Mark S.

As the blade is for sale on a Japanese Dealers website, I didn’t post the whole picture. I’m not deciding to buy it, I was just using it because it had a clear photo of what I was asking about. If posting the whole nakago is an issue, I’ll ask Brian to delete.

Please excuse if this has been asked/answered before. Wasn’t sure what term to use in search function. Found this example on line and have seen it before. There is a distinct line on the nakago of this suriage blade. Was it a ‘guide’ for the person shortening the blade or was it placed to determine ‘old’ from ‘new’? Very obviously on this blade, it differentiates the where the file marks change. Not all suriage blades have this mark. Finally, does this line have a ‘name’? Any discussion or thoughts on this are invited. Interesting also is that (to me) the upper mekugi-ana seem older than the lower one, which you would think would be opposite.

No no no… I’m all in. This has been enlightening and liberating. You see, for the longest time I have believed that all tsuba are the same… whether iron, iron with inlay, and soft metal… no matter school, age, maker, style, or quality and that I can improve them all by restoring them to bare metal with various acid treatments, steel wool, and other chemical/abrasive treatments. Also, in an effort to improve them, I believe it best to experiment with different DIY treatments to restore what I believe was their original state. Shiny is much better than the destructive patina from ages of neglect. It really is the only way to ‘learn’ and who knows what is hidden under all the patina, grime, and years of handling? It is up to me to unlock all their secrets by removing all that junk. Besides, who made the ‘rule’ that patina is ‘good’? Why are we locked into silly traditions and limited by past notions and practices? HELL NO I SAY!!! People here are just holding me back. My only fear was the dinosaurs here who would criticize my methods and rain down heaps of negativity upon me. While my controversial views might not be for everyone, I finally feel like I have found a brother in arms. The rest here don’t understand us. The best part is I know I am right simply because I believe I am right and that is all the justification I need. Let’s face it, no one can stop me anyway, so they might as well all just roll over and accept it… Sooner or later they all have to realize… it’s them… not me…

OK… everyone should do whatever they want to whatever they want in any way they want no matter what and we should be required to support and celebrate it. Is that more along the lines of the positivity you are looking for? I apologize to member Hokke for disagreeing with his “they just don’t care” theory. Maybe I was wrong…. Joe is right… an amateur destroying a blade is the only way to learn and should be considered a ‘best practice’. Damn the advice from naysayers… full speed ahead.

AKA “opening a window”. A QUALIFIED polisher will select one or more locations on a blade and PROPERLY polish just that area(s) until activity can be seen so blade can be evaluated. Now… why do I say QUALIFIED? Because they also know how to polish the window so that if the blade warrants a full polish, the window they previously polished isn’t detrimental to the future full polish.

Remembered I had this 16-petal one in the mix. Came off a mismatched very poor koshirae. I know nothing about it and really never gave it much thought.

There are a couple old threads related to this smith. WW2 undocumented smith. The search function should get you more.

… and for those that think I haven’t made any mistakes. Long ago I purchased a WW2 US M1 carbine bayonet for about (at that time) $50. I decided in my ‘inifinite wisdom’ that it would be cool to sharpen it. I took what is now worth about $150 (give or take) and made it worth $0. I have kept that blade as a monument to me “not knowing what I didn’t know” and as a reminder that my arrogance has consequences. Regret is a terrible teacher and destroying a piece oh history a poor legacy on my part..

I don’t believe they don’t care… initially. I believe they don’t ‘know’ or ‘understand’ what they are contemplating doing. We are here to help them with that. After we do that… if they still proceed… THEN they don’t care. And here is where I struggle with some of our members and the “how” we do it. Yes, we can be sarcastic, or rude, or make snide comments, or be so direct that a kick in the nuts seems tame and claim “we are just being brutally straightforward and everyone immediately needs tough love because that’s what happened to us”, or we can try to understand that they “just don’t know what they don’t know” and try to guide and teach. There is always time for a boot to the sack later if they won’t listen.

I think this IS the point… a beginner (and I mean no offense as I still put myself in that category) doesn’t know the difference and worse “doesn’t know what they don’t know”. In fact I’ll turn your scenario in the other direction… they buy a blade and then come here asking for our advice, and when we give it to them (both blade quality and amateur polish), they are all offended and flip out at the advice. If you don’t know enough to evaluate a blade AND know you don’t have the qualifications or skill to polish a blade, you shouldn’t. Let’s face it, most of us who have been here long enough have learned not to touch a blade.

No one said that. What we are saying is we don’t support it, recommend it, justify it, talk about it, teach it, or acknowledge it as a proper practice here. PLEASE read (or reread) the very first post in this thread. It answers all the ‘why’s’.

Mei is tough to read. Guessing second character is 光 “mitsu”. Working on first. Maybe a few more pictures with different light and slightly different angles.

Dogs and bikes don’t usually mix! Hope the recovery is quick. Rest up and get well soon.

PM sent

NTHK-NPO to be specific. Not trying to be nit picky, but there is a NTHK & a NTHK-NPO. Two separate groups. Newer members may not be aware.

And another important question that doesn’t get asked enough, “Are you buying it for us or for you?”

No, the NBTHK does not make their records available to the general public.

Wishing you the best on a speedy recovery. Hope you will be able to enjoy the holidays in good health. We always appreciate all you do to make this site available to us.

From Grey Doffin’s site… guy with big hat in rain.

A expert here tells us we can’t tell anything without blade in hand. This is a useless endeavor.

We’re all very proud of you…

So, before I add my response, I do not quote the following or the response to belittle, or make a mockery of this in-depth and intellectual discussion. I simply think it addresses some of the ideas discussed. So with all respect: “We are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters." - Yoda And in an on-line discussion of the meaning of the quote: “But to sum it up: firstly, I don’t think Yoda is meaning that their students automatically SURPASS their teachers’s achievements/abilities…the “true burden of all masters” (or, in other words, the difficulty all teachers make for themselves) is that their legacy is not directly created by themselves, but by how their students use the knowledge that the teachers imparted on them. Some students excel, performing beyond what even their master ever could. Others falter, and fail. As a mentor and teacher, a Master’s burden is to accept both outcomes equally.” I think the reverence for the Shodai has to do with the respect and tradition of the Sensei/student relationship. Also, the idea that the better the student the better the Master must have been. Unfortunately, the student’s work can sometimes be overlooked or undervalued. I know much of what I state has already been mentioned in one form or another.

I guess I’m more on the quantity side. I try to buy solid pieces, but I also enjoy different shapes, sizes, characteristics, etc. Once you start adding in yari, naginata, etc. it’s easy for it to start adding up. Also, every so often I come across something that just speaks to me or I can’t pass up and it joins the family. EDIT: I have also started to have a few of the better, more interesting (to me), solid blades restored, so some funds are now diverted from ‘quantity’ to improving ‘quality’ and caretaking.

Condition leaves A LOT to be desired. Wouldn’t give this one a second glance.

Based on the current system(s), I just don’t think an organization like this would be given the opportunity to gain credibility and therefore would not last long.