Michaelr

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