bond_fan

Dear Nobody, You are amazing to be able to discover the meaning of the blade translation so quickly! I wonder how you were able to do it and do you know what the chant means? Thanks so much Tim

Hi Forum I was wondering if someone could please help me with the translation of the inscriptions on both sides of the blade and the tang? Thanks! Tim

Steve, Thanks for trying! Interesting enough print though.

Hi Nihonto Forum! I found an even better surimono I was thinking about getting. This one has a cool looking katana and raven on it. I was wondering if someone could please tell what what the surimono says, who the the artist is and what the symbols of the raven and katana might mean? Thanks! Tim California, USA PS. I am sorry about the poor quality of one of the images. http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41 ... /suri1.jpg

Hey guys, Thanks for all the additional information! I don't know how you guys find out this information, but you are all very good! Hey, supposedly they have a similar artwork with a katana being the main focus. I hope to get an image of that soon. Best regards! Tim

Kenkaku & Steve, Thanks for your further insight! Tim

Steve, Thanks for the assistance! I find sometimes in both Chinese and Japanese it is very tough getting translations on stuff, because the grammatical structure of both languages doesn't follow the same format as English. It sounds like it's pretty tough to know exactly what is meant based upon your thorough search. I really appreciate your help! Any idea what this maybe worth? Thanks! Tim

Hi All! This print is from the early to mid 19th century and I was told it is a Surimono, which was specially produced by poets and artists to be given at New Year's to friends. Here's another fuller photo. If someone can translate the Japanese characters that would be helpful! Thanks! Tim http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41/bond_fan/print.jpg

Thanks for your help! I'd have to go back to the store and shoot more photos, so maybe this Tues. or Wed. when they are open?

Hi Nihonto Forum! I was interested in buying this beautiful Japanese artwork, but the seller couldn't tell me the name of the artist or what the writing says. I believe it is a poem and was wondering if someone could please tell what what the poem says and who the the artist is? Thanks! Tim California, USA PS. I am sorry about the poor quality of one of the images. http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41/bond_fan/5579.jpg http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt41/bond_fan/5582.jpg

Hi forum! Thanks for your responses! Sorry the photos were not good enough to make a determination on the tang age. I hope that my friend will be able to send me better ones and I can post those? I wonder if forum members would agree that Japanese sword tangs show less deterioration due to the ability to remove the tsuka and polish and oil the tang or not more than the quality of the steel or say the climate of Japan? I've seen purported photos of Japanese Katana from 16th & 17th century with file marks still visible on the tang and on a Chinese sword the file marks are likely to have been eaten away after 100 years. It is interesting to note my friend said that Tibetan sword tangs didn't show a lot of deterioration for their age from what he thinks is due to the dry climate in that country. Best regards! Tim

Hi Forum, A friend of mine suggested I ask an opinion on how Japanese appraisers determine the age of Japanese swords based upon the age of the tang He explained to me how an estimate of the age of Chinese swords is made based upon the patina of the tang. He said for their age Japanese sword tangs are nearly not as corroded as Chinese sword tangs. This is probably, because it is so much easier to remove the tsuka from the blade and the complete blade and tang can be cleaned and oiled preserving the condition of the tang, while it is hard to remove the grip from Chinese blades, so the tang tends to exhibit greater deterioration with Chinese swords than their Japanese counter-parts. So pictured are four Chinese dao (Saber) tangs. I am curious to see what forum members think the age of these swords are? dao_tangs1 - Are close-ups of the two on the right of the first photo containing four tangs. dao_tangs4 - Are close-ups of the two on the left. I am also curious to know how Japanese appraisers determine the age of Japanese swords? Thanks! Tim

If what Peter said is true I wonder how then the judges make a determination on a sword then? To me this is almost contrary to what would be needed to determine traditional methods or not, but I don't know, because I'm not a judge. Thanks for the new additional post. Getting more confused... Tim

Billman said, If oil quenched this would not be a gendaito sword then and less valuable than if it was done with the tradition clay method then? Thanks! Tim

Do these images show nie or hataraki consistent with traditional construction methods?