Michaelr

As a beginner in the Japanese Sword field I wasn't sure if I was ready for a show like this yet. I called Bob Elder and talked to him about the show and he said come on down you won't regret it. WOW was he right!! I got to the show Friday morning and hooked up with my friend Jim Colorado and met Bob for the first time. I spent three days, open to close, with people that treated me like they had known me for every. I have to say that EVERYONE at the show took me under their wing and took the time to teach me about and show me everything that they had on their tables. I have never been treated this well anywhere. I attended all of the lectures and they were also GREAT! I was able to see and handle some blades that I, and maybe some long time collectors, may never be able to see again. For me and I think all that attended this was a GREAT Show, with GREAT People. If you get a chance to attend this show please do, you won't regret it. Thank you so much Bob, Jim, and all the other people at the show who helped a new guy feel like a old friend. Thank all of you for sharing your knowledge and time with me to help me learn and appreciate the Japanese Sword much more than I could have ever expected.... thanks. MikeR MikeR

I have been a US Military collector for over 50 years but just became interested in Japanese Swords. I was always told " buy the best that you can afford" " don't buy junk" " condition isn't always everything but it can be" "be the most informed buyer that you can" "most books cost less than your first mistake"BUT WE WILL ALL MAKE SOME. But most of all " Buy What YOU Like And What Makes YOU Happy" If you do that you can always sell to upgrade but at least you will always be happy with what you have. Just the Words of Wisdom that I collect by. Hope that maybe something works for you. Mike R

I would also be very interested in the book. Please let me know how to go about it. Thank you. MichaelR

I know that this can be a sore subject and can go either way. I would be very interested in seeing the movie no matter which way it turns out. Thank you for posting. MichaelR

Grey I wasn't sure what to call it but going but the measurement of 12-1/2" blade wouldn't it then be a Wakizashi? So if it is a Wakizashi would the sugata then be correct? Note To All: I mean no disrespect when I ask my questions. I am in the very early stages of learning and all the members here seem to be very helpful. Sometimes as a beginner I will ask a follow up question just to get it so that I can understand it. Please don't think that I am doubting anyone's advice or trying to argue. I hope you all understand. I will try and post some good measurements and better pictures if that will make any difference. Thank you all again MichaelR

Brian I did have a couple pictures with me. Don't know if they are good enough? If not please let me know and I will try and get better ones. Thanks MichaelR

Thank all of you for your time and information so far. I am out right now but will try and post some pictures of the whole blade when I get in. Guys if you look back in the original post after I said thank you in advance I posted my name as Mike. Thought that was good enough, but from now on I will put it in its own line as MichaelR. MichaelR

Need assistance with a translation of this o-Tanto? Or Wakizashi? It has a 12-3/4" blade so not sure what it should be called. I was told by one person that it is Takehiro but another didn't agree but wouldn't tell me what he thought it is. I hope the pictures are clear enough for some help. Thank you all in advance. Mike Maybe the last pictures are better.

Barry, I love the idea of the life size poster. How would I go about ordering one for myself? Thank you. Mike

Grey, I did that exact thing with a blade that a family member had in another state. I purchased a roll of some type of baking paper from my local grocery store. When I went to visit my relative I did a complete tracing of the blade and filled in all the important information such as,length,curvature,thickness,etc. so that when I got home I had a paper copy of the sword. I think that this is a great idea for future reference. I bet the tracing paper would work much better but really didn't think about looking into it by the roll. Mike

Jean, I am new to the board and new to collecting Japanese Swords. I am trying to learn all I can and try and read the post on the board a couple times a day. When I read your first post I thought to myself " Wow What A Snotty guy with a Snotty Answer" THEN I went to the link that you posted and said " WOW THANK YOU JEAN" That is a link that I can understand and study to help myself learn. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER. To all the others that also chimed in Thank You Also. This site is the best that I have found and everyone hear ROCKS. I know that I won't always be a newbie but for now I am and all the help I get here helps. I learn something here every day. Please keep up the Great Work. Thanks. Again Mike

Great post and thank you. I am also new here and enjoy and learn from what may be old to some but new to me. MikeR

Stephen and Paul, this is a great question and a great point. I am a old collector but very new to this field. Even though my knowledge is so far limited I know what I like. I am trying to learn all that I can about " what I like". As a beginning collector my budget is somewhat limited and so something like this one is within my budget. I think that it is a beautiful blade and is the style that catches my eye. For me it doesn't have to be a Katana length only a beautiful blade that is right and in a price range that I can afford. With all the help and knowledge of this board and its members I am learning.Thank you all for sharing your time and knowledge so that us new guys can make wise decisions with the budget we have. Mike

Just a thought from a new guy. Could the purpose of a full length Tsunagi be to show the curvature of the blade? Since it seem like a Saya that is already made-as opposed to one made custom for a specific blade-, may not fit every blade curve the full length Ttsunagi would give a better example for proper fit than a " half length " one? Mike

Thank you all for your Great Responses. I think that Grey had good advice for me, buy here in the USA and save myself potential headaches. Mike

Good morning everyone. I am new to the forum and fairly new to Japanese Swords. Although I have collected US Military for over 50 years The Japanese Sword has just recently caught my attention. I know what pleases my eye and am trying my best to learn all that I can. My question is that I have seen some swords advertised for sale here on the board that peak my interest but they are in Europe( UK,FRANCE or ITALY ). I know that I can contact the seller but my concern is shipping them into the USA. Can they be shipped direct to my home? Are they held up in customs? Is there anything special that I should or must do to assure a smooth transaction. I know that there are also many Swords advertised here in the USA and I also look at those but I was just looking for advice if the time comes that I just can't resist something that I see from Europe. Thank you in advance. Mike

Thanks to all for their follow ups to my post. They were just thoughts from a newbie. Franco to answer your question as to what mounts my sword came in civilian or military- neither, the blade was brought out of the factory in a Shirasaya. What you see in the pictures is a spacer that naval guy made as he was going to try and mount it. But was never put into mounts. Mike

Ok here are some pictures of my blade with the two piece Habaki that came right out of the factory in 1945. I was told that the blade never made it to final polish so could it be that the rather plain two piece Habaki was used before the final polish maybe like a adjustable Habaki just to hold into theShirasaya until a better or nicer one was fitted after? I am away from home so I didn't have time to take pictures of just the Habaki I will when I get back if anyone wants them. This is my first time posting pictures straight from my iPad so I hope they work. Mike

I would be glad to share pictures. As I am new to the board I don't know how to do it. I have pictures already on my iPad of the blade and can take some of the Habaki also. I know that some people don't care but the sailor that purchased the sword was given the police registration also and told to keep it with the sword. Since he took it right back to his ship it was never turned in and I have that also. Mike

Hello all, I just thought that I would add some information that I have. I have a blade signed Endo Nagamitsu and dated may 1945. It was purchased in Japan in 1967 by a navy officer,from the sister of a military inspector who brought the blade home in a shirasaya in 1945 and returned to work and was killed in a bombing. The blade is in very good polish but I am being told because of the rather sharp ( or I could say very square) edges on the Nakago and around the Mekugi-Ana that the blade was never Finish polished? Anyway this blade is as is from the factory in 1945 in Shirasaya and has a two piece Habaki. Don't know if this helps but thought I would put it out there. Mike

Just did my part with the $150.00 Perk. New to the board and learning. Hope this helps as I am sure the books will help me. Thank you. Mike