Brian Hancock

Hi Richard, Try Namikawa in Japan. Cheers, Brian

Ebay does this because they are to lazy to stop it and of course they take a cut don't they. Brian

Thank you Koichi San. Very much appreciated. Brian.

Hi Markus, Many thanks. Its a very big help. Regards, Brian

Hi All, Just recieved a tanto from Aoi-Art and this is the Fuchi that is on it. Could someone give a translation? I think it may be a poem? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Brian.

Too Late Moss! Bugger, I wish he had a BIN !! Cheers, Brian

Hi, I have a very nice Kai Gunto made by a smith called Masakiyo. No mon or any other reference to minagotawa but he is listed in the book you mentioned with a cryptic ref. "Very little Known" about him. The swordis signed "Hizen ju Masakiyo" Cheers, Brian.

Hi Brian, Hope all goes well for you and a swift recovery. Did I tell you about my friends kidney stone? Well............. :lol:

Hi Steve, I saw that as well but decided to pass. Good job it was as cheap as chips! Regards, Brian

Hi All, This notice is on Ebay UK this morning. 09 February, 2009 | 08:00PM GMT We wanted to inform you of a change to our policies regarding the sale of knives. All knives except cutlery will be banned from sale on eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie. This will impact UK, Irish and international sellers who currently list knives for sale to buyers on the eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie sites. Over the last year we have made several changes to our policies regarding sales of knives and also Samurai swords to ensure that only legal knives are available on the UK and Irish sites. However, the criteria for what constitutes a legal knife are increasingly complex, and this step is necessary to help further protect our members and provide them with the highest safety standards. We will be updating this AB post shortly to ensure that any sellers of knives have full notice, details and timings for the changes. Thank you for your support in continuing to make eBay such a vibrant and trusted marketplace. Regards, The eBay Team So there you are.No more Nihonto I suppose next they will ban the fittings on the grounds they "Incite people to use swords to kill each other" Cheers, Brian.

Hi Steve, Try here. http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/index.htm Cheers, Brian.

Hi Kevin, Parcelfarce are the same.Take your money and any claim you may have to make they cry "We don't carry swords" Try Fed-Ex. Cheers, Brian.

Hi Dick, If you live in the UK try Tony Norman or Les Stewart both are very good polishers. Cheers, Brian.

A Happy New Year to all out there and lets hope the UK pound can climb higher than a Vietnamese Dong! Regards to all Brian.

Hi Bill, I have a sword by Amada Sadayoshi. Is he a relation of Enamoto Sadayoshi? Cheers, Brian.

Evening all. A friend has asked me to ask you knowlegable chaps about IJA sword tassle colours. What colour was the tassle for the IJA Administration Branch? Thanks, Brian.

I was also looking at the tsuba and weeping into my cornflakes at the exchange rate! Cheers, Brian

Thank you Moriyama san. Regards, Brian.

Thank you John and Moriyama san for you help. 1946 eh? What awonderful year that was.Its when I was born Thanks again guy's

Thanks guy's. I knew you would come up trumps. I picked this up for £50 from a lot of stuff he was selling cheap.As I mentioned before if anyone has Horse related fittings for sale please let me know and again thanks. Brian.

Hi All (Again!) I have just got this fuchi from the same guy as Peter Farrar at Birmingham fair yesterday and would be greatful if anyone of you tosugu guys could do me a translation please. I have put a few pics for you to see and if anyone has a Kashira in the same material that would go with it and would like to sell please let me know. Thanks in advance. Brian.

Hi All, This is my latest sword and would be greatful for a translation of both sets of Kanji. I believe its Kanemichi but is the second picture the date? Thanks in advance. Brian.

Thank you Piers. Much appreciated. Brian.

Can any board member do a complete translation on this for me please. I think the smiths name is Kunitsugu. Its a wakazashi in very nice condition.Good polish, no flaws and fully mounted in Samurai mounts. I was considering to sell it or not and would like to be able give a complete translation to a buyer if I decide to sell. Thanks, Brian.

Hi Again, Don't know if this is of use for you but if you have a look on "Ricecracker's" site he has a Kanetsune katana on there.The bit I am on about says that " The Kanetsune line later turned into the famous Owari Masatsugu line in the Shinto period" maybe of use to you. Cheers,Brian.