drbvac

Funny how most of these topics come up over and over again but I don't mind showing my case I had made with locking sliding glass doors and LED lights !

Trust is something earned not developed and it has to be maintained through actions and words or it will fade away and even one bad case can be enough to lose it all. It is also based on truth and although everyone can make a mistake the biggest problem in keeping it intact is never lying and willing to face up to problems openly. We all have others who are disappointed in us but hopefully only through an error and with no malice so just be the best you can be and carry on. Its a NEW YEAR brothers.

I agree for certain question anything you are not happy with but I assumed his main goal was to have a koto blade and was wondering if that was accurate. For smiths with very little information available, the blade itself probably indicates the period as best as you will be able to and Aoi is certainly pretty good with that. He has his koto blade and the rest is for more accuracy on the smith etc. I was just saying the descriptions from AOI are usually pretty accurate to the extent that they go.

Do you have a problem with AOI's description and information ? Usually they are pretty accurate and reliable in terms of what they report on their items and I know I couldn't question what is said on any level

Ray has good quality and prices for fittings and seems to have quite a few at any time in a changing inventory.

Tough to create a daisho - the least of which is getting matching fittings - the blades speak for themselves but again - thats the first part.

I have known and purchased swords from Nick for over 15 years and he is the best. His blades are all unique and while maybe not the big names are certainly of a quality not seen very often and all are papered. It is a pleasure to deal with him and his access to Nihonto during his annual trips to Japan is amazing and you can be assured of something of top quality, rare and beautiful pieces. Highly recommend him and if you ARE looking for something special let him know - for example - see the amazing Muramasa on his website Nihontoart.com !

Depends on what measures you are using as reaching perfection - as art pieces then the shinskuto competitions may be of some measure but as a weapon - another set of measures that may have nothing to do with the actual shape or appearance - Having collected all sorts of edged weapons for over 50 years and confining them to Nihonto the perfect sword may in fact be ugly but very sharp, extreme edge strength, exact length for the samauri using it, and effective in all situations for which it may be used ! My old Ieteda may not be the prettiest but a 3 body cutting test means it may be sufficient for which it was made

Truth for certain when you think of all the "stuff" made now that has a built in obsolesence. Most appliances, washers, dryers, refrigerators with all the hi-tech and costing thousands of dollars will work and be around for about 5-10 years. Cars are gone in a heartbeat - yet a forged pile of iron ore has a finish like glass and will cut like nothing else is still as made 800 years ago. It is a testament to the care that generations of people have put into keeping it so and I am proud to be one of them !

Thanks very much - how do you track down these documents !!!!

Moriyoya San: ありがとう The service you supply the members here is second to none and much appreciated. Yes indeed this sword is now in Eastern Canada !!! The papers with the blade say 3 bodies as you correctly identify and I am sure some of the judges must have smiled when finding an error in one of Dr. Sato's Sayagaki !!!!

I recently acquired this blade by Fujiwara Ietede which is papered but I did not get a translation of the Sayagaki. I took three pictures and hopefully they will be clear enough for someone much smarter than I to translate. With thanks in anticipation of some assistance. .

I certainly didn't suggest or recommend that the Tsuka be immersed in water and they cleaning solution would not have been in contact with the same for more than 20 seconds and considering how long it has been dried it would take hours to soak up enough liquid to affect its composition. Benzene or any other chemical that is used in dry cleaning could be used on the Tsuka-ito even if silk and yes brushing roughly would break up the fibres. Gentle is as always the way to go.

Well as no one answered I assumed it would be on line and it was in many variations - all similar - mild detergent like Woolite, hot water, toothbrush, gentle and - all better !!

Is it considered OK to carefully remove stains and coloring on Tsukamaki and the menuki? What would anyone suggest as the most gentle way - ?