Alex A

For a minute there Jacques, i thought you were questioning the knowledge of the NBTHK

Its at the better end of the mass produced swords, nice that its signed and dated and has Hozen. It all depends what you want. Its a decent first Katana, for similar money you could get a wak with far better workmanship.

How much you spend depends on whether you intend to keep the sword or not, but would always use antique decent menuki.

I suppose this topic could become bit of an issue should you not do your homework and go out and have a dragon tattoo.................like i did as a youngster. A few years ago I asked a tattoo guy what he could do about the dragon with 5 claws, he said "I could put a black square over each one" then he started laughing, along with me and a few others that worked in the shop.

Read this thread a few times and cant help a wondering that if someone wanted to fool folk with a gimei mei, then why put so much effort into making the mei look decent, but then make the mistake of inscribing it on what is most of the time, the wrong side ?

Looks great Ray.

Sold, thank you.

Just to round this up, i recieved a cheque last week and now all done Started May, finished October, didn't once get to speak to anyone at customs refund debt and had no correspondence back. Live and learn.

Don't look like it fits into the bracket term "kanbun" to me either, but might have been made at Kanbun, as not all blades made then had little sori.

Hi Kirill, it is a tricky one and im not sure either way, Spent time having a quick look in books and online yesterday, and found a reference somewhere to the Yukimitsu i mention using iri-yamagata, which is what the nakago appears to be. Sometimes with references/material, there is little to go on. There is also a chance the end of the nakago has been reshaped for one reason or another, just speculating. Nakago looks reasonably old to me, but who knows. With lots of time spending on it, in hand,im sure it could be worked out, or maybe just send it to Shinsa.

Looks to be iri-yamagata nakagojiri Still reminded of Ishido. There was a Kashu Yukimitsu, became a pupil of Ishido, he signed 2 character Yukimitsu (not saying the mei is legit) and the nakago style was the one mentioned. Best i can come up with.

Well done. The hamon reminds me of Ishido

Thanks Gents. Your links work Ray , cheers, but previously when i do the usual search on google for "Shoshin smiths" it takes me everywhere from internal server error to Zen to Kitchen retailers with no sign of the sword website. Mystery, at least I can reach it now, thanks.

Anyone know if this good old site is still up and running?, hope so, just not been able to view it the last few times ive looked.

Hi Roger, to my eye, hard to be certain as copper can get all kinds of coloured staining, but im thinking its remnant lacquer, but might be wrong. If so, would not bother me. If your talking about the visible copper patina, cleaning, handling, weathering etc will have an effect over time, one side more than the other.

I would ignore the mei too. Something about the blade/nakago, getting an hunch its a later blade, crisp edges and Hamachi, maybe

Hi Jean-Pierre, this hobby has a way of making most of us feel the same, most of the time The wave tsuba is still up for grabs, and open to reasonable offers, Cheers

Sold.

Very Sad news, I didnt know Arnold personally, but always enjoyed reading his posts. He was very helpful, knowledgeable and came across as a real gent. He will be missed. RIP.

Not if they are anything like UK customs, ive been waiting since May

Sorry, missed a few zeros off the tariff code, as usual Its 9706.00.00.00 From a recent thread, Ted summed it up better. I would add that when exporting items to the UK, along with the Harmonic Tarrif Code (HTC) of 9706.00.00.00 and the notation of "Antiques, more than 100 years old", it is also helpful to also write in bold print in the description "RELIEF REQUESTED" which is another key term to alert HMRC that the item is antique and subject to 5% VAT instead of 20%.

Dunno about service, but if over 100 years old. “Antique, over 100 years old, customs tariff 9706.00.00. Reduced import duty due to antique” Ps, declare value paid in full

Think this is the reason most of us are still interested.

Hi Hawley, im in UK.so that's a yes, for a while, not really sure for how much longer, might be until 31st Oct.

Thanks gents. As always, open to serious enquiries and il see what can be done on price, with both of my tsuba in the sales section. Stephen, I thought this one would be right up your street Ken, id always wanted a dragon horimono on a blade, which I now have. At the time though, this filled the gap as the carving is done so well.