hybridfiat

and then..............................

Very clever :D . I just reported it I didnt think to hyjack it

Dont stop

Roleystone, which for FM reception may as well be the moon. :D Thanks for the link Ill open it when I fly out. The firewall here blocks it, citing as a pathetic excuse, weapons.

Ive been hiding in Perth. What is Curtin FM? Never heard of it. I listen to 93.7, 94.5,720 ABC and JJJ Is there a website with dates and venue that I can bookmark? Id like to get together with collectors and see some quality nihonto in the flesh as it were. Ive only been able to se the good stuff online so far or meager glimses in museums overseas. Ive got a couple or 3 but they arent anything special.

Bl@@dy hell! Dont they advertise these events? I was home on break that weekend and didnt know it had even happened. It is bad enough not being able to see nihonto because of WAs isolation and the dearth of collectors here, but to miss this event takes the cake.

I dont know if the thread has helped you Randy but I just bought Clive's book on Malcolm's recomendation as well as "The Cutting Edge" By Victor Harris. :D

Wow thats great! Thanks. I thought Id start small and work up.

Ive had a look through the kanji section of the board but Im not very good at sorting the various wiggles. Thanks

The lesson would appear to be POST BEFORE YOU BUY!

I dont think that is justified David. The idea of having a form of comparison is an excellent idea and will be of inestimatable use to those who are able to be there. If I may make a suggestion, could someone be tasked with taking high quality pics of the swords for the benefit of those of us who cannot be there. Please

Any chance of pics of the blade? Please

A lot of very sad swords on that list. Brings tears to the eyes to think what the previous owners did with them.

Hi Neil, this site has a links section and in it you will find a stack (5 stacks actually) of reputable dealers and nihonto sites where you can see many pics of real swords. Look closely at the attention to detail on each and EVERY sword. Even crap smiths had pride and would be able to keep a smooth line on their ridges and grooves and edges. They simply did not and still will not compromise on the asthetic, end of story. So if what you see on fleabay or in a shop does not have perfect lines, meticulous attention to detail and the aesthetic of symmetry and form then it is to be avoided. So the advice is to stare long and hard at as many swords and fittings as you can.

Well I for one am going to do my damdest to get there. Just gotta get my passport in order cos Im travelling from WA :D

Forgive me but this post hurts the eyes and is using a lot of bandwidth over what is obviously a piece of s#*t. Is that too graphic or does it summarise what many of us are thinking.

Can you date a saya from it's shape or style?

Id like to remind everyone here that the value of a sword is very important if you wish to have comprehensive house and contents insurance. My insurance company is quite clear about that. I have to pay extra premiums for my firearms and swords.

I think what Reinhart means is we cringe everytime someone puts a true nihonto on a hard surface to photo it. Plus the scale rule is a little comical and the quality of the pic is insufficient. All that said you have a very nice piece and it is well worth sending or taking to shinsa. Im green with envy

Athentic yes, desirable no.

:D I did wonder Stephen :lol:

I am aware of my very junior standing so I will not be at all offended to be shown to be completely wrong. This is a pic that show what 'looks' like an acid treatment. Ive seen similar effects on chinese blades but never on a Japanese blade. Note the swirls that stand out like dog's bollocks unlike the usual calm appearance of a traditionaly polished hada, particulaly in the hamon. Must add that I cant see any hagire that transect the hamon and therefore represent fatal damage. Am I wrong?

Thanks Jock, I stand corrected and Im glad to say educated too. This is an interesting post.

Am I being picky or does the hamon look like someone has used acid on it?

Hi there. I think you'll find that this is not differencially hardened but a laminated blade. A white or blue steel slip is sandwiched between 2 slips of soft steel and forged to a knife shape then ground to reveal the "hamon. Very common, I have 3, all made by smiths recently in Japan. Some have a suminagashi (running water) appearance due to folding the soft outer steel 4 or 5 times before forging the 3 pieces together. Nice knives but the 'damascus' appearance often disappears when the knife is sharpened with western stones. Natural Japanese stones will reveal it again.