Matsunoki

Then it is wrong. See Handaka Sennin (aka Handaka Sonja)…. Handaka Sennin (also known as Handaka Sonja) is a rare depiction of a Buddhist Rakan in Japanese folklore, often mistaken for Taoist Sennin, who conjures a dragon from his alms bowl or a censuer. This figure is associated with wisdom and a pursuit of spiritual enlightenment and sometimes depicted on Japanese tsuba, okimono, and netsuke with a dragon.

I’ll have a couple at the Birmingham Arms fair later this month, the last 2 tanto from my collection. Both will be greatly reduced at just over £1000 (not $) One shinsakuto in high quality Japanese polish and s/s by a multi prize winning smith, signed, dated etc The other a large healthy signed Shinto Mino smith in full koshirae and decent polish. Welcome to come have a look. Always best to handle before buying.

This was very cheap and I found it interesting so I have bought it. Useful learning experience?? A lot of work has gone into it but the one thing I have learned is that dating some of these can be very tricky. When it arrives I will provide all necessary info. Many thanks looking

Perhaps I should show at least some courage and voice an opinion. So, I think it’s a late Edo recreation of an earlier style. I think it was once fully mounted and had one of those very wide flaring outwards shikoro. It’s not great but it’s not repro. Erm….maybe. …..but I’m probably wrong.

Still trying to learn, still getting confused! All opinions welcome…..Edo or later? Showa maybe? Looks to have some age and it is multiplate iron but…???? Thanks for any help and guidance! All the best.Colin.

Same here….emails back on. Thanks Brian. Sorry to give you hassle! Hope all goes well.

Hopefully not. Maybe a stand alone topic to give it a good kicking?

Well, since this thread was aimed at total beginners I’d say first step is to spot the prevalent outright Chinese fakes….they are the ones most newbies fall for….and that would be a good starting point?

@AndyJP Im no ITexpert but Outlook is the “app”you use Who is your actual Internet provider or email provider?

@Brian Somethings gone wrong somewhere. Thats two of us. My email is otherwise working normally Nothing going to spam from NMB Ive put the admin email address and the brian@ address into my safe senders in the ISP mail and my mail app. Deleted and readded email from my notification settings twice. I do recall you saying some time ago that something might happen that could affect the UK accessing NMB …..some sort of compliance? @AndyJP …..are you with BT email?

This one is from a batch of very well made luxurious silver mounted tanto and Tachi that hit the market a few years ago. They fooled a lot of people.

Not sure what “whitelist” means (IT Stone Age) but I’ve added admin@nihontomesaageboard.com to my isp email contacts, deleted and re added “emails” in my NMB profile for followed content, checked spam and generally confused myself. I’ll wait and see what happens for a few days. Sorry to trouble you Brian. Hope things go well for you.

I’ve got “followed content” set up to send me an email when new post is added. Has always worked perfectly until…. They have suddenly stopped Notifications still appear Ive checked my profile and they (emails)are still “ticked”. I haven’t manually changed anything. Whats up? Anyone else? @Brian….glad to hear you are back home. All the best.

Or about 3 days walk nowadays 🙂

This thread has been heavily “cleaned up” by admin thus removing just about all of the malicious, spiteful, sneering, insulting and derogatory comments from @rayhan but even after that I wonder if any newbies reading a thread that was intended to guide them will actually think “yeah, I really want to get into all this”. I also wonder why many of the “seniors” on this excellent Forum are not “calling out” this ridiculously elitist behaviour.… further insults awaited

@The Blacksmith Hi Russ It has been sold but not to me! It made hammer $2125. The learning continues…..with a degree of uncertainty sometimes🙂

@Brano please, leave it. Please.

Please, let’s not turn this into another scrap!

I didn’t say they would. I agree but I’m talking about getting started. Ive met collectors who have been at it for years and still can’t tell a good blade from an average one🙂

In retrospect I should have just posted the link……lots of images if you scroll down. Yes I know…..beware ebay!!! https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=kabuto&_sacat=20081&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313

What follows is simply a different view on how and why to get into this collecting field. It is based on my experience and is purely my opinion. Just some random musings. 1.Before you dive in understand how the market is structured (it’s exactly the same as any other collecting market) Imagine a pyramid, wide at the base, pointed at the top. At the base there are a great many collectors interested in a wide range of swords for many different personal and aspirational reasons. These will usually be the more modestly priced swords but that does NOT MEAN THEY ARE CRAP. As you gradually look higher up the marketplace pyramid you will find the numerical customer base quickly reduces the higher you ascend and as the price of the swords increases. At the top of the pyramid you will find a vastly reduced customer base able (and willing) to spend large sums of money on the rarest of swords. This is pretty obvious stuff but the new collector should now start to think about where they might envisage themselves ending up. What are their aspirations (because they will vary enormously) What are they aiming for? Above all, what is realistic. 2. Ask yourself why are you joining this hobby? What do you want to collect because there is a great variety…..and remember it’s your decision, no-one should attempt to tell you what to do. This is your collection, your hobby. Military stuff? Just blades ….. Old swords, newer swords, modern swords? Complete swords (ie with koshirae that have not been cobbled together or made recently) Just long swords? just short swords? Just something to hang on the wall? How much money have I got that I can expose to risk. Do I want a varied collection or just one sword? Would I rather change my car? 3. Basic knowledge needed (can be gleaned from numerous books) How to spot a fake or replica How are swords actually forged, hardened and polished What flaws and problems in the blade will be encountered. How to recognise them and which are serious 4. Take a look at the marketplace in action…..sword prices in various sectors…auctions, dealers, forums, Japan, …..easily achieved on the internet. Within my target market what might fit within my budget. 5. Anyone around nearby that I can talk to….clubs, shows, dealers, internet forums. How do I network and build contacts? 1-5 above should have caused some forethought and most importantly a reality check and maybe the formulation of some sort of plan together with an understanding of the basics of swords. It need only take a few months not years. OK….. now what? Well a few facts to keep in mind….. It is unwise to buy swords for investment purposes. The higher the price generally the greater the risk. You will not buy an “important sword” for a few thousand but you can certainly buy acceptable quality and interesting examples (and don’t be misled by those that sneer and deride lower valued pieces) If buying from a dealer understand and respect that it is how he makes his living (or perhaps partially) and therefore he will have his profit built in. On very expensive swords that profit could be substantial. Many dealers are highly respectable and experts in their field. Some are not. Beware eBay and all similar auction sites. If a sword is available on the internet from a dealer in Japan it is usually because no one in Japan wants to buy it at that price. (Worth just thinking about that is) Always try to actually handle a sword before you buy it. At some point you might want to quit the hobby or raise or lower your sights. Be prepared to change. You will find out if this rabbit warren really is for you. Ultimately…..spend your money on what makes you happy and try not to make too many mistakes along the way (we all made mistakes, some more than others apparently🙂🙂🙂☹️) It’s a journey and an adventure, have some fun…..remember what you’ve decided and go buy something.

To add another image…..are those rivet heads lurking under the lacquer? Does that suggest a genuine multi-plate construction?

I’ll have to go look that up🙂…..and then try to figure out what is strange. It gets even trickier but at least my basic hunch was justified. again, many thanks

Many thanks Uwe. This is a tricky subject yes?🙂

@uwe Thanks for looking Uwe. Further images……. Just looks too good to be true??