Alex A

You need rice glue, dont use wood glue. Re-glue and wrap some elastic around the saya to hold it whilst it dries. Keep the blade away from it until it is dry. Its common, sometimes the saya has to be split to clean the inside of the saya, hence they don't use strong adhesive

This came in from the Arms and Armour society, some of you will know Matt Easton. Its a case of doing what we can, i did write to parcelforce but did not get anywhere. will try with DHL. Again, as far as aware UPS are still shipping, folks need to be exact with filling in any shipments. As the letter points out, the concern is others will follow, l have a blade that still needs finishing in Japan, seems to me they need to get a move on with finishing it. What a country, depresses me that law abiding folks like us have to put up with this. email below............................................. Dear colleagues in the blade trade, Some of you will know me, but for those who don't, I run an antique arms & armour company, fencing clubs, and work on replicas with the Royal Armouries and others. I therefore have to deal with the import and export of swords on a day to day basis. I know that all of you do too. This matter affects all blade trades, from antique auctions and dealers to the movie industry, to museums and fencing clubs. Last year we saw Royal Mail/Parcelforce suddenly change their rules around the postage of blades very suddenly and this threw everything into turmoil. This affected many of us, and after a lot of lobbying and getting into various media such as the Antiques Trade Gazette, they did revise their policy slightly after a couple of months to permit blunt blades, fencing weapons, antiques and a few other categories. Many of us switched to using DHL, UPS and DPD, who all shipped blades for account holders without the sudden threat of changing the rules again. Some of you have been using these other providers for years, even decades. Yesterday we found out that DHL is now putting a block on shipping blades over 8 inches long. Given what is happening now with DHL, and given what happened last year with Royal Mail/Parcelforce, I would anticipate similar actions from the likes of UPS and DPD in the future, so this affects us all. Various of us have been in contact with our DHL account managers and had this policy change confirmed now. Apparently the decision was made by 'the board' (the UK board), and their message below implies that anything over 8 inches is a 'zombie knife' (which is of course incorrect!): Their message: _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ I propose that those of us who have an interest in trying to overturn, or at least modify, this decision by the DHL UK board coordinate a response. Or at the very least, send our individual responses and keep each other in the loop. I think there might also be mileage in engaging with trading bodies and organisations, for example LAPADA, which some of you might have the best contacts for. If you want to be part of this, please let me know by return email. Parcelforce or UPS could also revise their rules at any time. Regardless of whether you use DHL or not, I think that this is a sign of things coming down the pipeline and it would be better to be as prepared as possible. For those of you using DHL, I have also obtained the email address for the DHL UK Managing Director, Ian Wilson - exec.customerrelations@dhl.com - who is the person in charge of customer relations and complaints. You can of course send direct letters to him there, or join our coordinated effort. I have currently sent this email to a BCC list so that people's inboxes don't get spammed, but if you would like to be included in a group discussion then please say so by return email and I will look into that. Please feel free to forward this email to anybody you think it will concern. We need to start coordinating and building some media support if we are going to protect these sectors. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Best wishes, Matt Easton

As far as im aware, they are not the last shipper Try UPS

Wouldn't put me off, old swords change with time.

Ive been told and read about that Jean, but not sure it will end up dark enough. Though will defo look into it more and maybe do some tests to find out. Cheers.

The dark patina is what i want for the brass cannon, when i eventually get around to it Colin. Seen some firm online that makes a product that will achieve that colour. This is an old cheap cannon ornament, i am not recommending this for tsuba, at all. But yes, thanks Colin, thats what I'm after and good to see the variation. On a level with antique bronze or thereabouts.

The Complete Guide to Brass Oxidation: Causes, Prevention, and Cleaning - MFG Shop Imagine the tsuba hanging in some room with varying temps etc, sulphur from coal fires etc. No surprise to me you will see tsuba with differing patina, especially if sat on a wall or whatever

Thanks Colin, that's great to see.

Lots of reasons, Jean. There was a thread on this subject years ago. A smith may make two swords for a customer, one gets chosen, the other sold off unsigned. Just one example of many. A forge was often overstocked and swords just sold off, as is, for one reason or another. Heard stories of modern forges being overstocked, swords at varying states of completion. Signing swords wasn't always top of the priority list, swords being signed was not always a necessity for anyone buying a sword

Disagree with that one Jean, there are tons of unsigned Shinshinto blades.

What John said. Though with what you say and what we see, my first thought was something like Jumyo.

Have to say this, as much as i think most people would prefer a natural patina on brass. There are some people, maybe a tiny minority, don't know, that actually prefer their antique brass objects to be shiny. Bought a little old brass cannon not so long ago and someone has polished it, cant wait to get it back to how it should look. A patina on brass can actually be quite darkish. sometimes even like bronze. Only have to look at some old brass door fittings,

Not a stupid idea, its just what folks do, shine up brass. Though with antiques, should have a natural patina.

Seriously Adam, nothing worse than when folks shine up antique brass, like on tsuba and gun barrels etc.

This Koshirae i find attractive. i believe it is as it was back in the Late Edo. Fuchi Kashira, tsuba not high end but to me all has an authentic appeal. Really like the seppa and the fact everything lines up with Kogai and Kozuka. Just simple, modest, could imagine it being in a drawer or box for many years, sat in a collection somewhere without being messed with. Though we all like different stuff, of course Tanto: Chounsai Koretoshi (NBTHK Hozon Token) - Japanese Sword Shop Aoi-Art

Thanks Moriyama San Proof that something can exist even if some folks with their head stuck in brackets assume cant. Always exceptions, as some of us are aware.

Now have Jacques on ignored users. Judging by the comments, seems i made the right decision. He will never change.

Anyways, for anyone interested that don't know and why i asked the question. You will find the reason i asked here. KANTEI 2 – JIGANE & JIHADA #2 | Markus Sesko Though what i have found, there are always exceptions to what is written. That's how the hobby seems to go.

Hello, cant tell from the pics but is the Shinogi-ji Masame ?

Certain people seem to use it a lot. If they use it a lot without giving reason, it reflects badly on them rather than whoever it is aimed at. Saying that though, since referring to them as the "Red arrow Brigade", they don't seem to be as trigger happy lately.

Used to think that Michael, now aware. Its like i took the pill that got me out of the Matrix

Always to belittle. im afraid. For at least a second i thought Jacques was starting a genuine thread to help beginners but then came to my senses reading a bit further on when he referred to "armchair experts" for no apparent reason. He is talking to folks like they are stupid. never seen, held or owned swords. Like they own swords and have not yet worked out how to see them, like they are thick. Yet folks still take him on Some of us have him sussed.

Personally, tend to think subjects can be overanalysed, i guess that comes with human nature and repetition.

Pierre, I collect other stuff and im often clueless, Your doing the right thing asking here, that's what i do with stuff i know little about. You have already learned something today, id say a lot. Good to see someone ask before, rather than after a purchase, where often they have made a mistake. Look through dealer websites and get to know what appeals. Age, hamon, hada, sugata etc etc etc. Take some time, then im sure you will buy something you like. Also, as mentioned above, look at swords in hand if you can, though know its not easy for many.

Hi Pierre They are wrong on occasion. Sometimes you see a sword with two different attributions from two different organisations, sometimes the same organisation but different dates. That's not my issue though, my issue lies around relying on attributions. I want to see an ubu TEXTBOOK sword with a mei to match. Had my fair share of mumei swords, i dont like swords that still have questions that need answering or have me wondering which generation it is that made it. Got a little pedantic lol Im not saying i don't appreciate any good quality sword, i do, whether signed or not. Its what i can live with that matters. People build different collecting habits, we are all different You need to understand what you can live with, this will only come with time and experience.