David Flynn

Does it have a Showa stamp? I have only seen one Hidetoshi without a stamp.

Looks like it was hit with a bullet!

Thanks Ted, much appreciated.

Kappa School

Just a thought, maybe the NPO has lost some popularity?

Some "Stamped swords", are found with oil tempered blades and some which appear to be tradionaly made. However, I would dissagree with George on the point that Tamahagane made Gendai blades have a Nie hamon. Some do and some have Nioi based hamon. Both depend on the style in which they were forged. Eg Kosama Ikkansai Shigetsugu, forged mainlly in Bizen Nioi deki.

Buying from dealers

As John said, whether oil or water quenched, these are "Real." Fake, I would class as etched, eg. Parade Sabre. Intersting, in Japan, dealers have a different way of Classing modern swords. Showato, are classed as hand made, pre 1946. Gendai, are classed as post war and Gunto, are classed as "Showa," "Seki," stamped etc.

When I was in Japan in Nov. I was shown a Kiyomaro with tokebetsu hozon going cheap. $45,000US

At the Sydney shinsa last march, we had the pleasure of Bob Benson and his collection of Tanto. However, Bob stated on the customs entry doc. "Daggers" and was told they would be confiscated. Adrian Schlemmer, sprang to the fore and Battled with customs for some hours. Finally, he persuaded them(customs) that the afore mentioned daggers, were in fact antique Tanto and so classed as Nihonto etc. Apparently, it was borderline for a while, whether they would allow them in. Finally common sense prevailed.

G'day Meredith, I hope you enjoy being here.

welcome!

Shin Shinto only lasted the first few years of Meiji. After 1876, Gendaito

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlSKEHwmNeE check this out on youtube

Sure leaves the 5,6,7,8s for dead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIKORxPeFq8

At a quick glance, the Nakago looks completely O'suriage and is more likely completely "blade." This being the case, the signature must have been added much later.

Expensive items usually take a hit at Christmas and soon after. This combined with the economic downturn isn't conducive to nihonto collecting.

I agree with the rest, only if it's extremely cheap.

Not too bad, now you will have to try it on a sword.

Welcome, good luck and happy hunting.

As long as you declare on the arrival doc. that you are carrying a weapon, customs only want to check that it's not on the banned list.

I notified customs that I would be returning to Australia with some swords I had for restoration in Japan. I was notifed by customs, that all I had to do was just inform customs when I arrived. As it turned out, I didn't bring the swords back with me for reasons I wish not to disclose. In 2006 I took a sword from Oz to USA without informing customs. When I returned, I just informed the Airport customs officer that the sword was mine and there wasn't a problem.

A way around customs, is to declare the sword is being returned from restoration. Then it may also be insured.

I'll go E2

Japanese swords are not classed as illegal weapons by Autralian customs. Unless customs has a deal with the Victorian Govt.( they do have sword restrictions), The only thing Customs is concerned with, is collecting the tax on anything valued over $1000.00 au. Also, the best way to ship a sword to Oz, is EMS. Other services pile on the charges if customs becomes involved. If the declared value is less than $1000 au (about $850us) it automaticly by passes customs and is delivered directly to the postal address. If the declared value is over $1000au, there is a 10% tax and a Customs examination fee, about $60au. The other services, Fedex etc. Charge extra transport and examination fees if Customs are involved. This is in the vicinity of the customs fee, plus the tax, plus a fee for taking the tax and about an extra $150 for their trouble. Ends up working out pretty expensive.