CSM101

I was in London this week for a little lecture about Nihonto Photography. But first I wanted to visit the British Museum. I´ve heard, that they have a Sukehiro. And that´s what I wanted to see. But the Sukehiro wasn´t on display. They have a wonderful armor, a Muromachi Sukesada with a fine tachi koshirae, an Etchu no Kami Masatoshi. And a Shintogo. Kunimitsu! And this is really worth the trip. If you ever come to London, visit the British Museum. Room 94-2 is for Japan. Then I had the chance to meet some very nice people (again). Thanks again to paulb for the invitation. And a special Thanks to Darcy and Richard K. George for the permission to use some of their photos. Some words about the Shintogo: a very classical sugata, elegant with a thin suguha hamon in nie. But the really amazing thing is the quality of the steel. Jinie, chikei and nie utsuri. If you have “The 100 Masterpieces from the Compton Collection” than you can read a little bit more about the blade. Sorry for the bad photo. The blade is behind glass and the distance was 40 cm and I worked freehand. But better a bad photo than no photo. And next year I will stay longer. Uwe G. London: http://www.nihontophoto.com/london-28-09-2016 Shintogo Kunimitsu: http://www.nihontophoto.com/shintogo-kunimitsu PS: THEY HAVE A SHINTOGO!

Short Update: The price for the amazing catalogue is 30,00 EUR and end of next week available (hopefully). Uwe G.

Maybe here: http://www.jauce.com/auction/k221003928 Uwe G.

I´m a little curios: were the kanjis by Sukezane big or normal size? Uwe G.

Question is, if you can decide by a photo, if it is hard or soft jigane. And I think, that you cannot say so by a photo. 1. Shiga Seki This would be hard jigane. 2. Enju Again, the same sword like in the first photo, but this time the omote. An here you can see clearly a different type of steel. Less chikei and more jinie. Soft jigane. 3. Shinano no Kami Fujiwara Daido hard jigane The problem is, that a sword has three dimensions and in a photo you have only two. You must hold a sword in your hands to make the decision if it is hard or not. And now: Wales! Go for it! Uwe G.

1 = Enju - Yamashiro school 2 = Sue Soshu 3 = Bizen Unji 4 = late 19. century tourist crap 5 = Rai Kunitsugu - Yamashiro school And now: 3 x suguha, Have fun! Uwe G.

Hello Hamfish, I dont know, what you want to see in photos, but I think, there is no way to see the difference in a photo if it is soft or hard. Try to find out the soft jigane. Uwe G.

Hello Lloyd, the paper says only Kongobei (TH). So it is a different sword then. Uwe G.

A Kongobei blade. Uwe G.

Usually the auction is here: Linprunstr. 16, 80335 München. But Hermann Historica decided, that there is not enough space. So, they have a Hall nearby. And in case you missed my first post here is a small part of The Rudolf Ott collection: http://www.nihontophoto.com/#!die-sammlung-ott/ewf3g Uwe G.

Dear Nihonto-Lovers, I already wrote about it, but a serious upgrade happened, and so I want to inform you again. From 24.10.2016 to 05.11.2016 the Rudolf Ott Collection will take place at Hermann Historica. A wonderful catalogue will be made and I think, it is a very big and wonderful collection. A few words to Rudolf Ott. But please, don’t take them as facts. It is more or less urban legend. Rudolf Ott started colleting short after WW II. In the early 1950 he went for several months to Japan. He lived there and he brought some items back. In Munich he had a pharmacy and he was very well connected. An Auction House in the same house and an uncle, who was a dealer in antiques. And so he build up a very good collection. As an example, he owned a Kiyomaro before the blade was polished and papered. Sometime in the 1970 he stopped collecting. Means, he never bought anything again, but he didn´t sell anything either. And so this is an old collection. But he was never in swords. He loved Armor, Helmets, etc. Swords were more or less a side effect. You can still find some, but it is not high quality. A Daisho by Kanemoto for instance (something for Chango). But a later generation. What can you find there: a myochin carp, a helmet with 128 plates, tsubas, books, whatever…. So, and now comes the interesting part: Hermann Historica invites us to take a look at the whole collection before anyone else. The date is 24.09.2016. A month before the auction. The plan is, that we have 4 or 5 hours. Even if you are not in for Armor or if you don´t want to buy anything, this is the whole collection together for the last time. And it is the biggest collection in Armor for a single collector. At least here in Europe. But now the bad news: if you want to come and stay overnight: Forget it! It is Oktoberfest (a.k.a. Die Wiesn). It´s the second weekend and our friends from Italy will march in. And then Munich goes from crazy to nuts. Please inform me via PM, if you want to come. We can make better plans then. Hope, to see you there Uwe Grabowski

I know, that it was unfair to give the right info away. But it was kind too easy, when you just need two or three clicks to get the right answer. Sorry for that. On the other hand: why is it DEN Masamune? What is the difference in the workmanship to a "usual" Masamune? Quality not, that´s for sure. I hope, you can explain it. Uwe G.

It is a Den Masamune. You can find the Info on the Japanese Site. My Best Guess was Shizu. Uwe G.

Another one. Uwe G.

And again. I start with 4, 15, 5, 9...And then I have to think again. Uwe G.

With my untrained eyes it looks gimei. Uwe G.

When I see a hamon like here, I get a strong feeling towards Shinto- Jumyo. Uwe G.

Hello Josh, it works very fine. I bought a book Bizen Ichimonji = 4.000 Yen. Then Tax + Jauce + Transport + Bank. All together was 85,00 EUR. More than 100 percent plus. Uwe G.

Okay. A little story about Nihonto Photography: In 1999 we had a little meeting here in Munich. Just a dozen people with the Master himself: Fujishiro-san. And somehow I had the guts (or maybe I was just dumb enough) that I asked him directly: "How do you do that?" And the answer was very short and kind of a Zen mystery: "THAT IS A SECRET!" And now you know... ..where I started. If I had to give an advice, I would give you 2. Number 1: Stop making photos of Japanese swords! Number 2: Start making photos of a polished metallic surface, that almost reacts like a mirror. Because, If you would do it that way, you would think more about the law of reflections. And how to avoid them. And to Richard´s photo: Take a very close look at the Yasuaki photo. I have never seen such a smooth lightning! Phantastic! Brilliant! Uwe G.

This is an example for a very big NAME-saiha. Uwe G.

No. Lightning is just a factor. The BLADE is the key. Uwe G.

Just a few impressions: from my personal archive: the 2 Kiyondos, a closeup from the unsigned blade, and the meeting. Uwe G.

Hello all, In October 2016 a whole collection of katchu will be at Hermann Historica. "The Rudolf Ott Collection". If you want to know, what´s coming: http://www.nihontophoto.com/#!die-sammlung-ott/ewf3g Uwe G.

Thank you all for your help! :bowdown: I´d never thought, that translation could be fun. Uwe G.

Hello all, I have here a tang. Chikushu Minamoto Nobukuni, that´s for clear and as a date something 11. I see an 8. But all the rest is too much for me and so I need your help. Thank you! Uwe G.