Alex A

Didnt know that Peter, cheers.

Maybe they listed it as antique ? The customs state 100 years old or more. Kind of annoying really, buy a traditionally made sword from WW2 and get no reduction, seems unfair. Maybe im missing something about "art" stuff, not sure, just go off the antique/100 years old.

No, just antiques Wah

Hi Stephen, Sometimes *#'** happens and you need the money. Personally, ive sold items I didn't want to and once sold a sword for £1700 less than I paid for it. (hate to admit, but was when i first became interested) At the end of the day, just becomes the past, and you move on. When times get better, your back in the game.

Be like a kid in a sweetshop...………………………...without pocket money

Great vid, thanks

In contrast to the negative news we read about, thought it would be good to hear some good news from time to time, and hope it far outweighs the negative. That's if anyone wishes to. Type of sword and route.

This thread reminds me of the time i was looking over the mei of Enomoto Sadayoshi, noticed so many differences over his long career

Good exercise Ed. Lets face it, its not an exact science, only a robot could pull off the exact same mei year in and year out, which is what I think some folk expect to see.

New to me, never had issues to and from Germany.

Hi Kirill, im not saying this would have made the slightest difference, just a few thoughts, desperate times judging by this read. "dagger", is a word I would try to avoid, would stick to "Antique, over 100 years old, customs tariff no 9706.00.00.00" possibly add "art" This will HOPEFULLY make whoever sees it give it more attention, rather than just immediately disregard it. Darcy done a write up on this somewhere, by the way. Personally, after reading about such issues, im now thinking it may be a good idea to add some information somewhere about yourself, just to let them know your not just a spotty teenager buying a weapon from abroad, something along the lines. Mr J Bloggs, importer/collector of Japanese antiquities, aged 50, member of "the token society of great Britain, Northern Token Society and the NMB etc + passport details. . I would describe the papers fully and probably throw in the word museum piece just for good measure. it might help, might not, a bit desperate, I suppose

Kirill, do you mind me asking what the description was on the package?, just wondering.

That's what I was thinking.

Hi Ed, you make a good point and its often something i think about. Without wanting to jump in with both feet and not having much time, im hesitant in stating 2,6, and 7 are the ones that strike me as a litte more suspicious.than the others, but I will assume im wrong.

These guys choose to make their own tamahagane, the swords they produce are described as having a dark jigane, like old times. http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/?page=Kimura https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-higo-koku-ju-akamatsu-taro-kanehiro-saku/ Just thought it may be of interest to some

Koto blades are most desirable to folk that desire koto blades. (and can afford the good ones) If your not in that department for one reason or another, look for what offers the best bang for your buck. Although prices in these departments seems to steadily increasing. (late edo, ww2, mukansa) Becoming wary of mentioning certain names on here now, in case I assist in a price increase and put those out off reach too

Mariusz had some great stuff, and betting still does

Great vid Ed, and explains a lot, cheers. Sirprised at how neat the hole turned out!

Better under the eaves of a roof, or similar place, but out of direct rain. You need to check it on a very regular basis as rust spots start to appear quickly. Wipe with a cloth when you see surface rust develop, don't allow any serious rust to develop! Not a quick remedy and I would only try this with certain tsuba, it will also take a few years or so to develop patina. Not really something to do through winter either. You will end up with a natural patina...………..eventually.

Hi Steven. Nice to see someone new to collecting go for a later katana. Its very wide at 3.4cm, and looks well made and nice that its fully signed with papers. The pictures for me are not clear enough, obviously much better in hand.

Check the depth of the hole with a bit of wire, for tsuka and saya. By coincidence, i have a tanto here with what seems like overly large tsuka/saya but after i checked depth and fit it seems they were made to fit the blade Im also curious, so if anyone may know?

On the other side of the coin I suppose also that there are many Edo blades with punched ana for one reason or another Vision of Smith to apprentice...."For gods sake, just punch the bloody thing"

I see, so difficult to almost impossible to tell from images, on the rare ones I mention, cheers Ken.

Hi Ken, as often in this hobby, you will always find those blades with questions. Once spent a bit of time looking into this, in books and online. I was quite surprised to find some very old ubu tachi (as early as late kamakura), with papers, but with one seemingly very neat round hole. Since then, I just accept that an obvious punched hole is an indicator of age and is always nice to see on older blades, but im not as concerned should I see one that is perfectly round. I think sometimes, punched holes maybe were done so well that you just cant tell, especially from images,

On the subject of judging age by the holes in the nakago, I sometimes find it not too straight forward. https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-bishu-osafune-tadamitsu-2nd-generation-hikobei/