Rich S

Due to health problems I have set my yahoo email to automatically delete all email. A message is posted on the yahoo website that no funcitional email address exists for that site. This will not effect the functioning of either the yahoo or earthlink websites which will remain functioning (including those cursed band width limits). http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm Thanks to all of you for your help and info provided and material for the website and collection. It is much appreciated. I've much enjoyed the discussions on Nihonto and tsuba over the many years. Please do not respond to this email as I will be online only very rarely. Thanks to all Rich S

Pete may well be correct. I didn't notice the sakura when I first looked at the tsuba. Definitely worth more research. I don't recall Norisuke using the sakura. At least I've never seen one. Rich S

Peter - As you know Yamakichibei are among the most copied or forged tsuba. I suspect that this is more likely the work of one of the two generations of Norisuke, late Edo period. He is known to have done LOTS of tsuba and signed Yama.... Rich S

John - Machine oil and mineral oil aren't the same. React quite differently. Rich S

A 10 to 1 ratio on the mineral oil to clove oil sounds very high to me (too much clove oil). I just put about 5 ml (1 teaspoon) in a pint of mineral oil. All the clove oil does is give a nice aroma. It really serves no protective purpose that I know of and too much could make things a bit gummy as the clove oil eventually dries on the blade. Rich S

Stephen - I also currently have 3 Emura and 3 Nagamitsu (Bizen Ichiryushi) plus a Seki Nagamitsu. Have had a dozen or so more pass thru my hands over the years - several of which I wish now I hadn't sold - (kick me, kick me!). Mostly very good blades, but a lot of variation in quality of workmanship IMHO. I guess due to some being by apprentices, prisoners taught by Emura and/or helpers of Nagamitsu. As with all Nihonto, they need to be judged individually. Rich S

You don't have to tell me about how under valued I think Emura and Nagamitsu are :-) I'm the original Emura/ Nagamitsu nut! Rich S

Does anyone have any info on this smith? I can't find any reference to him in any of my materials Thanks Rich S

I would agree, most likely Aizu Shoami Shigenobu. I have a papered daisho by one of them. Same style, only mokko. See my webpage at: http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/tsuba/tsubadai.htm Milt - I think we're talking about two different tsuba. The first one on this thread IMHO is Shigenobu, but the second one posted by Andi B. is a Saotome IMHO. Rich S

This style was made by Saotome and Bushu Ito schools among others. The very elongated hitsu-ana pretty much say Saotome; probably early Edo. A shame it's in such poor condition. Rich S

Thanks guys. Anybody know anything about him? Rich S

I would appreciate it if someone could assist with the translation of this oshigata. The first part reads I think "Yoshida Ichi (or Kazu) something??? Can't get the last Kanji. Any info appreciated. Thanks Rich S

Since you've got to soak the same' to work with it anyway, you might try just soaking it in tea as you're getting ready to shape it. I haven't tried it, but seems like a reasonable thing to do. ??? Rich S

I've found it more commonly that it is the swords, tsuba, etc that I DIDN'T buy that haunt me more than the bad ones I did buy. Rich S

Rich - Wish I'd known you were doing Alan Quinn's site. I have it all on disk; might have been easier. I also have a lot of Jim's material. Let me know if you need anything. Glad these sites are being preserved. Rich S

I would have thought Kyo-Shoami as well. The extent of 3 dimensionality reminds me much more of Kyo-Shoami than of Kyo-sukashi. Rich S

We collect because it is in our genes. There are two sub-species of homo sapiens on Terra; collectors and non-collectors. They don't understand each other and don't even speak the same language. Try spending an evening with someone who doesn't collect anything - total horror, silence or mindless chit-chat about nothing. They don't understand why (or what) we collect and we don't understand why they don't. I'm surprised the two sub-species are close enough to even mate. When that does happen, it usually doesn't last. Rich S

IMHO, it is a Korean occupation sword, machine made blade. See my military swords page for an example with the pawlonia mon like yours. Rich S

Here's the new URL. Site moved due to too much down time. http://www.austnihonto.com/forum Rich S

Seems to be a short lived message board. I now get a 404 page not found error when I try to access it Rich S

Just FYI, I found this link posted on the Swords Forum. A new Australian Nihonto Forum. http://austnihonto.forum5.com/index.php ... ustnihonto Anyone know who the operator is? I'd like to add it to my forums list. Rich S

Brian - Server problems, ISP problems, host problems, etc. They happen to all of us. Not to worry. We know you'll be back up and running. Rich S

Thanks guys. My feeble dying brain cells also thank you. Have a happy new year. May you find newly polished Juyo swords at flea market prices :-) Rich S

Would appreciate a translation of this oshigata. It's Kane something, but I can't read the whole thing. It also has a Seki tang stamp. Of course I've had a couple and am about half sloshed and have killed a few brain cells. Happy New Year everyone! Thanks Rich S

I think (?) the front of the old Hawley's (big brown book) has something like that. Rich S