Deron Douglas

Just curious, I see a lot of kozuka with this theme: http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/500-549/05512.html Same design, writing and layout... varying degrees of workmanship. Anyone have an idea that this theme/design is about and why they are almost exactly the same? Deron

I saw that on ebay a little while back! :D

Thanks Brian.

LOL... there's a two day rule? Thanks Milt! :lol:

Hi folks, I hate doing this, but I'm at work now and don't have access to my sword books. So I thought I'd do what everyone else does and ask... can anyone tell what this signature is? Thanks, Deron

Bungo Takada is the Shoami of blades...there are some very fine examples out there, but in general they were made with "practical, rather than artistic, needs in mind" Not the most sought after school, and often swords are "bounced" to Bungo when they do not stand out enough to be from one of the other schools. Kind of like the Mino Seki school that I always seem to run across. Not to say there aren't some outstanding Bungo blades out there of course. But these would be the exception rather than the rule. As always...judge each blade for yourself, and not the whole school. Brian Hi Brian, .... always an education. So let me repeat what you said so that I have is straight... when you said "Bungo Takada is the Shoami of blades" ... this is a good thing? As I understand it ... "Shoami is usually translated as one who is talented in the arts." Cheers, Deron

Thanks Ed! Yeah, that will work! Cheers, Deron

:lol: Probably a good thing too! :-)

I used to collect O-suriage koto swords............. MOST when submit for shinsa, always get " Bungo-ed " , like I actively seeked out rusty swords, spent the $ on polishing, and wella, find another Bungo and happy as a clam............ :lol: so.............. I collect ( and try to study ) fittings, so far, damn it, I couldn't find a Bungo tsuba !! there, you have the whole story............. milt the ronin :lol: thanks Milt... what's wrong with Bungo? Deron

Think about it, Milt and his Bungo... Hey Milt! What's the story about the "Bungo"? I heard this mentioned before, but could never get the story... Deron

Here´s the link to the auction: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... :IT&ih=016 cheers, Thanks Martin, yes. That was the one I was watching and talking about. WOW... so it's actually worth $2000? OK... that's more than I would spend on a tsuba. Cheers, Deron

I'll give you my US address Ed :-) But I was thinking of arranging the San Fran trip this year. I'll tell my wife I need to pick up something, think she'd buy the excuse? :-) Deron

Hi Ed, Thanks for the Link... I'll read it now. And thanks for the ivory. I'll send you an email a little later today. Cheers, Deron

Hmmm... I heard of this but never tried it... what kind of rust (I assume) does it remove from the tsuba? Can anyone sell me small piece so I can give it a try? Cheers, Deron

Is this the one that went for around $1600 and change? Forgot the name...sorry. BTW... really interesting thread. Deron

I'm much the same, I don't know a lot about tsuba, F/K and menuki. I just get what I like and know what I an afford if I like it enough. Mind you, my taste has changed in the last few years. I'm moving away from "sparkly glass" to "diamonds", but the sparkly glass still looks nice.

That's true... I've been watching a tsuba... papered... it went for greater than $1600! I couldn't believe it! I would have said $700-800 TOPS! Deron

Hi Darcy, Yes. I ran into that problem myself a little while back. Send me a private email if you like. I have a POD printer that may be able to do what you want, and you won't have to buy 1000 copies and ship yourself. Deron

Hi Darcy, I just ordered one. Nice job! You should consider a hardcover as well. I published: The Namban Group of Japanese Sword Guards by Dr John Lissenden as a hardcover, it looks really sharp! Deron

It's called "Japanese Swords of the Bizen Tradition" ? I just order it with problems. Deron

I use Lulu all the time for our science fiction and fantasy books, very good quality. Not much of a markup however. What's the link or title of the book? Deron

OK.. I don't know a lot about fittings, but is this fuchi REALLY worth this? http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Suak ... dZViewItem Deron

LOL... I really can't believe this guy. I think I remember seeing the same stuff from him going for around $25 a few years back. It's not something that an "nihonto educated" collector would consider... well at least it's not as destructive to the blade as a polishing wheel or grinder.

OK.. sorry. You have to see this! http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-ANTIQUE-SA ... dZViewItem

Hi, I'm going over my "stuff", deciding what to get rid of an what to keep. I have these two tsuba that I actually like a lot (but have no use for), I was wondering is anyone had anything to say about them such as, do you like them, anything about the style or school. That sort of thing. I'm sure the large iron one is hand forged and carved and is old. The horse one is probably edo, but is nicely done. Let me know what you think. Thanks.