DanBaker

Hi Jester, I haven't come across any societies in Australia, any formal ones anyway. I did hear that there used to be one some time ago but it closed up (someone out there can correct me if I'm wrong here). I guess we just don't have the population here like in the US, Japan or Europe. Where are you located? I'm in Brisbane. It's always good to know people in Aus into nihonto since it's nice and near-by. Drop me an email if you like, my address is danielbaker@aapt.net.au Cheers, Dan.

Hi All, Does anyone know of any sellers of nice display stands out there? I'm after something a bit nicer than the $30 ones from a martial arts shop.... Thanks, Dan.

It doesn't come up on my pc either.... tahnks for posting it up here !

Japanese articles are good I'll put my Japanese girl friend hard to work in translating since my Kanji is not so good :lol: Thanks!!

Hey all, I am chasing as much info as I can get about Masamune and his life (a tough job I know since not all that much is known about him for certain). I understand his original name was Okazaki Goro, and he is also known as Goro Nyudo Masamune (once he became a priest). Oh yeah, and he made some pretty good swords too What I'm looking for is information about his life (or some theories/ educated speculations) and his work and am wondering if anyone knows of any biography sources, university history departments, papers, or other credible/educated sources out there? Of course I’ve done a Google on him and got a ton of anime/final fantasy hits and good ol wikipedia. I'm after something more than just myth/hyped-up legend about him. So if anyone out there can help I’d be much obliged Cheers, Dan

Thanks for all your replies everyone, some very helpful info here!!

Thanks guys! :D Would it be fair to say then that the polish marks can also help indicate the quality of a sword (in addition to all the other usual elements such as mei, flaws, hamon, hada etc...) ? Or did skilled polishers polish both high grade and lower grade swords alike? Cheers, Dan

Hey all, This may be a very basic question sorry, but i was wondering the purpose is of the lines (I don't know their Japanese name) on nihonto just above the nakago and below the mune.... Here is a pic of one of the blades from the Yakiba site: http://yakiba.com/wak_kanetsugu.htm Thanks. Cheers, Dan

Yep, it will be interesting to see if it got out of Japan. Either way though, I hope it doesn't just dissapear into the buyer's collection... I hope the buyer will allow it to be appreciated by others also

Lucky person whoever baught it! It would compliment any nihonto collection very nicely!! Does anyone know how much it sold for out of curiosity? Cheers, Dan

Thanks KM. will do

an interesting post here! thanks for putting this info up on shirasaya

Hi, I'd be very hesitant to hit your sword with a sharpening stone.... you could end up doing some damage. I would leave it to someone trained in nihonto polishing. the last thing you want to do is wreck your nihonto

I'd be keen to see an armour forum in the future I know a small amount about nihonto and next to nothing on Japanese armour... might be a great educational tool

Sure KM here are a couple of pics

Nope, it's not a nihonto but I don't use my nihonto for anything but study and appreciation Too true KM, they must always be treated with respect and caution, even the modern blades like the hanwei bushido....they are very sharp...

Hi All, Thanks for all your comments and opinions I have bought a higher-end Hanwei sowrd, the bushido, and it is quite a nice piece. Quite authentic looking and has a nice hada very sharp too. I haven't used it for tameshigiri yet, but have paracticed a little iaido with it . And it looks good on a stand without having to worry about it getting stolen, as I do with my nihonto). I don't think I'll have the same problem with it as the youtube link in the thread here though, he he. That one looked like a $2 k-mart sword.... haha. I wanted a modern sword that wasn't hell expensive but still decent quality, cuase there's no way I'll be using nihonto for any tameshigiri.... Thanks again everyone:) Much appreciated!! :D

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I am looking around at the moment for my next purchase, and your replys give me great confidence to deal with Moses..... Thanks again, much appreciated. Cheers, Dan

Thanks John. Yep the photo's are a bit hard to take...the light today hasn't been so good either since it has been cloudy here all day. The main reason for wondering if it could be bungo is cause the Japanese guy i bought it from thought this was the case. I also consulted my book by Nagayama which has a small bit about bungo province pieces but no pics unfortunately. So I thought I would put this out there since I'm still pretty green when it comes to nihonto... either way, I do quite like this little piece and love just looking at it for hours! (my girl friend just can't seem to understand, and she is Japanese tsk tsk, ha ha) Thanks again, Dan Oh and I hope these pics are a bit better for everyone, they seem so when I veiw them. Yahoo photos is not real good for such pics

Hi All, I have a mumei tanto (pics below) I thought I would put up here to see what people think...here are my thoughts: Hamon: Suguha Ni Notare Kitae: Mokume Era 1580 - 1600 (Sue Koto) Bungo Province there are also two marks on the blade which look to me that one is perhaps umegane, the other a ware. I’m still pretty new in nihonto and still learning as much as I can. Any thoughts tips on this piece would be much appreciated:) Cheers, Dan I've scrapped the yahoo and here are the pics, Thanks Brian for helping me out....

Hey all, has anyone had any experience with this seller: http://www.nihontoantiques.com Thanks. Dan

Has anyone ever bought from this one also? http://yakiba.com Thanks Dan

Thanks Brian. I look forward to hearong some more views/experiences

HI Brian, Thanks for that. will check it out

Hi all, Has anyone ever bought any nihonto from this seller: http://www.japanesesword.com/ any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Dan