Rich S

George - Have you looked at my Japanese Military dirks page? http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/dirks.htm Rich S

Rob - There really isn't such a thing as a "touch up" polish. A blade is either polished or not. Remember any polishing removes steel which can never be replaced. If you can enjoy the tanto as is, then I would leave well enough alone. You avoid significant expense and risks of a polish uncovering hidden flaws, etc. Just my opinion. Rich S

I suspect this is a new ebay rule rather than a US regulation. Ebay has gotten really shy (chicken) because of suits and/or threats there of from other countries that don't allow various types of swords, knives, etc. It's easier to just ban all export than deal with each country on a one to one basis. Can't prove this, just my speculation having seen how ebay has reacted to things in the past. Rich S

If you should go the auction route, stay away from Freeman's in Philadelphia. I had them sell part of my lacquer collection and a couple low end swords at the suggestion of a local antiques dealer who I respect. They were awful. Poor descriptions, huge groupings, no oshigata or pics of the blade, just a tiny pic of the sword in koshirae. Getting back the unsold stuff took for ever and several of the pieces of lacquer were damaged. The antique dealer has also had recently bad experiences with them also. Basically they don't know anything about Japanese stuff and have no idea how to put together a catalog to sell same. Rich S

Henry - No special books, etc. Just Kanji tables that I've gathered over time off the net. http://home.comcast.net/~bladeshark/ http://nihontoclub.com/ http://www013.upp.so-net.ne.jp/santai/santai.htm and of course Rich T's Kanji pages (where ever they are now) Rich S

Henry - They are not considered Nihonto as they are not made of tamehagane. IMHO they are still excellent swords (I've had a couple beauties). Rich S

Rich - Sorry to see your sites go; you've done a fine job over the years, first taking over for me with the message board and building a one of the finest Nihonto sites on the net. Best of luck and good wishes for the future. Rich S

Rich T - Will the nihontokanjipages.com URL still work? Rich S

I suspect his webhost has messed up. Rich should notify them. Rich S

Seems to me to be a rather normal kubi-kiri (BOKUWARI or HANAKIRI TANTO). The description and origami lends credence to the idea that kubi-kiri were in fact for ikebana and bonsai rather than "head cutters" Rich S

Actually, getting different attributions and even shoshin/gimei is rather common when submitting a sword to different shinsa groups. One reason I don't do it. An opinion is still just an opinion. Writing that opinion on a piece of paper doesn't make it a fact. Rich S

Ford - Please hang in there with us. Having been a professor / researcher for my entire professional life, I can say with confidence that you can't teach or reason with those who don't want to learn. We appreciate and respect your experience and insights. If I've offended anyone with this post, I do not apologize. I quit apologizing for logic, experience and reason a long time ago. Rich S

Since I speak neither, what the h... does it say?? Rich

Aldwin - You can see some of mine on my Nara and other Tsuba pages at: http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/tsuba/nara.htm Rich S

Yes, Aizu Shoami is certainly a possibility as is Mito. By mid-late Edo Nara, Mito, Aizu Shoami are basically indistinquishable (with some major exceptions). Rich S

Looks possibly like later period Nara school work. Rich S

Actually Michener is sort of right, but not really. He is obviously a non-collector trying to explain collectors behavior. In reality collectors and non-collectors are both normal; just different sub-species neither of which understands nor communicates well with the other. The two sub-species just tolerate each other (as least most of the time). It's all just genetics - either you're a collector or you're not. Some folks have brown eyes, some have blue. Some are collectors (the sane ones :-), some are non-collectors. of course there's a world of trouble when a married couple is comprised of both sub-species- total chaos and misunderstanding - it will end in disaster! Rich S

Ken wrote: >I just don't want to damage anything as I fondle it. Just remember to be gentle with it :-) I stand by my other commentary :-) RichS

Ken - Keep up the mantis collection; forget about the fillys - tsuba, f/k are a lot less expensive and the upkeep is certainly MUCH less. Even the initial cost is less and they will let you take them out and fondle them any time you want :-) Rich S

Brian - Might want to check the FAQ on my website (feel free to use any of the info or just link to it - whatever). The question "is it worth polishing" IMHO is impossible to answer without seeing the blade up close and personal. At best, I would suggest that an answer would be to sent/show it to a polisher for opinion. You can save yourself a lot of work by just linking to existing websites or pages that answer basic questions. No point in re-inventing the wheel. Just some thoughts from an old geezer. Rich S

That tsuba design (or exact design) has been done, re-done, copied, re-done, re-made, faked, etc., etc. about a quad-zillion times. I think even Fred Lohman has a modern copied version of it on his site for sale. Rich S

I think the full translation reads: Seki ju Kotani Yoshihisa As mentioned a smith from Seki. Any arsenal stamps? Rich S

Actually for sashimi or sushi you need LOTS and LOTS of sake' and wasabi ! And remember, lots of sake' and in the morning you can't feel you teeth; lots of wasabi and you can't feel your tongue or smell anything,but your sinuses will be perfectly clear for months :-) Rich S

Brian - I hate to inform you, but you won't be allowed to enter Japan! They have a list of Nihonto collectors, much like the US terrorist list. They don't want Nihonto collectors taking all the good stuff home with them. You'll be either turned away or arrested at Narita airport. Sorry to have to tell you that you'll have to cancel (then maybe some of us can have a chance :-) Rich S (have a good time, we expect a report when you return)

Brian - Thanks, you are too kind. But why publish something (which is a pain in the arse and expensive) for something that folks can get for free? Anyone is free to copy my site FOR THEIR PERSONAL USE -but not for publication on the web or in any other form without permission. In the states that is considered part of the fair use doctrine for copyrighted material. Actually that is the easier way to go, since you don't have to be concerned with the site actually being offline due to bandwidth, etc. Rich S