Grover

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I feel very honoured that CNN used the picture of the Daisho for their sword article. One of the guiding principles for me all through the project was that I wanted to pay tribute to Echigo No Kami Kanesada and to have his blades in the company of a Rai Khunitoshi and a Masamune in that article is very humbling. Pablo from Unique Japan helped me procure and find what I needed and the craftsmen for the job. He excels in what he does for his clients. From the outset he guided and listened to what I wanted to achieve - a family treasure.

Hi all Just wanted to share some pictures of a recent project. I started with a Echigo No Kami Kanesada Katana with an outstanding floating hamon. This blade has Tokebetsu Hozen and NTHK-NPO Yushuto. From this excellent start I tracked down a Wakazashi from the same smith also with Tokebetsu Hozen. As an ex Army officer my idea for the daisho was to have a military theme that would be passed on to my son. I loacted EDO period fittings for the project, firstly daisho tsubas with Samuri, next for Menuki it was Samuri with the sho getting samuri in boats in the traditional Minamoto - Taira clash at Dannoura. The Fuchi Kashira of the sho depicts the Chinese god of war Guan Yu, Whilst the Katana has horse mounted samuri. The saya was made in earth brown for the land the ito I had in Green for the vegetation. Finally the Kozuka and Kogai are matching dragons for good luck and strength in battle. So these were the thoughts behind the project and these are the pictures of the outcome:

For anyone importing into Australia you dont have to pay the duty on an antique sword but you have to pay the GST (10%) of the value of the item including the postage. When the sword arrives in customs you will receive a leter from them saying they have your sword. They will give you a link to download the Declaration form (N10) the important bit is the tariff Calssification code. For an antique sword it is 97060000 and the Stat Code is 07. Once you email that form to them they will reply with a bill for you to pay and then they release the goods. All in all not to stressful (except the first time when you have to find out the tariff code) and they have never unwrapped any of my swords.

Grey Thansk for that I guess it is possible that I may have spilt oil on the outside of the saya at some time. I kinda didnt think that there was a problem but I always remember "the only stupid question is the one you dont ask". Cheers mate Steve

Thanks for that. My main concern was if the saya became unable to breath. The sword belongs to a friend and I want to make sure it is kept as best as possible. None of my shiraysayas are showing stains. Maybe too much oil on my behalf I will keep an eye on it. Getting another made is not easy best place to go for me is Australia and I am not sure if there is someone down there that does shirasayas it would be good to know if there is. Thanks again I will stop stressing over this for now. I have attached a pic of the saya.

Hi I have a Sukesada wakazashi in Shirasaya and when looking at it the choji oil seems to be sweating out of the saya, that is there are oil stains on the outside of the shirasaya. Is this ok should I be concerned? I live in a hot climate in the Southern Hemisphere and the swords are in a safe. Cheers Steve

To quote the late Robin Williams "better latent than never"

Markus Thnaks for that extract. I just bought 2 of your books to go along with that. cheers Steve