Alex A

It can be really difficult to try and narrow a blade like this down to one particular smith. Tried in the past but sometimes there is little difference between the work of two or three smiths that worked in succession Through books you get hints or clues, sometimes see a particular smiths blades described as having a "blackish jigane" etc etc. Its an old signed blade in good condition, sometimes part of the hobby is being able to accept the amount of info available. It can be frustrating, but that how it is. Ps, OP, looked and maybe missed it but don't think you mentioned length of blade

Jacques, reading your instructions above, i cant help but wonder if it is totally necessary to add soaking in water into the equation I'm not advocating any DIY straightening. Would suggest not buying any blades with bends or if a tiny bend, live with it. Could you not just put a towel over a not too hot radiator or heater and leave it there for a while ? The thought of inexperience and "soaking in water" makes me cringe.

DHL have a bad habit here of just leaving parcels in unusual places. Had a book delivered from the US this week, i gets an email notification saying your item has been delivered and for a few minutes im walking around the house asking if anyone has seen it. Then i thinks DHL, could be anywhere, from inside a bin to thrown over the fence. I goes outside and its hidden behind a plant pot with no note trough the door and soaked from the rain. Luckily the seller put in in a plastic bag. They really don't care As for Parcelforce and Coventry, try and avoid if possible. Said before, UPS have their own customs and never had an issue. Sometimes when something is sent from the US to UK by USPS, it goes through Heathrow and Coventry never gets a mention on the tracking.

Dan, admire your tenacity for getting stuck into this, Some good finds,

Sometimes they don't update tracking Bruce, then all of a sudden it arrives at its destination. Had that a few times.

Not looked into it but getting a Shimada vibe, just something to look into.

OP,, Surely with the amount of posts you have made and info learned you can come to a conclusion. Sometimes, i guess you just got to ask Fair enough

Its a popular subject What folk need to try and get their head around is that Kazu-uchimono is a BROAD spectrum .From junk that went abroad to swords that are good, well made fighting weapons.

Uwe, difficult from distant images but you seldom see a black Handachi Kashira. Ray skin Same too, looks like its been weatherproofed. (though cant be sure as difficult to see it) Maybe Geraint right though, need a better image.

Looks like someone lacquered Handachi Koshirae

Amazing what you can find out on the internet.

I am a bit confused here, hoping for some clarity. Briefly. The small sword has been described as "CAST", by experts. Just a straight bar, no cross guard to add any complexity to the cast Seen Dans video where a few dudes "cast" a rough iron (whatever you want to call it) Now, if they did that, why cant some iron "wizards lol" 2000 years ago do the same ?. Its not exactly the Angel of the North or anything. Then file the "whatever you want to call it" into a neat sword, rather than hammer. Perhaps they managed to get it neat first time, with a technique the guys here are not aware of That's if they had files I say this because it is described as "CAST" by "EXPERTS" Can this be answered without the use of a time machine, i would think someone will know, even if not here. ps, just looking at the sword again, its not exactly neat, but maybe thats down to corrosion, dunno Image from the “CAST” iron sword video that Dan presented. Cheers

Thanks Dan, that vid answers a lot for me.

Aye Dan, just having a laugh. As for the Conan vid and im not saying you could make a fighting sword like this. Yes, its far fetched but in its defence the dude does actually re-heat and hammer it into shape. Its not just a case of casting a sword and saying there you go. In Jeans vid, the guy describes other issues. Interesting vid that you present. Sometimes when you don't know what your talking about you have to stick your neck out and ask what may sound like a stupid question, so here goes Is it possible to cast a really rough overly large sword type thing, re-heat and gently knock it into the shape of a "not for war" small sword ? If so, does that mean we have got to the bottom of this?.

Good find Jean

Link ? I use the dark version, found it now, thanks! Was hard to see.

You should add images of the blade here, i for one only just noticed this sale.

Worn Ito left as is, don't feel like you see that too often, nice to see.

So what some of you are saying, they got it wrong in the Conan movie

The Samurai handbook may have errors but what it does well is let the newbie know that all swords are not equal.. Those that are experienced know that well but many new to the hobby just looking for an antique Samurai sword will be oblivious to it. Remember looking through the valuation pages as a newbie and being determined to buy a sword with a smith rating of at least 15 lol Really did get me thinking and working out why, actually exchanged a sword with a dealer for a better one. It does its job. Another book that seldom gets a mention is The Sword of Japan by J W Bott, that's usually quite cheap and worth the price for a basic introductory book. Well done to anyone wanting to buy books, still get surprised by how many swords get sold to people that don't educate themselves

Market looks stable to me but lots of variables. For the UK, there has been issues for a while that have suddenly become more obvious. I was talking to a dealer here recently and he stated "i just cant get them polished". Then on the other hand you have places like the Lanes Armoury, checking their prices lately and i think they are at least 25% (or more) what they were several years ago. You can pick up Katana quite cheap, but they need a polish. Seen a good one in koshirae for £1500, signed and dated, Edo. Jo-Saku There is the gent in Scotland and also someone else. I don't know who they are or whether they are responsible but someone is ruining blade after blade and wish they would just stop. On that note, you look to Japan, sometimes the US. Going back 10 years ago when it used to be 1.5 to 2 $ to the £, that was the hay day for shopping with US dealers (for me) Some good deals in Japan at the moment, just never the right one about when you have the cash, it seems. As mentioned, shipping issues put a cloud above lately. Its kind of swayed me a bit from Katana and now seem to be more interested in Tanto and Wakizashi. Often, if looking for a sword by a particular smith, it can take years to find something worth keeping , that's key. When looking for keepers you look at the work with more scrutiny. Gone are the days where just have to have a Katana, now if a wak comes up by the same smith which is far better quality, then that's what to go for. (for me). You make these rules though but sometimes full impulse power takes over and you buy something ok, ok don't last. That's how it goes.

Was supposed to be going to meet up with a guy selling a Katana but as always something else cropped up. Be good if they kept up with this to see what's about. http://www.birminghamarmsfair.com/gallery/?prevevents/

In any collecting hobby you reach a point where you have enough knowledge to work out what matters to you. As i head towards retirement i don't want lots of swords with ??, just some really good signed examples. I suppose it depends where you are in the hobby and what you like. It does not need to be a permanent quest for knowledge, we not like the wise man that gets to sit at the top of the mountain, one can be happy with what they have learned and what they have attained. One day, the family might have to sell, would like to think il make it as straight forward as possible with good stuff that will sell fast. lol

Forgot to mention, many signed blades out there where you still cant get it down to one smith. Remember facts and fundementals had a few pages on the subject, just pulled it out and had another look. These paragraphs are relevent to what has been talked about above, folk will always have this discussion. Its not about just buying a sword because its signed, its about buying a good sword and knowing who made it. For some, like me, not knowing exactly who made it becomes a tiresome niggle.

Hi Paul, yes, its all a matter of perspective Become tired of "ifs and maybe" swords, no matter the quality. There are enough signed swords out there to keep me happy, no interest in owning any more swords where i cant get it down to one smith. Even if i could afford mumei swords by the highest rank smiths, i wouldn't be interested. Spend enough time in an hobby and you just come to your own conclusions at one point or another, narrow the field and buy less swords. Owned enough ? swords, sick of em lol That wont stop me admiring the work of any mumei sword, just not for ownership. Sometimes you come across something different that's appealing, rarely though. No disrespect to any collecting choices, we all differ and change as time moves along.