robinalexander

Not sure that is the case Hamish. Lack of PM's is more likely due to the lack of an advertised sale price. I whole heartedly agree with every comment made so far (interesting reading tks) however your question is in regard to the demand is for coppers and Bruce has summed it up nicely. i.e. most collectors on NMB that want one in their collection, already have one. If I didn't already have one, I would have been the first to PM you! It really is a 'supply and demand' issue. I think just under 6500 ever made (pls correct me if I am wrong and I will edit) Anyone who is interested in coppers already has one and they are not letting them go. Therefore, very few on the market. But for a collector who needs one, forget 'barn finds' ... you either inherit/purchase one from family or friend (best deal) or more likely, pay market value for one of the very few that come up. Chris and Trystan (above) have provided realistic prices. A good guide. Are they worth the big bucks? Probably only to a collector of military swords. Is the Mona Lisa worth US $952 million? ..... obviously was to a collector A quick google will show what coppers have sold for at auction and don't forget to add costs to that price. Concentrate more on sold prices not so much on asking prices. Arrive at a figure and put it in 'for sale' section and you might get a better response. There is also a heap of info on coppers, including pricing over the years, on NMB. Rob

OK now that the dust is settling. I would like to ask a simple question in regard to a gimei signature. Is it possible that on occassions, highly rated smiths deliberately altered or changed their mei, even in the most incorrectly obvious way, in order to give a blade gimei status, in circumstances such as.... On commission for one blade, the smith actually made two and the best was presented...the other, given a gimei mei During normal production, a smith found a minor fault(s) with his work and therefore signed, or had it signed, gimei Or, he just didn't like it ....so a gimei mei. Is this a possibility? It appears there are many blades out there with suspected or obvious gimei mei are still recognised as 'being xxx hundred years old' , ' traditionally made' and 'still a good blade'. Rob

Nice one Thomas...if I could've given u a 'thanks' and a 'ha ha' in the one post, I would have done so

Hi Brent @Bhdau1, Steve (above) is correct in that there is strong core of 'kanji readers' on this forum and these guys are good! On the rare occasion, if there is some something to add, then another member will pick it up very quickly.. A valuable and much appreciated resource and it just amazes me sometimes what they can actually read. However, just so as your question does not go unanswered..... (you may also want to get some clear pics for your own records) .....talcum powder/baby powder is way finer than ground chalk and therefore it will find the crevices and stay in them much easier. The nakago will usually be dry. I have some powder in a small jar, dip a paddle pop stick in and get a small amount on the end and tap it against the mei. Not too much, just enough. Then just wipe over with the fleshy part of your hand. If it doesn't work the first time, just wipe it off and do it again until you get it. Then just take it outside and gurney if off...... sorry about that!!! Rob

Brent, just a quick tip on 'bringing out the mei' ...no major problem with what u have done but, try talcum / baby powder next time, easy on and easier off

Off topic admission.....Hey Simon...no offence meant but your 'avatar thingo' just cracked me up completely. Thankyou

Hello Edgar, If you post clear close ups of both sides of the full tang, you may receive a little more information. Im sure a couple of shots of what's written inside the saya (scabbard) would also be of interest. Rob

Thanks for posting this Ferry, wakizashi is not normally what I collect but I do love your blade

PPS ... just search 'kamon' or 'mon' on this forum and you will quickly have a wealth of knowledge on your screen

PS...im trying to be good, so I won't post a picture of a family moon.

Looks ok to me Alaen, but others will comment in due course. It's 'kamon' or Mon for short.

Hi Chris welcome, Get some light machine oil on the blade of the Type 95 (2nd pic). Dont try to take the handle (tsuka) off. Search NMB forum "Type 95" for more info on this issued sword and just ask if you need any help or further info.

so they never get sold? ....what happens to them when the owner passes?

Bruce @Bruce Pennington ...not uncommon as you would know given years of tropical weather or the heat and cold of China (/Manchuria). One of my first tassel was found 'in the wild' as Douglas said (nice!). It was the second version and had two breaks which I accepted, but I didn't realize until I got it that it was quite fragile all over (newbie)...this has also been carefully glued back together with flexible bonding craft glue and is fine for display. Of course the condition was reflected in the price. I learned that if you want one, research the market, be patient and get a reasonable (genuine one). Ive just got to apply that thinking to my involvement in the sword market .... such a sucker for history over nihonto sometimes!

Ahhh Thomas ... thanks for pointing that out. I need a good flogging for missing that one. I wasn't aware of the odd reverse stamping , educated yet again...tks for the link.

Kenneth, given their relative rarity, your probably not going to quibble and if comes down to having one or not, then it dosent really matter but as an observation only....the locking mechanism appears to be protuding from the tsuka a little more than normal....similarly, the clip seems to have a bend that normally is not there. Could just be the angle or as a result of missing seppa. Just things to keep an eye on but given their age and arduous service life it's probably all par for the course. Nice find

its missing the top seppa.

Yes I know ..very weird paintjob, thanks for posting.

Chris I don't mind the black saya but I have a real problem with the 'baby yellow' tsuka. Looks like thick house paint Pass the acetone and some cotton balls!

Better than Bitcoin

For your interest...this knot sold on Ebay yesterday..... a very nice original Pat. 1 & 2 knot but the price has got to be a record.

Red tassell from JC Militaria website UK .... notes mention " with non regulation rank tassel (looks old)."

Kyle, as I said earlier 'I wouldn't buy it' and my reasons for that are similar to others observations but to be clear, and this is my opinion only....... From your initial pics what I didn't like...... 1. the lack of clarity in seller pics .....sometimes done on purpose just to 'get things over the line' but seller may just be newbie(?) 2. the colour of the paint on the tsuka ....really dark brown and reminiscent of recent 'aged' fakes. But again could just be the tint in the particular picture. 3. the apparent difference in the colours of the saya between pics.. first full length shot of sword and saya it looks ok and used but later pic of saya looks like a repaint.... misleading and again, I wouldn't post pics that differ so much if I was trying to sell it. 4. the kissaki appears too elongated for Ijima. 5. I just dont like the look of the Kokura stamp on fuchi (but I accept there are many variations in distances, arrangements and striking of stamps) 6. the seppa is way different from my Ijima T O and doesn't appear to have any scalloping around the edge as is so common on these earlier 95's 7. although the blade numbers and inspection stamp look ok, they are so far down the blade and I cant say I have seen that before. 8. the bohi looks particularly wide, especially at the kissaki end and gee, its roughly cut. 9. the top of the saya throat and number just look weird...repaint or just bad light and photography.....again is the seller trying to sell this or covering things up .... If it's been 'aged' then it's an excellent job ....I wouldn't go so far as to call it out as a fake BUT, I would never be happy with it and therefore wouldn't buy it unless it was so cheap it didn't matter. I have posted a couple of pics of my Ijima T O hopefully to better explain my comments.

If i was looking for a Type 95, I would definately not buy this.

Yes @Bruce Pennington it's a '1' ... sorry for delay.