NihontoNewbie

Wow!!! It’s hard to believe something that old can look so exquisitely perfect. Congrats buddy, I am sure the sword is thrilled to have a caretaker as competent as you. The hada is a work of art, the kissaki is beyond clean... you deserve it!

Awesome Jeremiah! You patience has been rewarded with a truely gorgeous blade. The polish looks amazing and the hada is what dreams are made of. Congrats brotha!

Really nice examples Franco. I like the mixture of the negative rabbit with raised background.

It came out gorgeous, congrats! What ever sageo you choice should have gold accent threads going through it to match the F/K and tsuba. They gold really pops out and a gold accented sageo would just look at home on that saya. Nice ????????

Wow Stephen that is a beauty. Might have to grab that one if I can.

I wouldn’t call this set high quality, but it is my first set of genuine tosogu. I just need some menuki to pull it together. It’s pieced together except for the F+K which were made together. The patina matches pretty well. Stephen was a ton of help bringing this set together. We were thinking a predator would make a good menuki set to create balance, but Stephen mentioned moon menuki and the idea really stuck. I am think I like the “tranquility” theme with the moon and rabbit over the prey/predator “balance” theme. Any suggestion on a good menuki set would be appreciated.

Oh man... that rabbit tsuba is beautiful. I wouldn’t that one go either.

I think more than a few people start out learning the hard way as Stephen suggests.

Those are some damn nice rabbits in gold no the less. Awesome

To bad you didn’t win it Stephen, it was a nicely detailed rabbit piece

Great picture Steven. Semper Fi brotha! That is one sweet M14, they are amazing rifles. Thinking about turning mine into M21 configuration with ART optics...

Just noticed the tiger striped shirasaya, very nice! I have an Ishido school katana with a very similar tiger striped shirasaya. I don’t know what it is about thy type of grain pattern, but I’ve always found it extremely attractive. I have an M14 that also has tiger striped wood. Can’t get enough of the stuff. ????????????

Nice tsuba Jeremiah. I really like both of them, but the 2nd one is really attractive. The swirling and edge are very appealing. Congrats bro.

Awesome wak man! Ishido school pieces are something special. Love the activity in the hamon. Congrats man!

#2. ????????

Thanks for the link to that database Ken. It is very informative!

Can’t believe I didn’t see this thread earlier. Both Jeremiah and Stephen have been indispensable in my rabbit search. I needed something for a custom katana that was suppose to be done a couple weeks ago, but I am still waiting. The last I heard is they are waiting for the custom ratan wrapped saya to be completed. I can’t wait to have the project done and in my feverish hands. Stephen found both the F/K and tsuba for me. They weren’t made as a set, but I think they match perfectly. Thanks again guys!!!

Excellent read! Thanks for posting. Musashi was actually a very imposing figure for the Japanese at that time. Average height was 4’10 - 5’3. Musashi was 5’9 and powerfully built.

My first blade was a fake too. Someone has to keep the counterfeiters in business ????. Don’t feel bad it happens to a lot of people. Luckily I found this forum which is filled with not only tons of information, but also good helpful people that will reach out to you when asked. Good luck on any future Nihonto endeavors!

I know you’ve seen some of these pics Jeremiah, but I know how much you like this katana. It’s made by Muneharu who was a student of Korekazu. The hamon is Niedeki cyoji midare and active Cyoji midare with ashi and yo work from the monouchi area. koitame hada well grained with jinie attach

Thanks for the tip Stephan, the last thing I want to do is deface an historic piece. The piece you and Jeremiah found last night is at the top of my list although it is a bit pricey. I am doing everything in my power to resist pulling the trigger on it. My wife still hasn’t found out about the custom blade being made. She might flip if she finds two large purchases this month ???? Vajo’s piece is also very nice. Is it for sale Vajo?

Those are both amazing pieces. Thank you for the information. I have three that are in contention now. It’s going to be a tough decision.

Hello, I am looking for a rabbit themed tsuba to be mounted on a custom katana I am having made. Anything will rabbits will work. I would really like a rabbit moon theme or rabbit in the woods theme, but any rabbit style tsuba will work. It doesn’t need to be an antique.

I have had the best luck with USPS. Both UPS and Fed Ex are sorely lacking in terms of performace and recourse. USPS has come a long way after the last decade of shipping wars.

It's only money... You win some you lose some. I have lost money and made money throughout the years mainly buying and selling firearms. Losses can be just as meaningful as gains. It's the ups and downs that make it an exciting. Winning all the time can get boring. I find I appreciate things more after a loss. Another thing to think about is where your spent money has gone. I have acquired a rather large Nepalese kukri collection over the years. I have no idea what they are worth now or if I would ever make my money back but it matters little to me. Just admiring what the kami's can make with little to no resources is mind boggling. It also feels good to give money to people in countries that are struggling. Fair trade deals that eliminate the middle man and give more money to the actual people that make these products puts a smile on my face. I don't care if I take a loss on items like this because my money went to the kami's and their struggling families.