nickm

I hope you are aware of how useful a fellow you are Ray. To tons of people on this forum you are very eliminating gentleman. Any idea as to age?

Just got a few more pictures of the Mei.. And the blade. Wanted to post that for opinions before I moved on

Well I guess to simplify a long story disappointment is not the worst thing in the world because Otherwise there would be no appreciation for when things go better than expected.. As always thank you to everyone for your help. Going to be making a donation to the site today as this forum has already saved me a great deal of money And is well on its way to providing me education with significant value as well

Essentially if it is ware I am not concerned with it as to be honest it has to be angled the right direction and you have to be 3" away to see it but if it is A crack of course it is a different story

in what respect pete?

Good news. Is this something the right polisher can remedy as I intend to have the blade polished anyway

The other side. No trace in the area.. hoping for ware

I will post one when I get back home but from what I could see it does not appear to be on the other side. Otherwise seemingly a rather nice blade so really hoping that I am paranoid

In truth the pictures make it look much more noticeable than I originally thought it was. Seems now to be a silly question

Recently came across it a naginata through the forum as it would happen and am afraid in just now inspecting the blade truly that it has a hairline karasuguchi. It doesn't go through both sides nor does it seem to exactly run off the edge but is within a hair of doing so.. pics attached are as best as can be got of it.. Thanks in advance for anyone they can look

Congratulations on your 1st sword whether it be gimei or not. I recently was able to really begin collecting myself and understand how much more fun it is now that you are able to hold something rather than just look at pictures!

finally got a few pics out of them.. still pressing for more..

I've been thinking about it all day and basically agree with your sentiment Steve. I appreciate the assistance as always and think I will let this one go and keep on searching

jury is still out but looking that way.. Nature of the game I guess. Pressing for more pictures..

Story goes I have found a sword for sale essentially hundreds of miles away for me and the fellow is hard to get pictures from so I managed one of the signature and and wondering if anyone can tell me anything they see prior to me taking a potentially worthless road trip.. As always thank you to anyone who has the time and hopefully can see something...

Otherwise again I can't thank you all enough for all the help the members of this forum give to we that are trying to learn. An immeasurable asset in this field of study.

Oh Crime and punishment.. The first 150 pages are the punishment then a crime not to read the rest.

Thanks for the reply. I have done a bot of looking already and seems to be nbthk better for resale but nthk more informative.. Just was wondering if any new opinions/perspectives have arisen. And truthfully I could be better at searching..

Are there advantages to papers from 1 or the other? Wondering what you guys think.. Seems alot more troublesome to get things over to Japan than to take to nthk shinsa at sword shows.. Is one considered more ligitimate/accurate than the other?

Thanks for the advice. Thinking of taking it to the april sword show in chicago.. Planning to have a few things looked at there anyway. Curious as to the communities view of nthk assessment as apposed to nbthk?

Finally got the habaki off.. Thanks again to everyone for the information on this piece. Can't say enough about how much of a resource this site is. Thank you all again! I hope to know enough one day to be able to pay it forward..

That was a super interesting read alex. Thanks for posting!

I have been looking into it online and have seen a few examples and can say pretty definitively that the wrapping is baleen. Definitely not like anything I have seen before in my hands. Going to point ford hallman in this direction today and see what he has to say about it

Coming from a person who is relatively new to collecting but trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can papers I think are very important with larger purchases. I will spend a 1000 or 2 on a gamble without papers but no way of spending 5000 more unless it's with papers. My theory being if the sword is good enough to charge that much money for and doesn't have papers then it was submitted and did not attain the level that the seller is potentially claiming.. Along the same lines if it is in Polish and expensive with a mei and no papers i assume submitted and found gimei

Thanks brian. Will do on the fittings. How would i go about contacting ford? the attempts I have made at googling him comes up with things about Ford vehicle restoration of course