Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini

I'm t work now. i've that picture and a couple othes. Please wait till this evening and I'll provide them. Be prepaerd , they are very sad.

The respect toward antiques the Imperial Japanese Army had during WWII is mostly overvalued. I've read an article by an actual Togishi sent to repair ancient NihonTo that saw orrible things made to NihonTo by officiers that grew up with the idea the NihonTo were indestructible. This test confirm me that IJA was absolutely moron-minded about antiques. Likely this Ohmura is the same that wrote an article about the project with Seijuro Masahide Aoyama and Mitsutaro Honda from Tohoku University, in collaboration with the Toyo-Hamono Co. ltd, Sendai, to produce a Gunto specifically made for polar climate. "Tahado-Tetsu" (Nickel/Chrome/Manganese steel), Maru-Kitae, differentially hardened quenced in water. If I remember well they should have been called "Kikento". Never handled (and even seen in person) one...

Might be in the past, but I'm not sure it works this way today. AFAIK good smiths refused "shadow blades" are... broken !

Ted, this make a lot of sense to me. Suriage and still red laquered, disaxed, period... 2+2 =4. No zebras here.

Ted, very explicative as always. Thanks.

Hi Ted. So it was made after some polishing and not at the very beginning of the life of the blade ?

Better then most chinese fakes...

Really an interesting question. My 2 eurocents : Firstly, depends on the dimensions of the Hagiri after the moving. I'm not sure it can still be considered "Hagiri", but likely the functionality of the blade is still affected, even if the defect is now in the Nakago. On the other hand, the move will likely reduce the dimension of the defect. Anyway that area concentrate a lot of stress and I'll felt not comfortable in fighting with such a blade. As Hagiri are considered fatals because of the lack of functionality of the blade, I think the move would make only a slight change in the matter if the reduction in dimensions of the defect is not total or very high. More : the tang rusts, the blade (should) not. How about its future ? Waiting for other feedbacks because it's a very interesting matter...

I'm sure it is red laquer, but not so sure about the purpose. AFAIK it's cosmetic.

This explain to me some things... Where is your friend from ?

I think it's a great idea and strongly suggest you to shake the community being the first in providing the full list of results of the above mentioned tests on the next blade you'll sell. Let us know time and money involved, as well as availability of the laboratories for future references and comparisons.

Hi Nigel. Magenta is no more than 200 km north-east of Genova. It's on the Milano-Torino ancient roman way, 25 Km west of Milan. If you're here for quiet a long time you CAN'T MISS the Museo Chiossone in Genova http://www.museochiossonegenova.it/. It's quiet a while that I'm not there, but its great collection of Tsuba is something that deserve a visit, not to talk about NihonTo, but I don't know if blades are still available to public. Another good site to visit during your quiet long stay in Italy is Royal Armoury in Turin http://www.artito.arti.beniculturali.it/Armeria%20reale/DefaultArmeria.htm one of the biggest collections of weapons and armor in Europe, might be in the world. If you are interested in others NihonTo collections in Italy (not so near to you..) please contact me. I'm sending my home telephone number via PM.Sorry, no links in english. If you need help for booking I'll provide it. Damn, somebody out there can spend 350.000 euros for an engine alone. Hope he loves NihonTo too. :D

Hi Sencho. I like the "eyes of the tiger..."

I can add that here in Italy a young man has been taken to the police station for a couple days because of a Nunchaku in his car. This is the evidence that if somebody want to find a weapon there is no need to use a (possibly banned) sword. Just two pieces of wood and a few chainrings are enough...

We'll ever have a ban against morons ?

@ Ranger. Hi Sir. Glad to have you here.

Darcy, the symbiosis of top quality pictures, Flash sites and WWW availability is making wonders as regards spreading of knowledge. And you are at an high level in these things. Thanks.

This may be interesting to you (if you havenot already got it : http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/did_you_know.htm On another board a fellow forumite was lucky enough to have one of these Tsuka on his NihonTo in Shingunto mounts. All of us firstly watched at the blade but the tsuka was at least as valuable as all the rest... :D

Nice find. I'm downloading it all.

The fact the hook is a folding one make me thinking that it might has been engeenered this way under who knows which authoritie's specifics, so IMHO no do-it-yourself or field re-shaping. Anybody out there has experience in naval tools from the tourning of ther century "sails" era ? The hint of the naval mounting for officer is still intriguing, even if fireman's tool seems the most logical.

As Brian was so kind to find fo me a copy of Fujishiro's set here, I would like to partially repay the friendship posting something about the above mentioned set that I've received 2 days ago. I know Brian has already ordered his own set and a full, better detailed and more knowledgeable description will follow by him. I simply post the very basics : dimensions 21,5 x 14 (16,5 with binding rings) vol. I first section 184 pages, second section 203 vol II first section 211 pages, second section 94 303 blades and signatures Oshigata ! 50 bucks + shipment at Harry AFU Watson site. Recommended. They look this way : Vol. I Vol. II Cheers and sorry for my english. (ciao Brian!)