MHC

I have avoided making any comment on this for days now, but can't stand it anymore....... All things being of possible illusion, and I hope I'm way off base here...but my machinist eye cannot stop seeing a distinct line running thru the Nakago right where the Habaki would conceal it, visible on both sides, but most discernable on the left side. The apparent line runs perpendicular to the longitude of the blade. I can only guess, but it would appear that there is a possibility of the nakago being welded at this location. This would explain the heavy file marks(to cover up the weld repair) that do not match the original file marks, lower on the nakago, plus the distinct difference in the look of the steel both above the habaki area and below the possible weld area. Even the area of the Bohi looks tampered with and does not exactly match the bohi on the blade. My observation could easily be incorrect, as making assumptions from small photos can lead one down incorrect paths. Mark

I'm shaking the money tree with all my might....but being winter, the tree is bare...:{ Mark

Hi guys, What could of caused that line, just above the mei on the nakago? I can only see 1 side of the nakago, as there are no photos of the other side. The line seems to have a large center divot area, then the line disappears but then re-appears and goes up and over the spine(sorry don't know the correct term for the top of the nakago). Almost..... dare I say looks like it could possibly be a butt weld in that section?? I'm probably just seeing things that aren't there, probably my machinist eye coming out to haunt me. Mark

F.Y.I this sword is currently on an auction site back east in the USA, with the auction running today, most likely over by now, as it is 1pm on the west coast now, with the east coast being 3 hours ahead. Mark

Hello all, As I found out with international shipping of my personal items overseas to Thailand, that it is required to supply your SSN# or a Tax I.D.# So further investigation, showed that it is super simple to just obtain a US federal tax I.D.#. Apply online, it's free, takes about 10 minuets, and lasts your life time, zero negative consequences, only positive. So for all you US citizens, there is no reason not to do it, can solve/simplify many things. Mark

Well I like the small wak sized one a lot, very delicate and clean design. Would have picked that one up myself! Mark

I put a bid of a sword remnant from Buyee in Japan, only to be told by Buyee 2 hours before the auction ended, that they would not ship that type of item to the USA. They made a few attempts to explain to me as to why they could not ship such an item, but I looked at all categories of prohibited items, and it did not fall into any of them. Luckily I was out bid at the last moment, or I would have owned an item that I would never have received! Mark

6 years or 10 years, matters not, I seriously do not have the required patience for that art form, or years left in this aging body (just turned 62 and retired), nor do I speak Japanese so....... Just a old man playing with cheap Southeast Asian steel, no harm or foul possible. Mark

Oh nooooo...no elusions of that falderal, and I'm too old and impatient to do a 6 year apprenticeship in Japan. Furthermore, I could never sit in the proper Japanese polishing position for more than about 2 seconds, hell I can't even sit in the lotus position at all. Me and sport bikes had too many arguments over the years, 3 plates, 16 screws and 8 surgeries later, precludes sitting in just about any position for long, let alone a contorted one! Mark

I'm super curious about polishing, I want to try my hand with it on Thai/Burmese DHA swords, but I do not know what effect the different stones have on sword steels. I think having a broken/cut section of real folded steel to practice on, would yield better education than starting with a total unknown steel type and guessing which stone(s) do what. DHA swords in Thailand run about $30-$100 US dollars, so no real worries about screwing up something that is actually worth money and should not be touched by an un-trained rookie. Anyway, just a future hobby to pursue in retirement. Mark

Thanks for the lead, but I'm looking for folded steel actual blade section(s), not nakago alone. Mark

Ok, fair enough...I was interested in the whole sword, but thought that was a stretch to separate it from you. So how about a offer with a a profit then...$50+ shipping for the whole kit-n-caboodle? Yeh. yeh, I'm guessing that I know what you are going to say, but nothing ventured, nothing gained right? Mark

Or you could sell 1/2 of it to me for $20 and break even :}. Mark

Hello all, I've seen a few of these chopped/cut swords for sale out of Japan, but none so far that would actually ship to the USA. The examples that I've seen seem to go for between $13 US dollar's to $40 US dollars, some are single pieces, some are a full sword that's cut up. I would really like to get my hands on 1 or 2 decent length examples, for experimenting on. Any leads on where I might be able to buy 1 or 2 would be greatly appreciated. Mark

Well rats!!! I'd of bought that in a heart beat....please make me #3 if the other 2 in line fall short. Mark

Well decisions, decisions..... The current price vs the condition of the "polish" seems about right for a fixer-upper Mumie blade. However there are 3 things holding me back, 1.) I'm not a fan of Bohi (personal visual appeal thing). 2.) The Koshirae is not really my taste (WWII gunto style), tsuba is tired but has merit. 3.) The tip of the Kissaki is broken off ...just enough...to require a fare amount of metal removal by a polisher to bring it back...maybe too much?? So it all comes down to cost vs equity vs desire. I guess I'll wait to see your other possible offerings? Just to add more decisions to the mix, yeh that'll help the situation..... Mark

The more times I went back and looked at everything that was available, the less I saw anything worth the guess work and gamble. One odd note, I saw 1 Katana in Shirasaya that was in rough shape, but looked promising, but by the third time I looked at the site....it had been removed from the auction....hummm. Mark

I have been viewing the various sword sites and such from Thailand and South east Asia as of late. I have seen several Tsuba's that appear to be the identical style to that one shown, with the lotus blossom piercing pattern. Is this a pattern that may have been copied by the Thai. from a Japanese style? Mark

What I saw in the pictures were a whole bunch of what appears to be Franken-swords, all mix-n-match Fuchi, Kashira, Tsuba, Seppa. Some blades look old and promising while others looked questionable, some with tired Koshirae with blade condition that does not match, or nicer Koshirae with very poor condition blades. Some of the Tsuba's look amateurish as well, plus weird shaped Nakago's on others with poorly chiseled Mie's. Just a lot that looked off to me...but probably just my lack of knowledge and poor pictures to gage from??? Mark

Hello all, Not sure if adding a link is ok on this forum, so delete this post if I'm off base here, no worries. I found an auction that is going to happen in Texas on the 29th of august. There is a link noted below. I looked at most of the swords, but since I'm a rank amateur here, I wanted others opinions. What I looked at, by and large seemed mostly "off", some looked maybe ok-ish, but the warning hairs stood up on the back of my neck for the most part. sofedesignauctions.com Mark

All else set aside, "My Grandfather got this katana back in World War 2 somewhere around the 1960s" . That would be a nice hat trick.......since that war ended in 1945...... just throwing it out there. Mark

i offered up for viewing the Wak in the Nihonto section, under "New members 1st Nihonto acquisition" dated June 3rd.

Really wish I didn't have to do it, but since I'm retiring to Thailand at the end of the year (Covid-19 rules dependent) and bringing Ivory into Thailand is somewhat frowned upon. Here is a glance at what I parted with and ended up with a sword instead.

It looks like the fireplace hood is adjustable in height by the offset balance of the cannon balls on chains, interesting smoke control. Mark

DHL delivered my Shirasaya wood no problem...same size package as a sword..... I was quoted 4 months by sea mail to the west coast of USA as current time frame prediction, much patience needed there. Mark