Henry Stewart

Peter Thanks for your assistance and apologies for time lapse in getting back to you. I think one of the NMB gentlemen may have cracked it for me (Shan) however I dont have it yet so will wait and see and let you know,if thats ok with you. Any chance of more photos of the blade you show? You are quite right when you identified my interest in the metals used. Kind regards Henry

Brian Perish the thought. They are indeed wanted for research as against the parallel collection of genuine nihonto ergo comparative analysis. You surely do not mean that someone would collect fakes as opposed to the real article; sheeesh wouldnt that constitute a monumental waste of time. One of the interests I have is the material used and probable time consumed in manufacture. Some of them are very good. Thank you for your kind attention to the thread; as you rightly surmised I couldnt place a lead as nihonto, as I dont know until it arrives. I fully intend to place the results.

Gentlemen. I forget where the original thread was or by whom, but it was about a Wakizshi for sale by an Australian gent,where every member who commented cried fake. When I mentioned I had a parrallel collection of fakes,apart from one reply,there was an embarrased silence,you could almost here the thought vibes "poor old sod's lost the plot".I have my reasons believe you me.Quickly followed by a cryptic remark from Brian who suggested we move the thread from where it was to another place; The only reason for this entry is to let anyone know who is interested that the Australian gent says its now on its way to me so any moment now we should find out the truth of the matter,unless the customs ask me is it a genuine antique? The nearest truthful answer would have to be its resemblence to 'the curates egg'. Henry

Remy That is a satsuma tsuka in my opinion. Pity its not for sale. Thanks for your time. Regards Henry.

Peter If you wish try stwreev@aol.com regards Henry

Hi Peter Many thanks for post.I'm always interested in old Wakizashi. The Tsuka seems to have seen better days,tell me is there anything else about it which could lead you to believe it may be satsuma. With only the one photo its difficult. Principle question might be what are you expecting for it. For instance what is the visible menuki,it typically should be a piece of iron. Lastly satsuma usually sell very low,as most collectors dont like them with their almost total lack of provenance; its just that Ive reached that part of study. Let me have your thoughts pleaase. Kind regards Henry

Gentlemen just to say I'm not really bothered about blade condition. Its the koshirae that matters--if poss in orginal found condition. regards Henry EDIT Brian - Moved to GD as a reference on these fittings for the future.

To:- Dr. Richard Stein; Sir Just in passing I wondered if you have a paper or book on the reading of Kanji (Tips). I have been looking at your site you kindly noted on your last comment; I can also be reached on stwreev@aol.com; and oblige; Regards Henry

The Gentleman from Magenta Italy (sorry I dont know your name). The number on the sword is 354 and as Stephen said is indeed in Japanese numeric symbols.Each seppa of which there are four is numbered 18. For your further interest and/or information; between the number and the end of the Mune is stamped what looks like a small vertically held blade down dagger or cross with the blade bent to the left. It is definitely a stamp as opposed to a mark. Kind regardrs Henry

Brian- many thanks for the photo's,an excellent job as usual. Stephen; thank you for your opinion on the blade which I very much value Gentleman from Magenta- I will do my utmost to get the number and post it on this forum. if they are in Japanese I may struggle a little. Dr.Richard Stein- Sir, I am indebted to you for the opinion on Nihonto. A great pity I think personally. A Japanese national I met quite a few years ago always said "does the blade please you",and does it look well made. That is the true test.He had held a commission in the Imperial Army during WW11. Kind regards Gentlemen Henry

Stephen I cannot see who actually made this sword, but this one seems to have an uncanny feeling when one takes it out of the saya. Its balance feels somewhat heavy to the blade as if to increase the centrifugal force moment on the slash or swing. I certainly looks majestic,but there is not much attractive about the blade patterns. The Suguha Hamon is business like,the sword gleams and the overiding feeling is of it being made as a very efficient weapn to cut,which lets face it is what its meant to do. I base my opinion on the fact that I have handled certainly over a thousand blades. regards Henry

Stephen. Thank you for your interest. I have sent some pictures to Brian and asked him to put them up. I'm afraid I only seem to be able to send attachements with e-mail; Regards Henry

Mariusz; Accepted. Shall we consider all feathers blown,the ground all clean and move on to pastures new. With kind regards Henry

Henry; Caveat emptor = "let the buyer beware". It is generally a way of the vendor showing he/she accepts no responsibility for the article they are selling. You see it,you buy it,you take all the responsibility for buying it Mariusz; In this instance Aristeas asked a simple question which I answered. What happened is a chronological order of FACT all backed up by hard copy.all sequence dated. No opinions. There was one remark I made to him that I missed out, it was to the effect that I accept the sale as all I was looking for was a display stand.The real thing might have been nice but I am satisfied. He knows this. At 71 yrs plus ,not in the best of health I am past bashing anyone I can assure you. kind regards Henry

Dear Aristeas I have just bought a complete Yoroi(suit of armour) from this gentleman at @£912.00gbp. In his advert on ebay he stated in one sentence "the exact age is unknown it seems a old item." He was not more specific than that. Two sentences later he used the phrase "since it is an old item".He stated under emphasis by a change of colour "Full" suit. Yet the gloves are missing(something I didnt notice). After I paid I sent him an email thinking I would like to know if he could be more precise so I asked him the age again. Back came the reply "It is a modern reproductioin". I immediately replied "you didnt mentiion the word modern or reproduction in your advert,youre advert was misleading.He replied by email saying he was sorry he had confused me but what he meant was it was an "old" reproductioin about 40 to 50 years. Caveat Emptor; I have to look at my age and conclude 'theres no fool like an old fool'. Still the asking price should have told me all,especially from Japan. Make of this tale what you will.

Thank you Brian; Its come up the colour of aluminium;What would you say it was made of. Ive never seen a cleaned tsuba before. Its on a very nice sword but spoils the whole effect as it is clearly the wrong colour. Henry

Follow up as to Nihonto recognitioin of Manchurian steel sword: I have been speaking to a colleague who tells me that Manchurian iron-sand (similar to the Japanese variety)(raw material was one of the reasons the Japanese attacked Manchuria) was imported to Japan, and quite a few blades were make including some at Yasakuni. The problem is they werent notated or marked apart from the Kao Isshin legend so theres no means of knowing.Anyone know if this is a myth or is there more than a 'grain 'of truth in it?? regards Henry.

Thank you for that Remy. I will try and get hold of it. Henry

Gentlemen I have come across a Tsuba which someone has cleaned to a bright finish but left the gold inlay alone. I would like to own the sword but the cleaning bothers me aside from looking wrong.Can any remedial action be taken as far as this tsuba is concerned i.e. re-patinatiion?? Henry

Peter Have seen Bill and now own a Kao Isshin,thankyou all. In passing anyone know why it is not regarded as Nihonto?? Henry

Thanks Ed; All assistance gratefully received. I hope after this hoo ha I can afford the sword if one comes up; Anyone know a ball park figure they fetch,understanding condition is all. Henry

Peter Many thanks I'll see him at Liverpool on Sunday if I cant catch him by phone regards Henry

EdM. I have asked Brian to try and find it for me. I think it was me who started the thread but like you cannot find it. As I remember one of our Japanese members wrote the equivalent Kanji against the script on the nakago. Is that the one? Henry

Thank you Stephen; will keep a watching brief; Henry

Kevin Hi; re - your sword you have for sale. Can you see the three links James Reinig has kindly provided. If you check out the first one it tells you what I seek, Can you have a quick 'shufti' and let me know. Kind regards Henry