Rich S

I have a little info on them on my site: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/yoshchik.htm Rich

Brian - Thanks for the terminology. I'm not familiar with South African lingo :-) I appreciate all you do in keeping the website running. Thanks again, Rich

Thanks Brian - Would hate to have my website listed as infected. What does "revert" mean? Good site/url checker to know about. I've bookmarked it. Rich

I think (?) this style of Heianjo inlay was done on a variety of plates by other schools. I have one with the same type of inlay done on a Saotome plate. See my page on Saotome tsuba ( the tsuba on the bottom right ). I have plain tsuba in the exact style papered to Saotome (see the daisho tsuba page). Personally I like the tsuba you've shown. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba/saotome.htm Rich

I'm guessing: mid-Momoyama, has elements of Kanayama, Owari; Kyo-sukashi; but I'm think Echizen ju Akao. Can I be more off base? Rich

Whatever the metal is or isn't, it's a cute well used tsuba. Glad it survived the ravages of time and that someone got it who will love and care for the poor little thing :-) Rich

Brillant idea! While you're at it can you make me a new spine? Multiple herniated disks and bone spurs going everywhere. One even rubs the vertebra above it in the mid-Thoraic region. I'm running out of options. A new 3D vertebral column sounds great. Now just have to figure out how to remove the old one and thread the spinal column and nerves through all the right places. Of course a 3D tang would be cool also, but I don't need any new habaki :-) Rich S

Here is the correct link to Jim Gilbert's Tsuba site: http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm Rich

Yes, I loved XP, but had to go to 8.1 when my machine totally crashed and burned in the spring. Fortunately I had backed up all my files to either a disk or flash drive, so I didn't loose anything of importance EXCEPT now ToShow (which I used a lot) won't run at all on 8.1 Rich S

Ron - As one of us over 70, I think Win 8.1 totally sucks. Maybe the worse operating system Microsoft has ever come up with. IMHO it was made for 12 year olds who live on various social media. I've been using it (8.1) for about 8 months and find it unstable; the settings seem to change on their own. On the other hand, this forum new software is great IMHO. I long for Win 3.1 and Netscape 5. Rich S

Brian, I changed theme to IP standard and all links work well. No problems. Thanks for all your hard work and effort - don't you ever sleep? :-) Rich S

IMHO, it is not worth buying. I got a copy years ago and have looked through it at the pictures a few times over the years. No description, no text, nothing but B&W pics. Rich

If it is Hiromitsu, it may (?) be nakirishi mei. See here: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/promei.htm Rich S

As one of the old geezers, I check this board several times a day. I respond when I have something to add to the discussion at hand. That is not often as I'm not anywhere near an "expert", just a guy who likes Japanese swords and other sharp, pointy things. Most of the time I have little to contribute as my depth of knowledge is quite limited. I've been out of active collecting for some time. IMHO, there is only one basic rule to collecting anything: Collect what you like, but like what you collect. All else is made up categories for those who like to "specialize". I like all sorts of fine cutlery from Bronze age artifacts, 19th C "bowies", Swiss army knives, Finnish puukko and Japanese swords - just to mention a few and I've enjoyed it for over 60 years. Rich S

Yes, especially those that were cast and then hand finished. Rich

Peter wrote: "I doubt that everyone is going to get suddenly rich, but I am convinced that sword prices are soon going to fall, I mean plummet, collapse, dumperize!" I'm certainly not getting suddenly rich (I can only hope, but I don't play the lottery :-) While I doubt there will be a total collapse in prices , I do hope prices fall some. Then maybe I could buy a sword; my first in 10-12 years! Rich S

Make everyone rich and/or drastically cut the prices of Nihonto and fittings so people can afford them :=) Rich S

Sorry, I don't have that book. Was just looking on the referred to website. I did find mine: Rising Sun 7th Class and Sino-Japanese War medal 1894. Both in correct boxes. Also have two silver Paulonia leaf drops from 7th order of Rising Sun: one I use for a fob on my pocket watch strap; the other my wife wears as a pretty silver necklace. Rich S

Please post a link to a picture of the badge. I still can't find it on that site Rich S

Ken - I don't think so. None of the actual Golden Kite medals (see sitemap page) are close to yours. I can't even find a couple that I have The site is really hard to use; having to click a hundred or more links to see the various medals. Might be easier to send him a picture and ask. Rich S

I don't know what it is, but you might try this site: http://www.imperialjapanmedalsandbadges.com Rich S

I also suspect Momoyama Saotome, 70pts; but could also well be Tembo. Have one rather similar; Kanteisho to Tembo (no typical Tembo stamps). Which either one, I really like it. Great tsuba. Thanks for sharing. Rich S

Beautiful collection! A little brass polish would really make the inlays shine :-) (just kidding - don't even think about it) Rich S

I'm still around, just hiding in the crowd :-) I tend to listen and learn, since babbling on doesn't help one learn anything except the sound of one mouth talking. Also, much of the discussion is far above my clearance level and pay grade :-) Rich S

I've seen the "Lost Treasures" program with our members commenting on the Honjo. Very interesting and I agree it is likely either still in Japan, in a Western collection (undercover) or a GI's attic. Also, IMHO the program was a bit over hyped about it being the best sword ever made, etc. Rich S