Alex A

Just to be clearer now i have the time. This has never been a young persons game, well, unless that young person is doing particularly well in life. There's a few on here that i bet are still in their 20s. Some dealers appear to be doing very well, stuff coming in and moving out on a regular basis, Garth Vincent for instance.. What is it you guys think will happen with regards further Government legislation?. could you be more specific?. Are you suggesting that one day all the collectors in the UK will have to take all their valuable antique arms they own down to the police station for destruction? The shipping issue within the UK, i don't see as an issue. Anything of value and folks are willing to travel to see it "in hand", which is the sensible route anyways, Most items that i have sold within the UK, folks prefer to pay cash when they see it. Wont lie, i do have concerns over certain stuff, but not about anything Antique and genuine. I mentioned i sold four knives at an arms show. These were ww2 knives. I sold them because i see them as a bit of grey area with regards shipping only, ownership was not a concern. There is only so much one is willing to own and eventually sell/ship under a worrying future regarding shipping. Shipping swords has always been an hassle, for me the curse of collecting, especially shipping abroad. Perhaps a permit might be a good idea for genuine collectors, rule out all the idiots that pick up swords for no good reasons. Said permit holders allowed to ship their items. Perhaps that's the way to go, don't know. If we are the last of the generation, then so be it. Glad i was one of those that lived to enjoy the hobby. From now on, its a case of cherry picking.

Auction houses should just buy a van and deliver it themselves They seem make enough money

I think they will only push so far, for the most part authentic antiques will be ok. Decent swords have never come cheap here, i did not get one until i was in my 30s. Look at the Lanes Armoury as an example, no end to wealthy folks wanting a Samurai sword and never will be. Preston arms fair always busy,. Seen cheap waks there for £250, usually something for the beginner. My main concern is shipping swords abroad, always has been.

I will just say this Colin. I don't collect high end swords because i cant afford them. If i did, and lets say i was posting something expensive or having one shipped here from abroad. I wouldn't be using Royal Mail, EMS, UPS or whatever. Would use a specialist shipper of the type mentioned above. When you think about it, it is crazy shipping expensive antiques in cardboard boxes with everyday couriers (especially without insurance), even for less expensive swords. My new philosophy, sell any bladed weapon that you don't cherish and wish to keep long term and avoid buying such items. Some of us not wealthy enough to own risks. However, for desirable swords of good quality , doubt the prices will drop.

There's also the specialist arms couriers. Did speak to one that will ship swords. Delivery to any airport for the buyer to collect and sort out with customs, that can be avoided with an agent. Did get a quote once, pistol to the US, from memory it was around £450 for buyer to pick up from the airport. Not cheap, but sending a katana abroad with insurance (when they did insurance) via Parcelforce was never that cheap either, remember once paying around £260. Maybe one day the higher cost will just have to be accepted and factored in, time will tell. On a plus, as Colin mentions. Do you ever really trust Royal Mail?, not really. Also, hoping some other courier will see the Royal Mail move as an opportunity to drag in some more business. UPS have been good over recent years. Royal Mail never out of the news lately for the wrong reasons, is all this an attempt to improve their ***** image?

UPS? or the others. Just to add, there doesn't seem any slow down with knife dealers. Sold 4 to a dealer at the arms fair a few weeks back. Im assuming when he sells them he wont be travelling around Britain delivering them in person.

For those that have ever wondered about the reason (?) for the hairstyle, that became popular for Samurai and non-Samurai. Never really thought about it, had the NHK series on record and it just popped up. Appears full series here, SAMURAI CHONMAGE TRUTH - Time and Tide | NHK WORLD-Japan

Just to add, spent a few hours this afternoon sorting it out. Scraped with a fingernail, cotton bud with a touch of white vinegar. Alright now, but where it was bad it is now slightly pitted, although the patina is intact. Not telling folks to do this with expensive tsuba or anything of great value. Anyways, they are coming back in the house, definitely over winter Just glad it wasn't some expensive bronze cannon or something

Thought i would put this here as i know some folks collect bronze etc. Bought these Bronze temple lions many years ago, at least 15 years now. They have been sat in various positions over that time and never had any issues up until very recently. They are mass produced and were not expensive at the time, though i do like them. Anyways, for the last six years they have been in the conservatory, its not heated unless we are in there during the winter. They were fine and then they weren't , came as a surprise as never had issues. Last summer they were looking dusty so i hosed them down outside and let them dry, then Ren wax. That was the first time i had used wax since i bought them all those years ago. About four months ago i moved them, one ended up in full morning sun on one side, the other in the shade. Just happened to notice an issue last week. Check out the side that got the sun compared to its other side in the shade. Looked like white spots, now on closer inspection looks like green, Verdigris. The other statue which was in the shade has no Verdigris either. Now moved them back into the shade, will have to do something about the verdigris.

These Saotome threads always end up with a size discussion Did have one once, not so big as you guys (sounds well) Surprisingly heavy, got the impression ok for a battlefield,

Dale, are you sure its not a wagon wheel?

Another reason for the difference in condition. Didn't some Samurai walk about with just a wak a lot of the time? at the end of the Edo? Sometimes, 2 swords where size was not that much different. As in nakago ana size. Guess we will never know. Can understand someone wanting a matching set of these type of tsuba in particular, I do............ lol. Have one similar made from copper, had a chance to acquire one to match but other commitments. Kick myself a bit for that, would have made a nice display.

Hi Piers, no expert The most obvious difference is one seems to have delicate thin metal around the kogai ana, the other quite thick. Patina, level of surface pitting seems to differ between them. Both large as you point out Get the impression someone paired them together at some point. Impossible to say when but who knows, perhaps a previous owner in the past knows they were paired together, family history.

Amazing Piers, what a vast array there is.. We are very lucky to have you on NMB!. Do you know if all those cannon were manufactured in Japan ? .No expert, some look Japanese and some Western, i guess maybe influenced by Western Cannon around at that time, especially the one on the Naval carriage. One reminds me of a lantaka. A lot to take in, appears quite a few could come under the "swivel cannon" type. A really nice ornate cannon, looks bronze. Like the one on the carriage with the wood stock., that's fantastic, i want one. Lots of various cannon balls/shells. They actually remind me of that Sherman round from ww2. Absolutely amazing collection, id have a field day in there lol

Yes please Piers, love cannon, cheers Ps, about stuff in boxes. Was curious about the pocket pistol above and contacted the dealer. Always have doubts so asked if the box was original to the gun. Appears not, even though looks it. Live and learn, pays to be curious about such matters.

Wouldn't look forward to moving house with some of those cannons, look really heavy!

Boxed stuff, great to own. Like you only see in high end collections or via forgotten weapons etc on YouTube. Above, wow.

Piers, yes, those small fully stocked flintlocks. The only relevance to this thread being what Michael was saying. Been looking for several years and you just don't see them, good ones anyways. Then all of a sudden one dealer in particular seems to have a no ending run of them coming onto his site, its as though an old collector is giving it up and consigning his collection . Cant remember ever seeing one with the box, this type, same dealer A Small Cased Flintlock Pistol (garthvincent.com)

Piers, when something rare comes along that you have been after for a while then you have to pull the trigger (even when skint lol) Who knows when it will turn up again, maybe decades Well done, looking forward to seeing them Ps, coincidentally, also noticed a few rarities lately. Seems to be quite a few of those pocket pistols around lately that i like, does seem like some old collector has sent them on to the market.

Briefly read about the fleur-de-lys symbol and it is linked with Christianity. One issue i have is whether or not the pattern on the Kabuto is in fact fleur-de-lys decor ? Very little linking that symbol to Japan and its use there, but who knows, maybe I'm wrong. Just seems a very bold claim. I guess biased beliefs come easier when your on the selling end.

Know the feeling Russ. You see a random flintlock and then end up reading about Blackbeard Must work for them.

Well, this dealer is known for the odd cheeky monkey prices and write-ups. Also, possibly the "Shogun effect", a situation where dealers take advantage of tv shows. I fear some inflated prices ahead

That's a corker, with the old carved waves One that if i owned and sold, one day i would regret it.

Really ? The Lanes Armoury | A Beautiful and Most Impressive Nanban-Nari Kabuto High Conical Samurai Helmet. Likely of A Christian Samurai, Known As Krishitan, Momoyama to Edo Period. With Menpo Face Armour

Paz, There are differing opinions regarding papers. Some folks want them for every sword they own whilst others maybe when it comes to buying expensive swords. Others feel they don't need them at all. Depends on folks knowledge and how deep their pockets are. Some folks rely on papers because they have no interest in wanting to learn about swords, it can be daunting and time consuming so they see it as a shortcut to knowing a sword is authentic. Horses for courses. Thanks Jussi, a surprising amount of data to take in there, wow, 207 examples of a Nagamitsu swords. Makes me wonder. As you mention, NBTHK is a business and i kind of would feel slightly disappointed if they were not making headway down there regarding compiling information/images onto a pc and learning something new from it. Maybe i expect too much though. They have the opportunity to look further with the numbers they see and record, though obviously that would have to be independent of Shinsa. schedule.