BjornLundin

Agree, please continue with the eye candy and debate. Scientific debates can be rough sometimes, I remember a conference in Glasgow many years ago and a shouting match between the speaker and a colleague in the audience. The remarkable thing was that the colleague was upset that the speaker had changed his stand point in a matter in more favor to his own theory. "NOW YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, LET ME TELL YOU" and so it went for a while. I almost thought they would swing fists at each other for a while.

Latest addition to my Higo build sets, a wave fuchi kashira set with extras. I think I was lucky for once in auction. Best Björn

Sorry did not want to hijack the thread. Mine is unlikely to have tsukare utsuri from my observation. I may create a new post of this old battle scared blade after it has gone through restoration and +- papers.

Now also a gold member. Thank you to Brian and all members for a wealth of information and help.

Sorry, if I hijack the thread. I thought dark area was the utsuri... Reading Marcus Sesko thought on utsuri he has a picture calling the "dark area" antai. The utsuri starts above the antai. I include also a photo of one of my blades. Is this correct?

Me like http://world.seiyudo...m/product/ka-121222/

Could be in the production process (clay/tempering). Significance is that it has no use as a tool or weapon, it has lost its purpose (dead).

Hard to say from the photos but it looks like that the hamon goes out from the blade. I think it is called Nioi-gire and is considered a major flaw.

Is the hamon running out of the blade? I would go for a papered blade, these type of blades is for experts to know if to buy or not.

https://www.aoijapan...ira-mumeiunsigned-4/

I would ask the seller I know too little of the subtle aspects of what makes a blade this and that price. Others probably are much better than me to advise on price. -B update. I asked about an Omiya katana that was on Aoi a time ago. There are some examples of different Omiya blades in the thread, which can give a bit of perspective on the different levels. If you search of Omiya on the forum you will get more threads about this school. This one was very nice https://world.seiyud...m/product/ka-010918/ .

Personally, Without knowledge, this is a bit of a minefield (but what area of antiques and art isn't?). When starting, the problem is knowing my taste, what I like, what to look for, and what area of interest. Will I buy to learn from the item and then sell it to move forward or to buy and keep it? I probably made all the mistakes from the start and continue to learn. Grey has many books https://www.Japanese.../item-category/book/ -B

No don't tell about Omiya, prices will go up 15k - https://nihonto.com....thk-npo-certificate/ 10.5k - https://www.nipponto.../detailomiyaden.html 7.8k just sold - https://www.samuraim...k-hozon-certificate/ Is there any more that is on the market? Omiya usually pops up occasionally and maybe a bit underrated.

Any price range is hard. Is it Bizen that you are looking for? I like this one... It is not a katana, but from a known/famous smith. Nice time period, and you have the other oei smith to collect also. Yen is weak now also. https://www.aoijapan...kubetsu-hozon-token/ Other than that, I would ask around, as suggested earlier, maybe with more specific details of what you want.

Cant answer much about the rust, but if it was active shouldnt it be a bit more "red" than blackish? I would be more concerned if it is a real nihonto? Looks a bit like a Chinese fake to me?