Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini

Shingane is present from the Han dynasty even in swords found in high ranking people tombs. As per the Soshu kitae I haven't a picture depicting a sword section showing it but I encountered mention of it many times during my studies as a further evolution of honsanmai.

Why destroy such a nice bowl ? No silver coins available ? Here in Italy a couple sterling silver 500 lire coins goes for a bunch of euro and working it on the hammer is fun...

Don't be discouraged. You'r in the right place to learn how to avoid such mistakes. Welcome to the board.

Good job Stephen... . Stick with White Ito IMHO.

As Barry said...

Welcome Steve. Your enthusiasm is refreshing...

Fantastic, Thanks John.

What I've always wandered is "If you can easily cut an head off with a regular Tanto or Wakizashi, why to forge these blades if they are intended for this purpose?"

50 bucks from Italy .... What I like of NMB ? It's a second home full of friends.

As regard the boshi, I second Paul, Better pics would help but to me is gone or just a fraction of millimeter....

exceptios are the rule...

Years ago I sent pics to Darcy of a Muromachi Mumei Sunnobi Tanto and it pointed out were it was showing Shingane. FWIW I think both constructions were used.

So this must be a mistake... http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson/treasure/70 Quote.. The actual watered pattern or ferind is also called jauhar / johar (Arabic) meaning lustre, jewel or precious piece or watered steel, reflecting the value of a blade made from crucible steel ...unquote. Eric, do a favour to yourself. Read This. I helped to take pics for Manouhcher;You can get in touch with him on SFI and ask directly if no persian sword has ever been labeled as "art sword" considering the blade.. https://www.amazon.com/Arms-Armor-Iran-Bronze-Period/dp/3932942221

Functional and art piece : Arco Flos, MOMA New York. :

An overpolished Muromachi Mumei Sunnobi Tanto of almost no monetary value but of great sentimental value. I was forced to sell it, (no question no lies about why) , It was a gift of a true friend passed away many years before. Life ain't fair.

From Wikipedia ( I know, not an academic source but...) Quote... In the field of psychology, the Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias wherein persons of low ability suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing their cognitive ability as greater than it is. The cognitive bias of illusory superiority derives from the metacognitive inability of low-ability persons to recognize their own ineptitude. ... Unquote Jacques are you so sure to be immunized ? Evidence is your constant search for recognition at all costs. Yet another good thread locked for stupid reasons...

Nevermind...

Art Sword = sword that touch my soul as "the girl with pearl earring" by Vermeer do.

s**t happens. A friend of mine had 3 swords in fresh polish and just after having received them this man needed serious brain surgery. Of course swords slipped down to the family's worries list. When fully recovered the swords had serious red rust , but still had a healthy owner...

Bad taste is not a "Nanban" prerogative...

Sent. Hope he replies...

Our thanks to the owner, Boris Markasin, that managed the matter for pure love of knowledge. I wish I hadn't lost the contacts with him cause he surely continued his studies on Jokoto. May be Ted Tenold knows where he is now. P.S. to be fair there were earlier images taken by Suenaga (hereunder) but this one is the first taken with technologically avanced instruments.

Welcome !

Creativity is not always good. However as Stephen said, not a major loss here.

Well, Kurt, I beg to disagree. Fight the urge to buy, save the cash and after 3 of these exercises you'll be able to pick up a really good one cause quality over quantity: