Bazza

Simon, Thank you very much for the reference. Exciting reading and a tribute to the dedication and devotion to the Nihonto Arts of the gentlemen concerned. To any of us whose interest might flag from time to time due to the exigencies of life, this article should surely help to keep one's spark burning brightly. I know it fanned my spark!! Thank you again Simon. BaZZa.

YOSHINAO, a WW2 smith, date looks like SHOWA 18 = 1943. BaZZa.

Do I hear a collective AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH... BaZZa.

Steve, do please keep us up to date. I have more to add to this, but it is already late and I'm falling asleep. It will have to wait until tomorrow... BaZZa.

OTTOMH - Koto first kanji is KANE, second ?? BaZZa.

Just paid for my book. Code LULU15 got me AUD $9.70 discount. Postage mail option $7.99 instead of Express at ~$22.-- was another saving, thought without tracking. All up delivered cost to me in Melbourne, Australia was AUD $62.94 paid by credit card. BEAUTIFUL - what's not to like!! I think this book is probably printed here in Australia, maybe even Melbourne where I live. So Oz collector blokes, get on board. Bestests, BaZZa.

Jan, What a stunning surprise!! A rare book on teppou - in English. WOW!! Late now but I will order a copy tomorrow. This will sit well with my three Kunitomo guns - they can croon together with your book. My congratulations on your achievement and my very best regards for a long, productive life. BaZZa.,

What is very interesting is that the kogai "blade" is iron, like a kogatana, and fits into the kogai "handle" similar to a kozuka. Never seen it before. BaZZa.

A very, very nice Teppou and quite similar to one of mine. A pity so many parts are missing. Sigh... One always wonders how this happens. Bernard, could we please see photos of the barrel top, the mon etc etc. Best regards, BaZZa.

The horimono reminds me of the KINAI BORI of Echizen Yasutsugu. BaZZa.

A light sand-blasting??? Or plastic ball abrading/blasting??? BaZZa.

Just to clear up a pedantic point: "... pilgrimage for shugendo mountain ascets." ascents or ascetics??? BaZZa. (who knows nothing about monks or pilgrimmages...)

Especially with the o-kissaki... BaZZa.

Looks avant-garde modan, but what do I know!!! Nice looking for all that... BaZZa.

Very inspirational indeed. What are the thick green and white cords that loop around the box and what are their purpose??? I've never seen these in any illustration that I can recall. BaZZa.

BISHU OSAFUNE MORIMITSU?? Sad looking nakago... BaZZa.

Rob, The Age of Battles is long gone and I simply wonder if this is not an Ikebana Master's very nicely mounted flower cutting tool. I haven't bothered to read the mei, but I'm guessing somewhere in the Edo period, which makes a purposed Kubikiri tanto really unlikely???? BaZZa (who still owes you a PM)

Goodonyer Steve Mate, that is a wonderful expression. Keep up your enthusiasm and interest and it will be returned in droves. Bestests, BaZZa. aka Barry Thomas Melbourne, Australia. (Collecting 50+ years)

Robert S (mate, I owe you a PM), What a wonderful and timely reminder. I often worry about our Beloved Brian and the stress and strain he puts on himself and Nikki. I've just sent my direct donation (which I believe is "best" for Brian??? i.e., most convenient???) of 1,500 ZAR. Sometimes wish I was religious so I could carry out an act of piety that I believe the Gods would listen to. Sadly, its cold, hard cash that keeps the Good Ship NMB afloat. So Me Hearties, pile it on and go to the Donation page and send $$$ (sorry, ZAR) by direct donation. With Bestests to All, BaZZa.

Peter, The 2-character nakago is easily and immediately read as FUYUHIRO. The other one is a can of worms that I'm sure some stalwart will read off the top of his head!!! BaZZa.

So, Portuguese Customs have bad habits??!! BaZZa.

Ah well, I'll stretch my neck out and say it has all the hallmarks of a Chinese or non-traditional copy of a Nihonto. The nakago - poor shape; the mei kanji - terribly poor; the blade shape - dreadful; the hamon - hmmmmmm... I think David himself has hit the nail on the head when he said "i will assume you believe it to be fake. no worries i had no expectations." Best regards, BaZZa.

Ahhhh, very sad news indeed. I see it here (where I live) amongst older collector friends, found out yesterday after a long silence that one of them has Parkinson's. Vale John Prough, New York, whom I remember most fondly from quite some years ago now. BaZZa.

Just look at the pictures on the website - they tell you what you need to know... BaZZa.

The problem with silver sulphides is that they can continue to build up until an attractive glossy black surface is achieved (this would be under fairly stable conditions where just enough sulphur was available in the air) but then, because this sulphide layer is more brittle than the underlying silver that it is consuming (exactly like rust on iron) it begins to crack and flake off. At this point the underlying silver can often be seen as a dull white and coarsely corroded surface. Restoring this sort of surface damage on fine carvings and inlay is extremely difficult. ======================================================================================== Not to argue or to take anything away from Ford's synopsis, something I saw decades ago (mit mine own eyes) still sticks in my mind. At that time I was "into" antique firearms so already had an exposure (sorry!) to patination. This singular thing was an Edward IV silver shilling in mint condition with a gun-metal gray patina. I stayed for some time at the case admiring it. To follow from Ford, the storage conditions for it to have survived over 400 years must have been optimal. BaZZa.