Alex A

The insurance with the royal mail is limited, £2500 is the limit with airsure, you add the level of cover you want. If you want more cover then you could insure independently or try Fedex. As long as the labeling is correct, ie Japanese antique (if you do put "antique Japanese sword" i dont think they would notice, the guys in my post office wouldnt, just glad of business), and they take it over the desk with no questions asked, should there be a problem?. I would leave information for the customs in an envelope taped to the box, as someone recently did for me, a good idea, hopefully it may help to prevent unnecessary rummaging. Alex.

Im not sure if this is correct, but i was told this a short while ago. If you go into a post office and they take the item over the counter, then they are obliged to get the item to its destination. Ive been into the post office 2 or 3 times with swords and ive never been asked whats in the box. Ive posted hundreds of items around the world, and again, ive never been asked what is in the box, or have they checked the label. Within the uk ive posted de-activated grenades, guns etc, and again ive never had a problem with the royal mail or been asked what is in the box. (again). Are you by any chance telling them whats in the box, in advance?. Alex.

Denis, i know where your coming from, ive spent the last 3 or 4 months asking folk about nakago ana size, if i was selling a tsuba i would add it, just to keep everyone happy. I dont see anything wrong about swapping a non original tsuba for a better quality non original tsuba (with a good fit, correct date and match to the fuchi kashira), thats down to personal taste. How many swords do you see with original tsuba?. Ive shelved my latest plan to put together a tensho koshirae for a sword i own, kind of come round to Mariusz,s way of thinking. Its expensive, and as Grey mentioned in a previous post, potential future buyers wont give a hoot about what you have spent, so basically you could be throwing money away, money that could be spent on better investments such as yari, tsuba, naginata and tanto and beer. On the other hand, i suppose if someone wants there sword in koshirae then fine, is that not just a posh shirasaya?, a way of storing and keeping the blade safe, but beware, when you come to sell, some folk may be put off by other folks taste, bit like selling a house with a pink bathroom suite . Everyone to there own, i suppose. Alex

Michael, it may be wiser to ask one of the experts on here about a sword before bidding, do you not think? Alex.

Peter, make sure each item is listed individually with your insurance broker and obviously make sure you have a copy of the agreement. Keep all receipts etc. Unless they are listed in the agreement, they wont pay out for loss. Alex.

,After reading Josh,s input, I would stay clear. Alex

Michael, note the tadayoshi? in the advert, Tadayoshi 1st is a very famous smith, you would not get one of his blades for that price, id be sceptical. Alex.

Im in the UK, ive never been asked for an independent valuation, all been pretty straight forward and very reasonably priced, doesn't seem to make much difference to the annual quote. Mine are insured under the home contents insurance. Ive been with the same firm quite some time, added one at a time. I wouldn't want to go elsewhere for a quote, I have a feeling I would get hammered on price. Alex.

Hi Mariusz, the shakudo tsuba i have seen are of the late muromachi, so i see your point. The urushi on the tsuba above is in remarkably good condition. As you know i do find these early simple tsuba with remnance of laquer interesting, adds to the history value, i suppose. Cheers again for the pic, i can see why you got hooked Alex.

So, if a yamagane tsuba like this was for the lower class warrior, out of curiosity, who would own a shakudo tsuba of the same era, would that be for an high rank? On reflection, bit of a silly question, seem to have developed an interest in materials and rank lately :D , ps sorry for going off topic Alex.

I came across this tsuba a while ago on a tsuba hunt, Peter pointed me to it, i really like it, pity the nakago ana was too small , it is strange, thats what i like about it Alex.

Shoami? Alex.

They look too good to me too, I wouldn't change them. Alex.

Michael, think if you had paid 5000$ plus dollars , ebay is not the best place to buy nihonto, especially for beginners. You have been lucky here, the blade is worth the price. Alex.

On a good note Michael, at least its a real folded blade and not a chinese copy, 800 euro i dont think is a bad price, maybe good for the martial arts guys, obviously would need a new tsuka. Alex.

Pure solid silver and gold sound good to me :D. Pure silver was more readily available in old times (im sure someone will say it wasnt pure, even then), the samurai where paid in silver bar (ichi bu jin), i have a few here. These days everything seems to be 925 silver, copper added for strength, not sure what they add to gold these days. Alex.

Im presuming modern habaki are made from sterling silver, 7.5%copper is added. Alex.

Hi Jussi, this thread from the start as been of great help to me. I cant comment on much but from what i know, 1st picture, first sword, similar to a sword further up in this post, an earlier sword, from what ive read. The other 2 look tensho, allthough the saya may have been relaquered at one point?. I would guess that the first sword on the 2nd picture isnt tensho, but momoyama, as you state, the other 2 look tensho to me. The rather short fuchi seems prominent on the tensho swords ive seen (finding one is a difficult), so does the hour glass shaped tsuka. As most of the pieces ive seen where laquered/shakudo it does give them a unique look, austere, is a word that as cropped up a lot, sorry to repeat. I think Grey may have a copy of the book you mention, id have it myself but now skint due to reading this post :lol: Everything does seem to be put in boxes though which i think seems to be a mistake, ive read iron tsuba where favoured, probably where for strength but there is was also a lot of shakudo and yamagane tsuba around in that period, so taking all that into account, there must be variations in this style. Every kind of material must have been used?, iron, copper, yamagane, bronze etc, in times of war materials can be lacking so i suppose a lot of the time its what ever materials you can get your hands on, aswell as the potential for mixing and matching parts from broken swords. So, in a way to try and some it all up is an impossible mission, but the basics are obvious from this post. Alex.

Hi Tobias, as i read your post i was hit with a certain amount of trepidation as this is what i am planning to do in the not to distant future :? Alex.

Cheers Chris, may be nice to have silver seppa too :D, not this year though. Cheers Grey, good news, ps, tsuba looks great on the sword, cheers. Alex.

Cheers Geraint, nothing was mentioned in the listing when i bought the sword which does seem a bit strange if it is silver. The sword was in shirasaya originally so it kind of went a bit unnoticed for a while. Alex.

I was wondering if someone would tell me what they think this habaki is made of, ive been told it may be hakudo (white bronze). I was hoping it may be silver, but thinking like that usually ends in dissapointment :lol:.

You guys, too much zinc :lol: Herman/Brian, great blades you have there (avoiding size terminology :D), im left feeling inferior :lol: I wonder, how practical would these large swords have been? Alex.

More oxen menuki, late muromachi/early edo, shakudo ko-kinko, nbthk hozen. Oxen seem a popular theme Alex.

Good question Bruno, I would assume non existant, of coarse I may be wrong. A nice tachi would look a lot better in my opinion . To me, these ceremonial western swords dont quite suit. Alex