hybridfiat

A tip on http://www.ksky.ne.jp is to use a small slip of printed paper resting on the blade to give the camera something to focus on. That site is also a goldmine of information for the beginner

Dont lose heart. There will be plenty of opportunities to buy a real sword at a reasonable price. Many come up on this site and you can be assured they are the real deal.

First look closely at the grain of the steel. The grain is obviously enhanced by the acid process. The nakago (tang) is poorly shaped and has poorly executed file marks. You have to appreciate how fussy the Japanese smiths were about shape and form. They would never have allowed this to pass muster. These are just 2 very obvious points, there are more. Search, look closely at pics of the real thing. Dont let your heart rule your head, be patient and ask questions BEFORE you buy.

Im very sorry but even as a newcomer to this field it is obvious that this is a chinese copy. A wallhanger. Study this site and go to the links and get an idea of what to look for. The grain of your piece is made by applying acid. The fittings all shout China. Merry Christmas

Im a newbie at this and the shout is deafening FAKE! Make it stop Ma make it stop.

This is an exceptional price for a sword in this condition. Someone knows something I dont! :?

Perhaps if current listings are to be discussed then instead of a critique a list of points to study on the item in question, ie: 1. The age and validity of the certificate. 2. Study the hamon. 3. The quality of the Hi and bonji. etc etc Then let people look and make their own conclusions guided by those who know what to look for.

Ummmmmmmmmm looks like pulmonary oedema perhaps

"I'm not trying to be discouraging here, but one or two books doesn't cut it when it comes to learning kantei, nihonto. Otherwise everyone and their brother would be out grabbing good blades. It takes a combined effect of building a library, attending sword shows with educational forums, club study and kantei sessions (mentor, practice), and putting yourself to the test if you're serious (which means buying swords, polish, shinsa). Simply put, the study of nihonto is a discipline which requires an effort comparable to obtaining a 2 year college degree just to learn the basics. History courses, metallurgy courses, methodology courses, a study of blades from each time period/era/tradition/school, etc. That's where to begin." Well thats me stuffed then. Whats a sword show? Mentor? Clubs???? Im in WA so Ive no chance unless Im prepared to spend thousands on trips abroad. :?

I am having similar difficulties, I have The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords and 2 other books reccomended by the group but just when I think Im getting close the book throws a googlie and says that this shape was also used later as well or something of the like and Im back to square one.

At the very least: 1. Systematicly go through ALL of the NMB links to reliable sites for tsuba and nihonto and save examples of tsuba you like in a file marked 'Tsuba I like'. 2. Buy a book and research the tsuba you like. Go to all the museum sites and do the same. This will reinforce in your brain what a real tsuba, nihonto or fitting looks like. After a while you will unconciously notice small things that dont seem right in dodgy items for sale. By focusing at first on the items that appeal to you the task will be less taxing. After a while you will find your tastes changing and becoming more refined. Then when you do find a genuine item to buy, it will be something you will appreciate for longer. Good luck

Sounds dodgy to me. Wash with clean water, dry and a light coat of Renaissance Wax is all Id do

Just a guess but, some shakudo is highly reactive 'in the white' and will patinate on contact with sweat. Do you have some areas where the patina is damaged?

Theres this waki viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8104 for sale. A good price I think. Very tempted myself but unable to raise the dosh at the moment.

Who did you send it with? Australia post will deliver to the house but if no-one is home it has to go to the nearest PO and a card is left for the reciever. They then have to sign for the parcel. APO deliver a variety of carrier's parcels but I think there are one or two like Fedex that do their own final delivery. Id contack Ast Post directly if I were you.

Is there a book with (say just as a start) 1000 - 2000 good quality large format pictures of swords categorised into era, school and smith. I ask this because we are all urged to study as many swords as possible. Thats fine if you have access. For many to see 10 swords of any age in one place at one time would be a very rare event. So we see pics describing general characteristics and hope to match them one day with A sword maybe, if we are lucky. I was unable to confidently interpret ECGs until a years exposure to hundreds of real examples in cardiology. Slight differences in a wave pattern will confuse until youve seen dozens and know how to pick the important characteristics.

If it were blood the blade would be rusted beyond repair and this looks shiny.

Getting too cryptic for me

Shakudo - 2-4% gold the rest copper with maybe a touch of silver. Goes jet black when patinated. Does not corrode as swiftly as iron or steel. Hence the success at restoration.

Forgive my impertinance as a novice collector but having restored a good number of rusty firearms I speculate that the nakago has been sanded and the red dust is still in the mei. You might want to tell your friend that removal of that rust reduces the swords value even rendering it worthless in some cases. Please excuse me if I am wrong.

If it looks too good to be true it very nearly always is. Im puzzeled the seller is quite knowledgable about swords and the smiths and I can hardly believe that they would let a sword go for a 10th of its value. Buy it now!? not even a chance of getting a higher price!?

As someone new to this with fresh memories of recent mistakes and near misses Id like to add my twopenneth. A major trap is to see a blade that is going "cheap" and to think that all you have to do is polish it and "Bobs your uncle" a bargain! It dont work like that. To get a good resale or respect for a touched up blade it has to be done by an expert and they cost big money. The closest analogy I can get is restoring old cars. It almost always involves losing money on the resale unless you are bloody lucky or an expert.

Very nice. Thanks for sharing that.

Im no expert but it looks good. Prices are going down unless Im very much mistaken. Yes showa22 has a good reputation. Ive had 2 swords from him and been happy with both. The last one he posted before Id had a chance to pay for it!? :D

Ive noticed that prices are down all over it. Makes me wish Id got more money