BKB5

I will give buyee a try one day. Seems like a lot of fees and shuffling of items - maybe not that much savings especially on the Ebay Make Offer - give a much lower offer. If they decline no problem. I like dealers better and especially ones with a good reputation. Seems like a decent place to shop though Yahoo Japan - keep an eye out anyway. I'm a small collector - few pieces of better quality (at least that is the goal).

So it looks like Japanese only - not allowed to register, buy, or ship. If any way around that let me know. Thanks!!!

Tensho thank you so much!!!! I don' think I was able to register for yahoo Japan before - I will try again.

Godd/Bad Experience with these Ebay Sellers: Hobbywind-Japan-95 **I bought a papered Tsuba and was quite happy. Was not able to find it listed elsewhere on Eaby (The most seen scam) [Menuki]Japanese antique sword “Kongo Rikishi (Nio) “ Samurai Katana Tsuba Japan | eBay This Menuki Set caught my eye - do you think they are Original Edo Japanese or newer cast? Handsome and craftsmanship looks very good - Almost way too good - hence opinions welcomed (On both Dealer and on Peices). sakura-chan-antique Always has high quality pieces - I have bought a 1 or 2 Paper Tsube and again - did not see them listed again, and again, and again on Ebay (the common scam) Japan antique Muromachi era drizzling rain by armorer NBTHK paper Tsuba Box | eBay Handsome piece and papered - I see it listed again (but I think the other sellers are grabbing these photos). Opinions welcomed. I try to stay off Ebay - its a good place to browse to use for "School training" Guess by pics etc. Thanks Both dealers tranactions were very quick, very pro, Very good shipping and communication. Just to state my exerience.

I'm a jewelry maker from way back and still get BLOWN AWAY at what artistry the Japanese can accomplish in small metal work. Any suggestions from Tsuba restoration folk on "really gently and sympathetically adding back the thick, chocolate, sheen, patina in spots on some older Iron tsuba that were "cleaned" or treated with some kind of chemical (sigh). I know from my years that there are as many ways to give as many patina's to Iron as there are stars. One way is hot oil - "yep oil, burnt, nasty motor oil" can be used with iron to "blend" - or - actually soak a totally almost ruined piece. light waxes and light oils (skin oil is very exacting, slow, can be used with color), and bluing compounds mixed or greatly watered down (or both). There have been some "big, old, fantastic tsuba" for sale over the years with patina damage - I'd like to at least lightly experiment on one (I am careful, slow, authentic, and would be doing this for mine own eyes). Thanks!!!@!

I'm learning more from your post than most! I am certainly not knowledgeable enough to nail down era, school, etc. from your photos. Its an interesting blade though and may very well turn out to be something of note. That may be one where a really knowledgeable resource gets it hands on. If nobody around your area, just look for a Tuba you like that might fit or just leave it and enjoy it!!! Use it as a "learning blade" to study with your books. Thats the best part - I'm really looking forward to a few sword shows next year. Thanks for the post!!!

Thank you all so very, very, very much!!!! Yes the korshirae was the "over the top" element that got me past the blade. The blade to me at this point is "somewhat meh" - BUT - I think in hand and with eye it will be quite stunning visually - I think the shape, hada, hamon - and combo with koshirae will be a knock out. I'm learning to try and love more than the wild hamon. This is a great idea and one I will ask for immidiately - "Tanobe Sensei sayagaki if he agrees with the Wake attribution" I thought the same thing as Jussi "Man I hope this may have started life as a big huge 80cm Tachi!!!" - I dream to one day see hold one - HA - as few of sword shows as I can attend not likely but maybe see in a museum in Japan one day. Merry Christmas to all if you celebrate - thank you for all opinions - Here is to a great year of 2025 soon to arrive. Brad

I think I am good, Art said boshi is 100% notare and clearly defined in hand. BELOW: - are pictures of the Wakizashi I got from him a while back - same thing - its real hard to get the boshi hamon in photos. This Wakizashi blade has a wild hamon extending all the way up and turning back on boshi. Hard for me to photograph in kitchen. The Oshigata below if from the Wakizashi listed along with tip photos.

Yeah, the Oshigata looks to have Hamon on the Kissaki, a slight bit running ober on one side and zero on the other. The sharp photos of the Kissaki show a dead stop at the Yokote. Shneeds - should the hamon on this blade stop dead cold at the kissaki on both sides? At the Yokote? I will simply ask for a clear answer and photo. Have not paid a dime. I love the sword but if there is something dead wrong on the attrition - I want to know and deal with it with Art.

It was me - I am the new owner (at a high price, but the blade, reassuring correspondence (AOI Art has always been top notch to me), and the fact that I may switch out this high end Tsuba - if just a teak as I am a jewelry maker) combined with the age and that stunning polish and vivid jihahda won me over.

David I screwed up those photos - here is the word. The Koshare is in my mind "mind blowing". AS24626 刀: 無銘(和気)(特別保存刀剣) – 日本刀販売の葵美術

Is it ok to take some #0000 steel wool and fine gun oil and give it a good clean? : ) NOT something I will do on a Japanese blade except maybe one is in such bad rusted shape the red rust should be stopped. In the US and Europe - it seems to be a bit of taste - not to Japanese swords - foreign made other swords. I have seen some Napoleonic French XI cavalry sabers look brand new top to bottom including the scabbard. In the United States I have seen a 20K United States rare Confederate sword that look to have been in a damp basement for 175 years - to touch it would take off 85% of the value. I'm a very handy guy and Polishing a Nihonto will not be a skill I try. I did fix a black Urushi saya with Japanese ordered Urushi, Fine Turpentine, Fine camel hair brush, rice paper, a humidity box and #2000 and #3000 grit sand paper. Finally Polish powder and Iboda wax too polish. Shipping broke the saya in 2 cracks from the mouth. The saya is good as new - me - despite gloves and care - I am EAT UP in Urushi rash!!!!! WHILE trying this be really careful with that stuff - no fun.

I have generally (to date) not cared as much for suguha hamon as more for the "active", "storm-like" styles with choji midare, dark, deep utsuri, etc. - as such I have 2 fine swords: "Yukihiro" Katana and an Ozaki Suketaka Wakizashi. Both I LOVE and am quite happy to own them. Both have the super tight "Hizen-Hada" - rice grain pattern I believe it's referred to. Both blades have beautiful and fiery hamons. The Wazikashi is amazing. **Newer learner/collectors probably like the wilder looking blades at first (That is me). I was advised "well, given a suggestion" - to develop a taste through study of Koto swords with sugaha homon. It's harder to get right by smiths, many Juyo and finer blades will have such. Like a fine wine learn as much as you can about these blades - especially if you will move into Juyo Aquisition in the future. This Mumei Blade length: 68.0 cm Sori: 2.0 cm Width at base: 2.87 cm Width At Yokote: 1.72 cm Kasane: 0.68 cm weight: 645 g Late Kamakura period I am quite taken by the Jihada - is it mokume-hada for the most part? What would be a really good way of describing this blade surface? Is it an attractive and interesting blade to you personally? (Just opinion - be honest if you dont like). Thanks!!!! Brad

This is just me - no horse in the race as they say "although I am looking at Juyo blades at about 10x lower than your range" - at that price point and pedigree, I would contact a European specialist or Japanese specialist and have them hunt down a sword for me. One could be recommended by many here and they can be your eyes and hands. At a 300K Euro price point I would myself have to see it in person and travel to where the blade was. 2 TJ blades at 300K Euro - 1 could speak to me like a siren - then other be as boring as can be - especially the real old Koto blades. I am finding Japanese swords to be "fine fine art" - in the eye of the beholder. All to be admired but to each his own tastes. I may get ripped up but "probably not to be bought as an investment for future return" just an incredible piece of history. Everything goes up and down in the market and arms and armor have traditionally not done well. Tastes change too. Old master paintings that once sold for 100 million plus are hard to sell now at all due to the desire for modern art "stuff that I would not give a dollar for" - but that's personal tastes!!!. At your price - take you time - pay for expertise, proper shipping by an expert company that will handle priceless pieces (remember things get shipped worldwide that are in the hundreds of millions of Euro or .....priceless). Good luck on your search for a treaure.

Worked around 1600 - I cannot find any record at all - only one other signed blade from an OLD Ebay listing photo.

Thank you all got a hotel 3 nights At Westgate. See you there. Brad

Kayak.com is frustrating me - thought I might just ask. Hoping to find something with a bed and shower - no roaches. Pool would be nice but other than that - does not matter really.

WOW! Thank you both - those are top shelf, off the chart, beauty and elegance in no uncertain terms. I'm surprised I missed both - each site I visit regularly.

I have been doing some online searching and poking around. I have yet to find a decent saya for display that could be bought on its own or in a Koshirae package for just display - although Im sure they exist. Almost all the "bladeless assemblies" look tired and worn out - hence I would imagine why someone bought the blade and left the rest. It seems the saya that do not stay with the blade are awfully beat up and patched with "auto paint", "model paint", and other materials. I may be in the minority, but I ultimately like a Japanese sword "package" - I know it's not original to the blade of course. But it's a "stunning couture" to exhibit with the piece. I would not want to take out my supermodel girlfriend in a Goodwill dress that might have a brand name but is stained and tired. But I will 100% admit "to the detriment of my wallet sometimes" that I am pretty elitist when it comes to art objects. I love and indulge in jewelry making, pottery, painting, and music - so I may soon try my hand at some of the Nihonto craft like tsuka and saya restoration. I am working on a cracked black urushi saya right now and it's coming out quite well. Materials are not cheap, fine polishing powder, good urushi, fine brushes, good rice paper, iboda wax, and a LOT of patience. But its rewarding and fun. Making a fancy, beautiful, full saya from scratch would take quite a number of years to master with training I would assume - I will skip that. Thank you for replies and advice. I would not turn down a nice blade with no Koshirae but I would pay more for one with it - if its high quality.

That's the idea Grey, built out a tsunagi to go with blade. It's just getting a Saya and tsuka made for the blade. The Tsuba would need a slight tweak to fit the blade. I'm not talking about having new fittings crafted. Maybe I need to look harder but I don't see many quality tsunagi packages for sale as a whole...minus blade. I guess I could just assemble the pieces on the wood blade and try to find nice work. How often are quality bladeless packages for sale....full Korshirae? Especially a beautiful rayskin laquer Saya on its own. Grey you have a fine blade i will contact you on. Juyo piece with stunning jigane from photos.

Ray thank you - shoot me any pics or links that suit your tastes as mentioned above. I did some Google searches etc - just curious what catches your attention. Thanks for the reply by the way!

If you were having a sword built out from an early Ichimonji juyo blade, what would your preference be? Would you care about papers on the fuchi-kashira and tsuba? Would you try to go with really, really good pieces close to the time period though thmenuhin, may be plain? Or....build a beautiful set in good taste...not gawdy...with perhaps Edo mounts? Myself I am leaning towards Edo mounts in great quality and good taste....all papered...around a theme. NBTHK Tsuba is golden softer metal with exquisite wave carving, soft golden brown traditional ito silk wrap, dulled down pearl off white ray skin, finely carved octopus menuki, with wave themed gold fuchikashira or perhaps with sea creatures. Saya to be full covered rayskin sanded down, golden tinted, urushi. No hard decision made but that's my thoughts. The blade is quite active ..jigane and hamon. I won't be going with a purple, gold flaked, dragon Saya, pink tsuka wrap, purple ray skin, red demon menuki, and gold tsuba....well maybe ; )

I just wish I could physically examine blades from different schools, eras, smiths, quality versus not such great quality and "see/experience" the differences in person. So far, I have just not found any sword shows close enough to me to do so. I understand there is an Orlando FL show that is good - I know there is a Las Vegas show that is good. FL would be a nice drive for me - Las Vegas would involve the horrible hassle of travel in today's world - and after working in Las Vegas a lot 20 years ago I'd just assume never go again - been there done that - and it's not exactly a "tasteful" place to see - and I hate gambling, so I stay bored to death. Food is good though! I'm sure there are swords to take my breath away. I would love to take a well planned trip to Japan in the near future and plan out visits to perhaps a show or 2 and some dealers. Online study and books are wonderful - but one must hold/see/experience to really learn. ***If anyone knows of Southeatern USA clubs or shows please advise - I would be very interested.

Excellent advice and perspective - I have read through several times. Thank you! - I guess it can never be said enough "buy the blade not the paper". In our online world tough to really get in hand inspection for learning. There are limited sword shows in the USA (ecpecially southeast) - I think there is an Orlando show that is pretty large for this area. Correct me if wrong - or anyone knows of "Collectors Groups" in Southeast USA or other good shows where high end swords are in attendance.