loui

The only thing I do south paw (lefty) is shoot rifles, handguns I use my right hand, writing right and so on, polishing is right handed as well. The main problem polishing right handed is that my right arm and traps are bigger than my left - so looks a little funny in a t shirt:)

Ya that's the SAW M249 with the EOtech sight, it's a .223 round which I find very small, very good for accuracy, but that M60 would be very nice to take a crack at. Was just a great opportunity to take advantage of when in Vegas, we don't ge to play with fully auto here in Canada unless you are in the forces. The M249 is the same as the Canadian C9 that we currently use. I also shot the Thompson, M4 and MP5, the wife shot an UZI. Ya no kidding Brian, ya never know what is in that scabbard. I found a local Vegas ritzy gallery selling swords, they had them all wrapped up for storage, they pulled them out for me. They wanted 16K for a gendaito in shirasaya, gimei, 15K for a mumei katana, 12 for an out of polish gimei naginata with no mounts, and so on and so on, no paperwork, just hoping for one of the rich people passing through vegas to come in and pay rediculous money for them - which he indicated happens from time to time.

Ya, the guy at the counter said "this sword was made before the good ole united states of america was even a country".

Hi Eric, not sure if that is good or bad, but I guess being told I look young is a good thing!

Hi Guys, My wife and I were in Las Vegas on the weekend so to satisfy my curiosity we went to that pawn shop that has put the Youtube video up about their sword. It is a pawn shop so it is pretty crappy, most of the people were just there because of the TV show and there can be quite a line up I am told, we went early in the morning after I shot several machine guns at the Gun Store:) Anyway, we went in and I asked the joker behind the counter to see the sword, apparently it is one of three other items that "the old man" won't let anyone touch because "it is priceless" and even with "30 years of hands on martial arts training" the guy behind the counter was afraid he might "cut his own arm off". He wouldn't even remove it from the shelf. I knew something like that would happen so I didn't really care, it was obvious that they just keep a bunch of the junk so people want to go and check the place out - and I did, but.... did so for the board of course:) In the picture I am smiling and pointing at the sword, not because I am a happy tourist doing touristy things, I am actually laughing at the whole experience and the lines of BS the guy was giving to me. Cheers! Louis

Wow, this thread went from jumping on poor Werner to castrating all western collectors and dealers, well done Chris. Is there not a cat you should be strangling some where? I give this thread 5 more posts until lockdown, just short of someone offering their papering and restoration services. Cheers from Vegas!

Hmm, the person is telling me that the remaining characters say "tenmon", I'll take a closer look. Edit, actually no need for a closer look - the papers say what it is! Thanks very much. Wish they gave a better idea of when this was made.

Hi Guys, can someone help me with the particulars of this NBTHK paper, My understanding is it is Bizen Kiyomitsu, Ten-mon period. Any help would be appreciated. Regards, Louis

Yes i know, my post was in response to brians not johns, and what i was trying to distinguish between nugui (what some are referring to as a chemical treatment) and any other non traditional method like acid/ferric chloride etc. Just say no to acid. Louis

Yes that's it, getting popular, too bad and not honest. And yes with nugui you could call it a chemical reaction but this is not the same as using "chemicals" on a swords, I think when most refer to using chemicals they are talking about acids and chemical etchants used to save time or used for trickery. Louis

I'll agree that the nakago has been messed up pretty badly but it is possible to "fix" it somewhat, some reshaping and patination will help it, a mishaped nakago does not write a blade off but of course it has an effect on the value and possible attribution. The jigane looks like it has been worked over my a process that I won't elaborate on because I abhor it, not acid but used to bring out the jigane - but I could be wrong. In any event it can still be polished, best not to write something off over internet pictures, have a polisher look at it and see what he can do. Regards, Louis

Yes I think you both are right but there are always exceptions. Louis

Some do and some don't, I find that if you do then it muddles up the ability to see the tempered area - which is why we leave that portion un-burnished. Some also say that it shows the skill of the polisher - but I think the skill of the polisher is shown by his work on the blade itself and not by how well he uses a tool and guide to draw some straight lines on a sword. They can be attractive but they can also cover up the beauty of the sword which is what we are supposed to bring out. Louis

Sorry, you bought a knock off. Louis

Well said Eric. Like it or not out of all the papers out there the NBTHK papers sell swords, any dealer will tell you that, NTHK NPO and NTHK will as well but they don't do it as well as NBTHK especially for bigger named blades. Fujishiro are very good as well.

I wouldn't say that "all" old NBTHK papers have lost credibility in the main, atleast not in my opinion, papers in general can be suspect though when you really boil right down to it and when human opinion is being used. Would be handy for "other" papering bodies if that were the case though wouldn't it???? I have seen metal plugged mekugi ana, most often done where one hole is drilled partially into the other, where we see copper used as well. Ah, shoshin gimei, gotta love those, just keep submitting until you get the attribution you like! Louis

Ok, lets say there was a hole there for argument sake, then it was plugged, so what? So you have discovered a plugged hole???? For a couple of collectors to determine that those NBTHK papers are "crap" means absolutely nothing, I suggest you leave that determination to the experts - the people who already papered your sword. Louis

Of course, how do you think Bush was elected?

Nice, by his calculations I have 49 million dollars worth of swords on my wall, and I want to know who the guy in oregon is that charges 6K for a polish -I need to up my price per inch. I'll be in Vegas this december - I'll go check it out.

You could contact Usagiya if you want to arrange polishing, very honest and they will have the right people for the sword. Highly trusted in Japan. Regards, Louis

The tachibana maru story is quite interesting, I had a sword that was taken off the same ship by the one of the members of the first boarding party to step foot on it. The sword itself was nothing to speak of but the history behind the sword and all the documentation I had with it made it a pretty valuable piece. Have the polisher look at the sword in hand obviously before making any assumptions by photos, it may very well take a polish, in the end you have two pieces of history there, the sword, and the taking of the tachibana maru - very nice and definitely worth serious consideration for restoration. Oh, make sure your polisher is using traditional methods from start to finish, some amateurs are using some type of hybrid polish that is doing a disservice to Nihonto, and in the end you would be wasting your money. Louis

Maybe the nakago was repatinated? I often smell the nakago first thing to see what I am dealing with. I Love the smells that are sword related, my koma nagura stones all smell differently for the most part, some have an aromatic perfume smell and others smells like swamp water - all beautiful to my nose. Louis

Interesting question Lindus, always thought provoking. I don't mind hagire if on the right blade, at one time I didn't like anything with hagire but I think that was mainly a western mentality influence (one we often see on this board), since then I have changed my ways and look at things differently (perhaps my Japanese influences). To say a blade with hagire is not an art sword in my opinion is completely misleading and well it's just an opinion. To say it is worthless to some collectors is true, valued by others also true, in either case it should be left up to the collector to decide. I've seen some very nice blades with hagire, nicer than some without. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Louis

Stephen came up with a very good idea that I have done before, if I know someone going to a show they will send pics of blades and signatures via phone or other media, allows them to get a good idea of the authenticity and price. louis

Very cool! Check out my Kuniyoshi in the "Edo" thread - same series but of a General blowing himself up.