Bob M.

Hello Henry in USA, I appreciate how you feel - I have had similar problems myself , although not in the nihonto world ( perhaps more by luck than judgement ) - but would advise caution with this . From your posting , it would appear that the dealings you have had with both gentlemen have been satisfactory to you , the 'dispute' being between them and not at this stage involving you - the unsuspecting third party . It will probably be counter productive to 'take sides ' and make any possible libellous comment at this stage. There can be all sorts of plausible reasons put forward for non payment that really are subject to the agreement and trading between the dealers concerned . The saying of 'let the buyer beware' also applies to arrangements made between dealers - if you let another person have a valuable item such as a sword without being paid for it up front , then you better be sure that you can trust them . Of course , should any claim be made upon the sword that you have purchased in good faith , then you may become a party to an unsatisfactory and possibly fraudulent deal and , circumstances having changed , stating of the facts and the identities of those involved might be a consideration . Good Luck with it !

Hello Brian I have an as new copy of 'Yasukuni Swords' by Tom Kishida which you can add to your prize list - I will stand the postage worldwide (surface) to the winner . Let me know if you want a picture posting or if you can get one from another source . Regards

Hello Koichi, Many thanks for the translation ! Regards

As stated in previous post - I would be very interested and grateful if someone would take the trouble to translate ? Thanks !

Hi, Just a few quick pics of a Katana by the same smith - showing same hamon . This is also Tok. Hozon but is not as wide as your waki. I bought this sword largely because of the regularity of the hamon and quality of forging. I wish you much pleasure with your new sword.... There is a sayagaki with the katana - I will post some pics in the hope that some kind person will translate . It may throw some light on Kanenobu ( there is no real information in Fujishiro other than rating him as chusaku and commenting that he made swords with a sanbonsugi hamon receiving the title Mutsu no Kami ).

Hi Ford, Upon re-reading your first contribution to this thread , I wonder if it would be possible for you to expand slightly on your comments re the work involved in the making of the tiger tsuba ? I have been stimulated to look at the tsuba in much greater detail than previously and feel that inspite of the more spectacular work being on the front , the craftsmanship on the reverse is at least its equal - if not even better. In particular , the treatment of the bamboo twigs and leaves , the tiny portion of the tigers tail beneath the bamboo rim , the way in which the bamboo reduces in diameter etc etc. Thanks are due to you and everyone who have shown an interest ( including private messages ) to make me take a closer look....

Thanks Ford and Ludolf for your replies - I will try to get an opinion on the 'Katsuhira' from the next Shinsa that I can attend - still not quite sure if the tiger is licking himself after a good meal or is looking at me in anticipation of the next one .

Additional thought - if it is an ' instruction ' to polish out then the symbol could possibly indicate grade(s) of stones to be used ?

Brian, I wonder if the mark is associated with the adjacent 'feature' showing just under the shinogi-ji - the two views you have posted show it as bright/dull depending on the angle of the camera . Perhaps this could be like a quality control mark to say 'this feature is noted' or perhaps 'to be rectified later ' - as you say , a polish would easily remove the mark . It is possible that under the pressure to produce swords that this was never attended to..... Just an idea.

Closer views of the cartouches ( if it helps ) . Thanks !

Another couple of tsubas pulled at random from my collection. Help with identification of signatures in the cartouches on the Iris tsuba would be gratefully received. The Tiger tsuba should be immediately familiar to anyone using Darcys' screen saver. The signature is apparently gimei - any opinions ? Also, is there anything that could be done about it - removal etc. ?

Hi Ruslan, Thanks for the reply. Look forward to meeting you ! Regards

Hi Tobias, I don't know if you will have much luck contacting NBTHK members via the NMB - I have tried without response in the past. I am a member of the NBTHK in England ( the poor relations ). You could try the email address - http://www.nbthk.net/nbthk/membership.html I understand that the next meeting in Germany is to be held in Bonn on 8th September. Good Luck !

Having watched the developing discussions on this thread , and in particular the recent very interesting historical info. on this blade, a few thoughts come to mind..... There is obviously a strong basis for the 'cult status ' of Kiyomaro blades and this is found in the quality of the workmanship. Have the other aspects of his life - small output/drink problems/suicide etc. - actually altered perceptions to the extent that his work is no longer dispassionately viewed ? ( No lack of passion on the board either .) With many old blades we 'buy into' a sense of history . The Kiyomaro output is not generally old enough to have acquired its own history - it would appear that their makers life story has substituted - truely an art ( artists ) sword !

Hi Eric, Very interesting - Would there be an oshigata of the Katsumitsu tanto mentioned in the text ? I wonder how many of the blades featured are still in private European collections and if any have been papered to a higher level. Do you happen to know if the Kiyomaro got the polish/reappraisal it was apparently due for ?

As a side issue to the points raised re. papers status , would anybody like to hazard a guess as to the level of points/paper that the Kiyomaro would get from the NTHK ? We always seem to be discussing NBTHK levels as a reference but the irony is that for collectors in the States and Europe , we are more likely to come across one of the NTHK shinsas usually in conjunction with an arms fair or show. Am I right in thinking that NTHK shinsas outside Japan will only award points to a certain level ?

Kiyomaro tanto up for sale on Aoi Art. http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/sale/07228.html A snip at $94,500.00 ? I knew his work was sought after but not the apparent value of it. Still it just goes to show that the combination of a genius and a dissolute lifestyle are very attractive to a lot of collectors. I wonder if a collector in the 1840's turned up at his forge and said 'That's a fantastic blade you've made for me - let's have a drink to celebrate ......'

Just curious as to any NMB members/participants who should be atttending the above meeting ..... I should be there and will be inflicting a few items on the gathering for some ( hopefully ) expert advice or general amusement .

Hi Stephan, Based on a recent visit (mid. April ) I would say that the British Museum is best avoided unless you are looking for non nihonto items. There was very little on display , and what was on show was mounted too far back in the display cases to give anything more than a general impression. The Japanese Gallery is as far away as you can get from the main entrance - at the back and on the top floor - but it is interesting for a more general view of Japan and its arts , showing some nice netsuke for instance. It is possible to arrange for a private viewing of the extensive sword collections - you will need to contact them by e-mail . Some form of accreditation/references will probably be required. If you do decide to go to the British Museum then it might be worthwhile checking out the bookshop located near the entrance to the section housing the Japanese Gallery. The V&A is, usually , a better choice - I understand that it is also sometimes possible to arrange private viewings there. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Hi Ludolf, Thanks for your reply - Very interesting. Perhaps I can ask another question or two of anyone willing to aswer : What is your opinion on gimei signatures on tsuba - there is an on-going debate on the board about gimei on swords and whether this is a part of their history or if they should be treated as a disease and ruthlessly eliminated - we do not seem to be so passionate about tsubas , is this a value thing ? Do people have gimei signed tsubas rectified ? Perhaps I am being naive ( and I do realise that I am leaving myself open for comment on this ) but I've tried to acquire both swords and fittings on the basis of workmanship and interest , with papers/guarantees being a secondary consideration - at least at the lower end of the market. Is workmanship or authenticity of equal or greater merit to each other ? All views welcome !

Please let me have any thoughts/comments on this tsuba - particularly where the mei is concerned. Suggestions have been made that the tsuba might be 2nd line Goto... I do not have enough knowledge to be able to form an opinion.

Jury's out on that - but I'd let them polish my weapon any day - just don't know which style....

Opinions, please . Does anybody think that the tsuba/box make sense as a package or are we looking at somebody's fantasy and not a real tsuba ( although in the view showing the bridge ,there appears to be a discolouration indicating mounting ). Thanks for all the interest.

Hi Curran, Thanks for your interest/help - much appreciated. I like your posted tsuba very much .The quality of work is really good and that is one of the things that I look for initially in the swords and tsubas that I collect. My taste is rather eclectic and so I go for anything that I like without regard to age or particular field . Having said that , the 'unusual' is (as you can probably see from the posted tsubas ) always an attraction. Will try to post a few more items over the coming weeks..... Bob

O.K. Tsuba as promised (maybe not worth the wait). Bob M.