Alex A

Hi David, im also interested in menuki from the late muromachi period. Ive looked on most sites, most, if not all that i have come across are of the edo period. The pictures that i have come across of tensho kashirae dont show the menuki too well, they also look like they have been laquered along with the rest of the tsuka, maybe in the warring states period posh menuki where just for the hierarchy? Alex.

You will probably find that there isnt much difference in price for 150, 250 or 500 books for offset, just the cost of the paper, which doesnt add up to much. For a small run of 150 a printers will still need to print at least 250 overs for the finishers to set up on, a total of 400 anyway. If you want it done cheap, go digital, you may think the quality is fine. Alex.

Its under the habaki as you say, its one of them things, some folk will advise yes, some no. if the polisher says it wont get any worse then id be tempted to leave it. Out of curiosity, why do they patinate new habaki?...it will age in time anyway. I had new copper seppa made last year, the new look doesnt bother me. Alex

Hi Dave, if it where me i would be straight on the phone to the polisher to see what could be done. It clearly underlines how easy it is for these blades to mark. Are there any guidelines regarding newly polished blades?, as to storage and replacing the habaki etc. Alex.

Still a reasonable price to me. Alex.

I have now Ford, absolutely fascinating, not knowing much about tsuba its answered a lot of questions for me. Great to see how its done, rather than read how its done . It must be great to have such skills. Alex.

Never seen it done before, great to see Alex.

Cheers for puting it on Mariusz... Alex.

Hamon reminds me of genroku kaga kiyomitsu, allthough sori says otherwise. Alex.

Oh dear, very scary, il take a seat at the back please :D. Not that i watch it , but i think britains got talent has a samurai sword act this weekend... Alex.

Hi Cris, im guessing that if he will attempt to cut a breeze block with his sword then he is not too woried about scratches from the dust. If i where him id be ever so slightly concerned about catching something in the eye, an health and safety no no. He didnt cut the block, he cracked it, as you said.. Alex.

Cheers Jean, ceder oil is something i would have never thought of using (not clued up in the polishing department), usually just use furniture polish and to be honest that really doesnt make much difference, just looked dull and flat, not glossy like this, wish id took a before picture now. Felt like bit of a nutter posting this, but glad i did now, cheers. Alex.

The misses for some unknown reason turned up with a bottle of Pledge ceder oil, whilst admiring her handy work i thought id try it on a oldish worn kake that i have. I have to say, im chuffed with the result, looks new again, and doesnt feel greasy, well, not after a short while anyway. The usual wax cleaners dont come close, sorry to sound so domesticated :D Ps, obviously i wouldnt try this on any laquerwork or expensive kake, unless you know better, that is. Alex

Thats interesting Brian, who would have thought!.. Alex

Hi Tobias, im no expert either. You can see the hamon running up to the point on the kissaki, from the picture it looks like it narrows towards the point. At the top of the kissaki is a small tempered area that hangs down, as though its part of a turnback that as now been removed. I could be wrong of coarse. Alex.

I see what you mean Peter, it does look like it could have been reshaped. Alex.

Hi again Grey, and thanks for the reply!. As you say, it comes down to personal taste. The cost doesnt worry me too much, theres a few guys over that do good work for a fair price, the waiting time between passing on the work helps to spread the cost. I did one last year and really enjoyed doing it, enjoyed looking for all the pieces (western style, as you said) and it was great to see it all come together, i was more than happy with the result. I would say its given the sword increased value, whether that outways the money spent is another story. With all hobbys, i suppose money is wasted at one point or another. Alex

This is the 2nd time i have considered buying fittings for a sword. I dont mind shirasaya, i just prefer koshirae. The last time i did this i got the impression from some folk that it was an unnecessary expense and that most older swords are kept in shirasaya. To be honest, i agree, but just prefer a sword in koshirae. When the idea about refitting this sword came about i automatically thought "correct period fittings", its a late muromachi katana and it needs late muromachi fittings. Whilst browsing the net for fuchi, tsuba etc yesterday i was reminded that most koto blades in koshirae have been fitted with shinto/shinshinto fittings anyway, so am i worrying too much?. Im not looking for extravagant fittings, just original, simple iron fittings of that era, but from the few ive looked at so far, the later fittings are in better condition. Does anyone have any views on this?, im open to suggestions and any opinions. Alex.

Hi Peter, i read the Tadayoshi forge was in what was once Nagasa-mura (Takasa-Mura today), a small village on the Nagasaki highway. As for the rest, not sure, the book "the school of hizen tadayoshi", may help, as mentioned below. Alex.

Hi Grev, i understand your point. A valuation and estimation paper is what i had in mind, not a purchase from the dealer. Alex.

Hi Paul. sorry if you think my post was aimed at you or anyone else in this thread, it surely was not. If i was to sell this sword on here i would have got an independent valuation first. To ask for a valuation on this site is in no doubt going to lead to numerous opinions, all different, and more than likely offence. Allthough people are honest on here, sometimes the way they word there opinions can offend, obviously non intentional, but true. I wasnt talking about any opinions above, just opinions that are likely to appear. Alex.

Hi Grev, i would take the sword to a dealer for a valuation, unless your after a quick sale, most dealers would need to see the sword in hand anyway to be more accurate. Collecting tsuba, im sure you must know of a few, if not i can recommend one or two in the uk. Asking potential customers on here for a valuation is a bit like walking through a wolf infested forest banging a dinner gong . I like the look of the blade, allthough a tired nikago, as stated. Alex.

Hi Peter ,funnily enough, i met steve for the first time in liverpool over the christmas period, nice guy, gave me some good advice. Didnt know he wrote books, il look into that. Alex.

Haha, come on Jean, it does look like a rat, well, maybe in my opinion. :D A bear maybe? mongoose? merecat? :lol: Alex

Hi Mike, it must be a tiger, since looking at images of rat menuki ive come round to the idea it must be a tiger, allthough not the most obvious tiger ive seen. Alex.