The best kind of cloth would be a jewellers cloth, im presuming that maybe what Jean has. A trivial matter, but if your willing to buy top quality uchiko, maybe best buying the top quality polishing cloths too. All down to personal preference, as i said, i use old cotton rags made from tshirts. "Yawn", i here you say. :D Alex.

I tried microfibre cloths, didn't like the feel on the blade, felt abrasive, gone back to using an old white cotton tshirt :D , someone is now going to tell me white tshirts are abrasive arnt they? No neod. Alex.

Good news... Alex.

I appreciate these old simple tsuba, from an historical point of view, the same way one may look at a Roman coin for instance. Simple tsuba, not to impress, but does try, thats its appeal, to me. Alex.

Nice original tsuba David, i see the pagoda, but whats the other part of the design, snowflake and lanterns? Alex.

On a bright note, only £250!, so not the end of the world. If folk on here sometimes seem a bit harsh about stuff like this its because, as mentioned above , they want to help you, human nature. Alex.

Tom, the guy told you it was 1560, that was his opinion, right or wrong, probably because it was signed Bizen Sukesada (well known bizen smiths of that era). You thought the blade was a later kanbun blade. This should have rang alarm bells. I think shapewise you where thinking in the right direction (maybe not far enough) but with my knowledge its hard to tell from the pics and the poor state of polish. You spent £250, for another couple of hundred you would have probably got a wak in good polish. Was this off ebay?. Alex.

Hi Tom, have you got a clear shot of the signature?, no expert but looks strange, angle of camera maybe. Alex.

And black coloured, so laquered? Alex

Hi Lee, i understand that, but i was talking battlefield, totally different, all that goes out of the window. Roy mentioned "battle", you see. Slow on the uptake lol :D Alex.

Surely on an old battle sword there could be a scenario for this to happen, if im wrong, please tell me why? Alex.

Yes Dick, could peri the oncoming bullets, like in the wolverine films :D Alex.

This is turning into a complex topic lol, just for a minute, forget vanadium and modern steels and ask yourself.. During world war2, would a soldier with a gun need a particularly high strength blade? Alex.

Very educational Mark, but still cant help siding with the traditional over the ww2 type 98, biased I suppose. Alex.

Cheers Remy, knew id read it somewhere. Alex.

The steel on a traditional blade is wrapped around an iron core. I may be wrong but im sure they tried solid steel blades, but alas, they broke. Surely good quality steel of the time wasn't that bad? Alex

Wow, thanks for the answers guys!. Was this technology available during ww2? Alex.

How is high quality carbon steel of old different from high quality carbon steel of modern times?.... Alex.

I would look back to the past, look at why swords broke in battle and why changes where made to construction. If simple construction was adequate there would have never been a need to change. A sword in world war 2 was not up against another sword or naginata etc, so im presuming they didnt need to be as strong, allthough strong enough!. Only accurate testing would give you an answer, equal size swords, maybe a job for the mythbusters :D My moneys on the more flexible heavily laminated blade. Alex.

More arms fair than sword show, allthough there are nihonto dealers. I take the lad, its become a yearly tradition. Alex.

Its simple Mike, a nice idea, if you want to do it and can afford it, then do it. If theres any hesitancy, then dont. Its never going to be a wise financial buy, like anything in this game. At least you will have something left, something special for you to pass on, sure your son or daughter will see the sentiment one day..... Alex.

Common sense prevails...dont you just hate being sensible :D Alex.

Mike, i really like the idea. im sure the misses will come round to the idea.........eventually. Im sure someone will tell you that you may have to up the budget, but hey, this project deserves it! :D Alex.

Brian, a fitting thread for the caption above your name, the last time i noticed it was when i was in the middle of buying my last sword, kind of had me concerned lol, had visions of me living in a tent, with 5 full sword racks and a scruffy dog :D . For some people collecting anything to do with nihonto is an hobby, to most though, a luxury. Alex.

Off topic, but a wise investment, don't laugh.....meteorites... Edit, jeeze, first pint was strong lol Alex