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Michaelr

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Everything posted by Michaelr

  1. Kind of new to the board but am so greatful it is here. My $50.00 is waiting to be sent to you Brian but I don't know how. Please let me know what to do and the $50.00 will be on its way. As a beginner this is money well spent. Thank you to ALL. and to you Brian for making it all possible MikeR
  2. Gary, when times are good and people have money the prices of all collectibles are high. People buy what they like or are interested in at the time. When times aren't as good people often have less money and prices are down and people buy what they like or are interested in. People collect for different reasons. Most collectors buy things that interest them for what they can afford at that time. We all hope in the back of our minds that our items will appreciate over time. That dosent always happen. I have found after many years of collecting many types of things" buy what You like and what You can afford, enjoy what you buy for as long as you own it. Enjoy it for what it is Not for what you paid for it and when the time comes to pass that item on for what ever reason get all that you can for it,At That Time! " if you ONLY collect for the reason of a investment you never take the time to enjoy what you have,because you are to worried about what it might be worth tomorrow. Believe me I have sold my collectibles for huge profits and have also lost my butt on others BUT as long as I had them I enjoyed them, studied them and was proud to share them with others. The nice thing is that when I passed them on weather at a profit or loss I knew that the new owner was also going to enjoy them for what they were. MikeR
  3. I have a blade that was placed in a shirasaya in 1945 and both still look great. MikeR
  4. Sean, when I picked up my first sword I made myself crazy trying to figure out what type of case to put it in and where to purchase it from. Then one night sitting in my living room watching TV and looking at a pretty much blank wall it came to me, why not put then right there above the TV? So I now have 5 beautiful Japanese Swords displayed on my wall above the TV. I think that they can be appreciated much better by me and others and they remain out of reach to those who " just have to touch them" What ever you decide remember, display them where YOU can enjoy them, where they are out of reach of the touchy- feeley types and most of all, leave a lot of room since this field of collecting is very addictive and I am sure that you will be adding more to your display soon. MikeR
  5. GREAT JOB Bruce. You should be very proud of what you have done, I am sure your dad is proud of the sword and OF YOU. MikeR
  6. I agree totally. Although I have never dealt with Yahoo I have delt with eBay. They are both doing the same exact thing. Items are being listed with no reserve and being pulled right before that end and then being re listed. I was watching two items, one had 25 bids and the dealer just pulled it and resisted it. The other was in its last day ( when I usually bid ) and had about 15 bids. It had started at a penny and was about $850.00. When I went to bid it was pulled and resisted with a buy it now of $5250.00. My highest bid would have been $1500.00 figuring it was worth about $2000.00, certainly not over $5000.00 Maybe if the buyers start to become more aware and start to walk away form the fake frenzy, then maybe then Thease dealers will start to be more realistic with their prices and stop the BS of shill bidding and pulling and re listing their stuff. When this happens to me, as it just did, I feel that dealer is unreliable and not someone that I want to deal with anymore. MikeR
  7. Just me. If I were one of the 25 bidders and the auction went like it did I wouldn't be very happy. As far as I am concerned a Auction IS A Auction, not a fishing expedition, or a advertisement for sale. At a real auction after a second bid the item has to be sold in less it has a reserve.I have been involved in similar auctions and when this happens to me I just cross that dealer off my list. My feelings are if you want a certain price for a item, put a reserve on it. If you don't know what it's worth put a high reserve on it and see where it goes, BUT DONT take bids on a item, say it was sold and realist it for what you really wanted for it in the first place. I was just getting ready to bid on a very nice Wak on eBay from Japan with papers. It was the last day and the sword had only reached around $800.00 it started at one penny ( figured it to be worth around 1500.00 to me ) so at this point the dealer pulls it from the auction stating there was a misprint in the listing and realist the same exact listing with a buy it now for $5200.00. WHAT! Oh well nice guy or not, friend or not I don't deal with those type of people. I am sure that they don't miss my bid but over time a lot of me's egual less sales. Call it what you want and blow it off as " everyone does it" and " he is really a good guy " but if you want to be honest just list it with a reserve and see where it goes. Just my opinion. MikeR
  8. Stephen, thank you so much for sharing this video. MikeR
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. I would also be very interested in the book. Please let me know how to go about it. Thank you. MichaelR
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. 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.
  17. Barry, I love the idea of the life size poster. How would I go about ordering one for myself? Thank you. Mike
  18. 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
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
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