jeremy

I second namikawa Heibei. Bought a few things from them in the past, and they're very responsive and great to deal with.

Thanks for all that information. I hope its smooth sailing for me when it comes time to ship.

Thats good to know. Where were they shipped from and what description did they have on the customs sheet?

Last I heard they don't accept swords. Unless there is a way around it? Have you shipped a sword with dhl?

Hi guys I have finally found someone who will send my blade to Japan to get a bohi carved. What I wanted to know is what is the best way to send a sword to the usa from Australia? I've read many carriers don't accept swords, and the package may be too long to be sent through Australia post. ( over 105cm) Anyone with experience sending swords from Australia please let me know your experience Jeremy

I've been looking around , but hard to find a blade that meets all my requirements for training at 2-6-5 length sword .

Thank you Pier. I have something to think about i guess. Thank you to everyone else for their advice also. Jeremy

Yep.

The plan was to go to Japan this year in October for the annual taikai, and planned to take my sword to him, but with covid it seems that won't be happening this year. If I cant find anyone before then I guess it'll have to wait until my next trip to Japan

Just as a FYI, this sword is a batto blade i purchased directly from the swordsmith in Japan in 2009. Its made by Okamoto Kazumune , made to use for batto and tameshigiri and is in a rough tameshigiri polish . Nagasa is 80cm, it has become way too heavy for me now in my middle age hence wanting the bohi. Thanks for your help guys Jeremy

I dont mind sending it to Japan, but with hassles of getting swords into Japan I thought maybe us or Europe. But if someone can help me get my sword into Japan it's definite an option

Hi thanks for the recommendation but Andrew doesn't carve bohi and he couldn't recommend anyone to do the work for me. Are there any other suggestions?

Hello I am wanting to get a bohi carved into my shinsakuto , and sending swords to Japan is a pain and most of you know. I found this guy https://www.japanesesword.es/ Is he legitimate? I don't want to send my sword to someone who will ruin it . Thanks Jeremy

I second Namikawa Heibei. They should ship to Europe.

stock cardboard like that of a notebook works just as well if not better than leather if you can't get a hold of metal seppa. Jeremy

My tanto is shipping via seamail tomorrow from usagiya in Japan to me in Australia. It comes with a tracking number. Fingers crossed here

For what its worth i received my tanto from Japan via sea mail and it took 2 months to reach me in Australia. I am waiting for another one from Usagiya which will be coming by sea mail. If all else fails maybe ask aoi to send by sea mail.

Not sure if I can see any shintetsu to say its been over polished . But the nioiguchi doesn't seem bright, maybe that's just the pics, I can't say for sure . Its seen better days for sure.

Great video John. I always assumed the ballistic gel was suited to bullets etc and projectile weapons. Guess my assumption may have been correct

From what I've read adding a rather unusually heavy tsuba was added to swords to perform the cutting on dead bodies. If you add weight to the kashira, you'll find the blade will be easier to swing as its bringing the POB closer to the kashira, usually this is done to top heavy swords.

Most bamboo species become harder during colder months. It feels a bit more like cutting through wood, so more chance to chip or bend a sword.

Thanks for the kind words Greg . It was unusually quick from the UK to Australia! Freight for 100 tatami was about $500 Aussie, definitely not a cheap endeavour by any means! Safer than cutting bamboo especially here in the winter time though.

Here in Australia in the summer humid wet months, the tsuka on all my user swords start having gata gata, rattling inside the core agaisnt the nakago where I need to use shims to tighten the fit. In the cold non humid months where its really dry , everything tightens up including the koiguchi around the habaki as well as the nakago inside the tsuka core. And I've noticed its been like this ever since I started getting into swords back in 2003

These aren't tatami omote. As Ken had said, tatami is a type of rush or igusa grass. Bit harder to cut than straw . Not sure if that eBay straw is a good deal or not. Jeremy

Hi Matt I think you'll find also Japanese iaido and particularly tameshigiri practitioners may have differing views on this subject . In Japan many of my teachers use cheap modern made shinsakuto for their cutting and iaido training . In rough dull cutting polish . In the West we are more spoilt for choice, in Japan only Japanese nihonto are allowed to be sold etc. If you want one of the closest things to a shinsakuto i would contact Rick Polland at swordstore.com and ask about his steel iaito. They cost about $1500usd. Cheaper than shinsakuto and just as good for cutting and iaido . Cheers Jeremy