Andi B.

...Baby Patellida Shells...?

...might be a sturgeon's or similiar fish's skin... ...or Corn Flakes...

...had it posted some years ago: MOP inlay

Hello, I heared, that for the NTHK the focus is more on the condition / state of preservation of the blade while the NBTHK has its focus more on the artistic / historical value...?

Having the print version it's good to have the PDF file too! It's time to get a tablet PC for all the collected PDFs now...thanks to NMB and Markus Sesko and his Easter, Christmas and however named lulu super ebook sales!

Hello, it's very good that you asked before purchase! One question: Would you buy this item, if you are looking for a real Ferrari? - Why not? Because you see and simply know it is a fake! And that because you have seen real Ferraris at least on TV, in magazines, on the street or at friends...no need to have driven one... And that's the same with Japanese Swords! If you learn a bit, it should be easy for your to identify such ugly fakes. # # # Actually there are two challenges for beginners: 1) How to distinguish fake from real blades and if you can manage this 2) How to distinguish poor real blades from good real blades General rule: Simply don't touch any suspicious item! => If YOU can't recognise whether a blade is legit or not at the moment - don't buy it! => Try to resist in buying a blade only because it might be a "Japanese sword" but without knowing the special features of a real Nihonto! Regarding point 1) How to distinguish fake from real blades If hada or hamon look odd, fittings are badly cast or ugly carvings are on the blades surface etc. you will not make a mistake by not buying it! -> It's most probably a fake and not an authentic piece (99%). -> And if it's really an original Nihonto or fitting (1%), it's still ugly and you will regret your purchase most probably! => Try to get in touch with authentic Japanese swords in good conditions (at least by pictures and books). When you have seen some real ones you surely will be able to identify such fakes soon. => Try to buy the best you can affort. One fine blade is better than three poor ones. I didn't bought any fake but I have some unpolished low grade very cheap wakizashi blades (which were cheaper than fakes therefore I don't regret the purchase!). They might become nice after polishing but a professional polish is probably too expensive in relation to the final value. So even if you own a real Samurai sword, it is not automatically satisfying you for a long time... Regarding point 2) How to distinguish poor real blades from good real blades An advice I learned from M. Hagenbusch (when you have left behind the fake issue and you are already in the Nihonto field) is: If you have the chance, try to see high class swords and fittings only. The more top blades you see the more you learn about Nihonto and the more you don't want to own a low quality (or even fake) sword. Mainly because they will no longer appeal you. But that's a long process of learning and experience... "It is quite essential to to look at as many good blades as possible, and to study their classification and learn the special expressions used in sword terminology. It absolutely does not help to look at lots of Japanese cold steel, which may be badly polished or not polished at all, and to think that seeing quantities of such swords can teach one the essentials of the Japanese sword. ... Nevertheless if one is truly interested in the "ART-SWORD" it is advisable not to invest time and effort in low level blades. If there is a real interest in the Japanese sword, there are only two ways to train the eyes and increase one's knowledge : First, look at good swords under good guidance; and secondly study the literature intensively." I hope this helps a little!

...then you have seen more than the maker of this sword... I think it is not based on a real model. It's doesn't seem to be a "replica" or "fake" - it looks like a sword dummy with a "Japanese Style". So I can't imagine that it is possible to identify its orign (most probably somewhere in China or South East Asia...).

Hello, unfortunately it obviously a fake. Please check the following link: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/repro.htm Try to see real Japanese mountings and blades (you can find images on the dealers websites in the link section of this forum) and compare.

Hi, I have a tsuba with a similiar theme. At least some items are the same... Below I quote the reply to my question in the topic “Unknown Tsuba Themes“:

Hi, I didn't get the point 100%: So when kogatana were in use in former times they were glued with kusune in the kozuka? And today collectors use other more reversible methods to bring them together for display?

Nice tanto! But could it be, that the hamon is a bit acid enhanced?

Really sad news (although not unexpected for the ones who knew him here in Munich)... We will miss him - it was an honour for me to know him personally... I'll always remember his "Lasst das Kind mal vor!" when he wanted to have a look at blades we brought to our meetings...

Still confusing: Do all three images show what is called Ha-garami? First #4 looks like a crack in the ha while the other two #17 & #19 look like open layers...

Hi, don't buy it - it's a fake! And the fittings are unbelivable ugly

Thanks Guys, I have already a self prepared Kusune lollipop in the fridge but miss a detailed instruction how to use it for tsukamaki...but I think it's not a tricky thing....

Caleb,thanks for this useful information! Maybe that's too detailed but what about Kusune - the sticky resin/oil “glue“ to fix the ito...? Mr. Buck tells nothing about it his book. Can someone give me more background info on this topic?

...now all the copies are sold.... Thanks to all buyers!

UPDATE Three copies are no longer on hold and therefore available again. So if you missed it last time you can get a copy now...PM me...

Guys, your are unbelivable fast - all copies are on hold now!!! I'll contact the inquirers...

Hello all, I have some copies of the book "SASANO Japanese Sword Guards Masterpieces From The Sasano Collection by Sasano Masayuki Part One (First edition 1994)" for sale. The books are in brand new and unread conditions with dust jacket and cardboard box. 297 masterpiece sukashi tsuba are presented chronologically in this 341 page book by renown tsuba expert Sasano Masayuki. The Tsuba are shown in clear black and white life size photos and commented by the author. A fold out chart shows the changes in design over the periods. Some pictures of the book (my copy - the books I sell are untouched...) can be found here: Book Sasano 1 Book Sasano 2 Book Sasano 3 Book Sasano 4 Book Sasano 5 Book Sasano 6 Book Sasano 7 Book Sasano 8 Catvertisement Price is EUR 100,- per book plus shipping (ca. 2,5 kg) EUR 5,99 to Germany EUR 15,99 (Zone 1, inside EU, e.g. UK, France, Italy,...) EUR 28,99 (Zone 2, European countries but not member of EU) EUR 34,99 (Zone 3, Worldwide, selected countries e.g. USA) EUR 41,99 (Zone 4, Worldwide, any other countries) see https://www.dhl.de/en/paket/pakete-versenden/weltweit-versenden/paket.html If you are interested, please send me a PM. Best regards Andi

...I think it's a riding crop...

Hi John, yes, if I touch them, they feel/sound like foil with a non metal core. What is the origin of those type of menuki?

Hello, I have here a tsuka with nice fuchi and kashira (flute, fan and rattles on a fine nanako ground) but with somehow strange menuki (see images). They are golden roosters but they look like embossed "press plates" (?)... What do you think about their "quality / value"? Are they nevertheless authentic? Should I keep the tsuka as it is or are they unacceptable and I would not lose anything if I would reuse the fuchi/kashira/same for a new tsuka?

ok, let's see: Sword with Scabbard Blade Japanese, Mounting Thomas Kapustran, Klausenburg (Siebenbürgen), 1674 Blade iron, forged, handle, handguard and scabbard fittings amethyst and enamel on gold; scabbard wood covered with ray or shark skin Total lenght 91,5 cm; blade 77,1 cm; weight 1775 g on the top of the hand guard in an oval gold plate the master's inscription THO : KAPUSINO : TRANSILVAN FeCit. 1674 ... This sword imitates the weapon of a Japanese samurai. Kapustran used an original Japanese blade of unknown provenience. For the handle, guard and scabbard mountings he copied the form of Japanese models. Technique and decor are however European origin and follow the typical transilvanian tradition. Enamel decoration and also the stone insertions reveal a strong Near East influence; especially the guard can be considered as a Transylvanian interpretation of Ottomanian pattern. Also for the scabbard Kapustran obviously reworked a Japanese original.

Hello, last week I visited Dresden, Gemany. While strolling through the Türckische Cammer (Turkish Chamber) in the Residenzschloss (Royal Palace) I saw below sword, whose blade looks amazingly Japanese - altough without any polish (no hamon, hada and yokote). So I checked the catalogue and in fact it is an original Japanese katana blade with a European mounting made by Transilvanian artist Thomas Kapustran from Klausenburg/Transilvania in 1674. The scabbard is also a modified Japanese original saya. Signature on the hand guard: "THO : KAPUSINO : TRANSILVAN FeCit. 1674". Below photograph I found in the web (source might be a catalogue of the “Staatliche Kunstammlungen Dresden”) shows some details: