Alex A

Brilliant, great to see someone thinking outside the box.

For most of us, its just a bit of fun, like doing a crossword or something. For me, wasting time filling my head with enough info to do it without books is overkill. Also, if a shinsa team need a suitcase full of references then what hope have most of us got looking at images on a forum. As mentioned, if described well with good images, someone always gets it. For me personally, the fun of this hobby is the journey and learning as i go. Forums and an increase in knowledge can be difficult though, helping others often ruffles feathers can can lead to childish name calling etc, which ruins it for most folk. Most here regurgitate what is written in books. Ford Hallams knowledge is immense, and then we have folk like Jussi that come across as not being stuck in 1860, compiling info etc. So most of us, know *** all

Didn't spend long on it, usually i find if you bump a number of keywords into a google search then sometimes it can lead you on to the right path and funnily enough im pretty sure the correct smith got a mention somewhere along the lines. So i suppose you could always fluke it. I didnt think the blade was that old, reminded me of Mino and Soshu, hence my wrong answer. If textbook and with good images and relevant info then its not rocket science, someone always gets it, especially those that have spent a bit of time getting to know the work of a particular smith/school for one reason or another.

Exactly, unless the blade in question is "textbook", then for me Kantei is nonsense. If you look hard enough you will find similar work that looks to be a good fit, but in the end its just a waste of time, especially from images only

From whats available, Shimada (wavy kaeri)

Some stunners!

Some interesting tsuba, been tempted but buying on hold for a while. The tosho revival also good price, for those that dont want to spend megabucks on a Koto, decent size. The nanako on the copper tsuba better than most you see.

Some great deals Grev, surprised T316 & T288 have not sold yet at those prices!

Thanks JP, no getting away from the fact that we do need polishers closer to home, especially in this day and age. No doubt those reading this in the same situation will stay away from unpolished blades in future. Good luck with the end result, nice to see you being kept up with progress.

Everyones an expert on the internet Also see a lot of pots Kettle & Black syndrome too

Give it some more time, will turn up eventually.

You would assume a student working with a teacher for a long time would pick up all the skills necessary to replicate the teachers work.. Times change, quality of materials, demand, costs etc. Think the "respect your elders", goes a lot further in countries like Japan.

Its a long time, is it a sword ? Ive not seen much difference between now and pre-covid with stuff from the US. Check the tracking and make some enquiries. If it is a sword, may have got held for one reason or another.

Nice, reminds me of Tadakuni. Its all a myth, made up by those that can afford Shodai

Obviously you would only deal with someone who is well known. Some guys have 30+ years experience.

Some guys can do good work, but then you see bad work too, from the same guy. Commercial crappy polish that ruins blades (often required by dealers to keep costs down) Make it clear you dont want the latter.

Hi JP, you been in this hobby a good while now and your wise enough to work out who is capable of doing what. As you say, we cant all send off swords to Japan for one reason or another, or even want to. Its always a risk shipping stuff overseas anyway, plenty here have had hassles Get a set time for the work, dont pay up front. Better in future just to get on with it, bringing it up here will always ruffle feathers.

Look through the dealers sites above, Aoi art, e-sword etc and get familiar with swords from each era and their differences. Look long enough and you will get to know what you like, wont take long, i expect. And as always, buy the starter books before you buy.

You would be lucky to come across good quality fittings put together for a sword pre 1900, most you see have been messed with or cobbled together later. Tsuba swapped out, re-wrap, mismatched seppa etc. Also in UK, expect to see out of polish and bad polish. Not to say all polishers here do bad work. Dont expect to see many papered swords in the UK, especially from a dealer high up the google charts. Study blades and get to know what you like before you buy and work out a budget, then take it from there. Otherwise, buyers remorse maybe. Some good swords can be bought quite reasonably but expect to compromise on a lower budget.

When you think you have seen enough, dont need any.

The Fuchi seems interesting due to its shape but this may just be the angle. Be good to see clear images of it by itself. Reminds me of a pre-edo type that are hard to get a hold of..........possibly

Thanks all for the replies, but Enough of my time and other folks time has been wasted over this helmet.🙄 Not heard from the guy so dont know WTH is going on, but can only guess. Sure we have all got better things to do, i know i have.

Thanks Uwe, here is an image without the maedate, i dont yet have one without the liner.

Thank you, appreciated

Hi Uwe, thanks for the reply. Im just looking to verify that it is authentic and not a later copy. Cheers