Alex A

If they read this, they are sure getting some top tips on how to perfect their work Alex.

Cheers Mariusz, much appreciated. A big thanks to Mariusz and everyone else who helped with information on Tensho koshirae, much appreciated. Alex.

By no choice of your own, sometimes you have to mix the old with the new. I spent a year mithering the hell out of everyone (and i mean everyone) about an early yamagane fuchi for a tensho refit. Its a real pain in the ass sourcing period parts, kind of makes you feel like a bit of a nuisance !. On a good note, i only needed a tsuba/fuchi. In the end i threw in the towel and decided to go with most folks advice and have a new fuchi made to match the patina of the muromachi tsuba. In the end, im more than happy with the fuchi, great to have something made by true artisan and it gives the koshirae a bit of a personal touch that was speaking of. As pointed out in the past, it is just an assembly, so no harm making it a bit of your own. I suppose that is why i have now become a bit of a fan of traditionally made modern parts. I may have a tsuba made in the future, but no rush. In the end, would i ever do another refit?, NO lol, fun and educational, but too much unnecessary stress, lifes hard enough :D.

Enjoy life, i have one friend who as just spent £4000 on a push iron, another £3000 on a fishing pole!, so in reality, where all daft as brushes. :D Ps, new koshirae doesnt need to cost the world and even better, no fit issues. Alex.

Curtis, the only way to build a koshirae that you will be happy with is to build a koshirae that means something to you. Otherwise, as others will, you will just look at it as an assembly and probably a bit of a waste of money. Expensive, but the best way to avoid this is to have new tsuba, fuchi kashira etc made to your own spec, with a theme and meaning of your own. For this, the blade would obviously need to warrant the expense. If your just looking for a correct period koshirae then i would just keep the spending down to a minimum. In either case you will not see a return on your spending, but at least with the new made, you will have some added personal value. Alex.

Jeremy, at $6 to $8k you need to be certain of all the details, no excuse for poor photography in that price range. Poor photography always sets off alarm bells . Is there any info from the seller regarding this armour? i assume not as you are seeking advice here. I know nothing of armour, but knowing nothing, i could not buy based on the photos and lack of info from the seller. Best,Alex.

I noticed this tsuba with a few scars a while ago, but difficult to say if there genuine, as Pete mentioned. http://www.ebay.com/itm/original-japane ... 5886321%26 Alex.

Tsukare-utsuri (tired utsuri), undulating jihada?, just a thought. Edit, didnt see Bazza,s post Alex.

Historic value definitely as its place in the nihonto collecting world. For example (hypothetically speaking), if you where offered a sword of historic value, say, a sword owned by one of the 47 Ronin, from a lower class smith OR a sword from a top rated smith of the same era, what would you choose?, just a thought... Alex.

It is interesting to see that behind the search for swords the quest for knowledge is far greater. Alex

I suspect a lot of specializers where at one time accumulators. Maybe long term accumulators are collectors that really never find anything they particularly wish to specialize in. Alex.

3 times British karate champion to boot Alex.

Adrian, i am intrigued...what are these mechanisms you speak of?. Bare in mind, this thread is for folk who are clueless on the subject of nihonto. Alex.

I like the idea of such a book, but the cost of printing a book with so much photographic detail would be very expensive. It would far outweigh the demand. Alex.

Isn't it strange how the title of wazamono still helps to sell swords to this day. As for the testing, totally inaccurate, too many variables. Alex.

Whilst on the subject of Wazamono, i do not understand why all schools where not tested?, surely in the midst of the untested there where great blades, i read somewhere that it was a bit of a fix to boost the popularity of the chosen smiths, money making involved. Please feel free to correct me... great read by the way. Alex.

Hi Uwe, i didnt point out the one on Bonhams as a match to Giles helmet . Simply to point out the rivets/spikes, as they where noted above as a bit of a rarity..... Alex.

I noticed one the other day on the Bonhams auction with spikes. http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21404/lot/1009/ Alex.

Jean, i think it is good that the subject of false signatures (gimei) as been added to your discussion, the biggest scam in nihonto since day 1, the newbie also needs to know about it, from day 1. Alex.

Nice sword Ben, well done... Some more info here, maybe of use. http://sanmei.com/contents/media/S11455_S7582_PUP_E.htm Alex.

If only the newbie could see and understand all this information before he dives in with both feet... In REALITY, i would say the vast majority of newbies wont have the inclination, or the sense to read into the subject before buying. I would imagine that a great many swords are not sold to collectors, but to someone with spare cash who just wants a "REAL" samurai sword. The newbie will see a sword on a website, phone the dealer and the dealer (if wrong dealer) will tell the newbie all kinds of interesting tales, but he will not bring up talk of gimei... Obviously, there are newbies, with more sense.., i might add.. Knowing nothing, the less sensible newbie will look for a dealer, usually in his own country and if he is lucky enough he will find a good dealer. If on the other hand, he stumbles across the wrong dealer, then it is highly likely he will pay over the odds. note to "NEWBIE" only....important...make sure it sinks in!. BEWARE DEALERS WHO ONLY STOCK NON PAPERED BLADES AND GIVE THE REASON FOR DOING SO AS "SHINSA COSTS TOO MUCH, AND IS TOO MUCH HASSLE" I may also add, that there are a great many excellent dealers, all the folk on here know who they are, so newbie, if your lucky enough to read this post before buying, then find out who these dealers are, and deal with them... Alex.

Add to that a serious flaw appearing, and its a poor show indeed...... Alex.

My advice.... TOTAL NEWBIES SHOULDNT BUY SWORDS BUT IF THEY INSIST, then................................................ READ ALL THE ABOVE AND DONT BUY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT AS BEEN WRITTEN!!!!! then. YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF, DO YOU REALLY HAVE A PASSION FOR NIHONTO??, OR IS IT JUST A PASSING STAGE IN YOUR LIFE, IN OTHER WORDS, ARE YOU BEING IMPULSIVE???....IF YOU DONT HAVE A PASSION, AND FEEL YOU ARE BEING IMPULSIVE THEN DO NOT BUY ANYTHING, YOU WILL REGRET IT!. I would say, as a newbie then you should only buy a SIGNED ubu blade, with PAPERS, in FULL polish with no FLAWS. If you dont, then as a newbie knowing DIDDLY SQUAT you will buy something you may well REGRET. More expensive, but if your serious and take on the hobby you will be glad you chose WISELY. There is nothing better than owning a QUALITY, sound blade with PROVENANCE. The more INFORMATION you have, the better. This is just my opinion, that of a newcomer myself. Alex.

Ironically, a dealer in the UK once told me that an awful lot of genuine nihonto as gone into China, infact, he said that's where most his blades went. Alex.

Fair Point Jean, but 2 or 3 is better than 0, one must consider other reasons why someone has a (0). Unscrupulous buyers and sellers set up one off accounts for one off scams. Ive even heard of accounts being set up just so sellers can give their competitors bad feedback. Ive just posted a meteorite to a (0), in what i would call, an high risk country, and i cant pretend that it doesnt concern me, mainly because Paypal always sides with the buyer....a tricky situation may incur, but hopefully not..... Alex.