Michaelr

A “good “ collection in in the eye of the beholder. Who is to say what I have and might treasure is any less than what anyone else has. Everyone has their own taste, their own budget and their own really treasured collection. Just my two cents

  MikeR

  Ok a few of you asked for my story so here it is. I collected WW2 US, German and Japanese weapons including, knives, bayonets, rifles, pistols, shotguns, holsters and other WW2 stuff for over 40 years at the time of my dispersal. Everything that I purchased was purchased for myself and was the best that there was out there at the time.  Do to a divorce I had to sell my whole collection. With this many years invested and the fact that I had all premium items I had many friends or so I thought. When it came time to sell many of those friends stepped up and expressed their desire for many of my items. With the type of person I was I figured that this was my opportunity to pass many of my beloved items on to “ friends” at a well below market cost so that they may enjoy them as much as I did and I could still be proud of the items as I “ thought “ I knew where they were going. I had offers well above my “ friends “ prices but this was my way of treating others with the way that someday I might be treated.  Soooo after passing many pieces of my collection on I started to see “ my stuff “ for resale at inflated prices. When I questioned my so called friends as to why did they tell me that they wanted my items for themselves they said that they knew I would sell them my things to them cheap and they could resell them ( for what I could have ) and make good money as there was a demand for items in the condition of mine. They had no Problem telling me that once I sold my items to them that they now owned them and could do what they wanted with them. This was a tuff one and very unexpected. After that I started to offer my not so friends- friends the rest of my collection for going rate. Of course they told me I was nuts. At this point I sent the remaining collection off to a well known reseller that charged me 10% commission. The ironic part was that I added 20% and some of the same people stepped up and paid the reseller the new price so I ended up making more money through him. 
  What did I learn: most friends are not friends they are acquaintances. I came through this with a new look on life and a new set of rules for those I call FRIENDS. For about the past 10 years I started collecting Japanese Swords, again only for myself, and the people that I have met here and at the Orlando Japanese Sword Show have restored my faith in what real friends are. Thanks everyone here for treating me as a friend and I will still pay it forward when my time comes but this time my Real Friends will appreciate my gifts

 I  told you it would be long but you asked for it. Hope you enjoyed it and maybe learned a little from my life’s experience and take the time to figure out what Real Friends are I know the difference now. 

    MikeR

Peter, many are ago, due to personal circumstances, I was forced to sell off a extensive collection of let’s say WW2 items. If I were to try and explain how it went and what I tried to do and ended up doing it would be a book of its own. I will try and figure a way to condense my story if this is what you and other members would like. I can tell you it was a eye opener to say the least. This was my start in life to find out and understand the difference between Friends and TRUE FRIENDS.  Let me know if this is what you are looking for and I will see if I can work it out.  Thank you.    MikeR

WOW that Koshirae is BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for sharing it

  MikeR

WOW that is a beautiful blade. I would be proud to own that. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR

Great sword. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR

Knowing in advance when you may pass could be either a blessing or a curse depending on how that individual feels about it. I think your original question goes the same way. There is no right or wrong, no best way or worst way, only the way that makes YOU feel good about what you decided. Here is my two cents. I have been a collector for now over 55 years. I have only been into Japanese Swords for a very short 10 years. In the past 20 years I have only purchased what I like and what I want to keep for myself and for my enjoyment. With that being said I am the most proud of my collection when I am sharing it with others that also appreciate it. So for me if I was given a time frame for my own passing I would pick out a couple of the items that pleased me the most and set them aside. While I had the time I would then put my other treasures up for sale in places like this Great Forum, where other like minded people can appreciate the pictures, comment on my treasures and hopefully be as impressed with a few items to purchase them. If I were passing nothing would give me more pleaser than to be able to pass something on to someone, like the boy mentioned above, and see the same look that was on my face when I was given the opportunity to become the caretaker of a Great Item. As for the few items that I saved for myself it wouldn’t matter what happened to them after I passed. I still had them to enjoy right up to the end. I could only hope an request from my survivors to try and pass them on to someone like me   To me after doing this for so long there is nothing better for me that to see that look in someone else’s eyes and being able to be a part of it. You can’t do that after you are gone and If your survivor dosent want your stuff they will never see that in the new owners eyes nor will they care. Pass it on to someone like yourself while  you can, it will give you almost the same enjoyment as it did/ does to own it. Good luck with what ever you decide and after you have thought long and hard to make YOUR decision DONT LOOK BACK, it will have been the right one.  
  Ps also if you do this while you can you will only be leaving your loved ones money from the sale. No one will have to know how much you spent, lost , or made and they definitely won’t be saying “ that old guy was crazy” everyone likes cash

    MikeR

WOW! That is a beautiful set up. To me that is the best way to enjoy your blades and Koshira. Great job. Thank you for sharing   

   MikeR

All makes a lot of sense and all good points. Thank you so much for your response. 
    MikeR

Ok not to change or steal Shane’s original post but what about displaying bare blades on a rack? If the blade is kept oiled and the temperature is somewhat controlled and the humidity is somewhat controlled can they be left out to enjoy? ( I use the word somewhat to imply that this is in a home, in a separate room, where the temperature mostly consistent and a dehumidifier is on 24-7). I know that museums have very controlled environments but I see blades stored this way so they can be enjoyed by all. Thank you

    MikeR

Very nice. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR

Thank all of you. I will try and get some more information and some pictures. 
 MikeR

Thank you John. It appears that what I was looking at was Zohei-To. I was told by the seller that the one in the 94 mounts was signed but non-traditional blade and the one in the 98 mounts was also signed but traditionally made blade. I am going to see if I can get any more information from the seller. Is the Zohei-To common or fairly uncommon? I don’t think that I have seen many myself.

 Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place, so as Bruce suggested, Brian please move this post to where ever it should be.   MikeR

As I am not into either one but want to learn about both my question is: what is the difference between a bare KYU blade and a bare NCO blade. To me as a novice who has not really studied these they both appear similar. I have never had a opportunity to be shown or told the difference nor a opportunity to compare both side by side. With that being said is it possible to find these blades mounted in 94 mounts?  If this I has been discussed here before please excuse the question and point me in the right direction as I have tried to search every way I could but had no luck. Thank you

      MikeR

Great read. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR

Go back 5 post and reread what Mark S. posted. I think that says alot for many collectors especially new collectors just starting or others maybe on a limited budget. Buy books, yes they are expensive but will be your best investment. After you have a few books and a little bit of understanding then go back and read Mark S. again. At that point you should be off to a good start. Come back to this board as often as you can and read as much as you can because you have the best people with the most knowledge right here. Good luck 

  MikeR

I am not sure what you have and sorry I can’t help with any of the details but I really like it. Hope it turns out to be more that you expected. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR 

Looks great. Thank you for sharing   

  MikeR

Thank you both very much.

  MikeR

I recently purchased a early NCO sword with the brass Tsuba, and aleather tassel with the buckle was attached to the sword. Looking at the way it was attached I knew something wasn’t right, only the tongue piece of leather was through the Sarute. Now my question, I can’t seem to figure out how to install the tassel the correct way as the buckle end will not fit through the Sarute. It looks to me that I will have to remove the Sarute to run both pieces of the leather tassel through and then reinstall the Sarute. Is this correct or am I completely missing something? Thank you in advance

  MikeR

WOW Thank you both so much for the smiths information. I am great full  

  MikeR

I was told that sometimes they were carried by the pilots, but you know how that goes, anything is possible. I was also told by a high end Japanese sword expert/collector that a few that he had seen when the leather was removed it revealed information on the Saya. No way I will ever attempt to remove the leather from mine to find out. Also originally on mine the mekugi was completely covered and the leather had to be carefully cut to remove it to check for a signature   Glad you are enjoying these two Tantos

  MikeR 

Not sure Bruce but I think it is someone’s SSN? I wonder if I can look that up?
 MikeR

Thank you so much

 MikeR

Ok I just returned home and took some pictures of a similar Tanto that I own as promised. I don’t know if anyone can make out the mei but I got it the best that I could. Hope you enjoy