CSM101

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.

If there wouldn´t be the hint with the signed and dated tachi, I´d had said Meiji. Uwe G.

If you ever have a chance to get a full set, then this should be your first choice: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b855-meito-zuikan-fujishiro An english translation is avaiable. If you don´t get one I have the translation three times. Uwe G.

Hello Lloyd, The paper only says Kongobei (TH). So no name for a smith. And yes, I took the photos. But this is not HiRes. It´s the LowRes-version. THIS is a MiddleRes-version: http://daten-transport.de/?id=gs7vNxRYm25t . The Original has 32,4 MB as a JPEG. Uwe G.

So, here is a download-link for the photo: http://daten-transport.de/?id=6ABxRCbmx5Nb Uwe G.

You know the slogan: Poor but sexy! Well, nowadays it is just Poor! Or even better just poo. Situation in Berlin got worse. Last year Olaf Guhl died. He had a little shop close to Warschauer Straße. Mainly Martial Arts stuff. But he had a little corner with swords, tsubas, tea bowls and yaris. He collected Osaka Shinto. Udo Drechsel is in Korea and two collectors quit. The museums don't have any good stuff. Due to the fact that it disappered like Keyser Soze. So, you better save your money and follow Guido's advice. But you are in Berlin, so HAVE FUN! And never forget: there is something in the water. Uwe G.

Just another Kongobei. Uwe G. Edit: the photo has 2,32 MB but here only 29.6 KB. Strange.

Just to give you a figure: the Juyo Kiyomaro in Europe was estimated by the owner with 45 Mio. Yen. Uwe G.

Funny thing is: I know a Sukenao with the same letter from Tanobe san. Uwe G.

Hi Karl, I think that is just belongs to the normal Kanji and is not a separate one. Uwe G,

I would say the same: Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi. Uwe G.

A signed tanto with papers (TH): 15.000 EUR + X an unsigned tanto: 3.000 + X Uwe G.

I think it´s three. One Kiyomaro and two Masayuki. Uwe G.

Another 4. generation Tamba: Uwe G.

I know that we already discussed Rai vs. Enju. This is just to show, why Enju is close to Rai. And the Hankei. Well, I think I will not have a chance to make photos. But I will ask. Uwe G.

Once again a thread, where you really can learn something. Thanks to Paul and Darcy. I only held one Hankei in my hands. I know many collectors were not impressed by this blade. But i was really fond of it. And i didn´t see it as a copy of Norishige but as a Shinto-blade. 4 blades by him are bunkazai (I think). And that doesn´t come out of the nowhere. And just another point: "If You Can't Afford a Rai, Get The Next Best Thing ... Buyyyyy EnJUUUUU! Uwe G.

Thank you, Guido! The site is online since mid of December. So, no wonder why you didn´t notice. I hope, that I get in February some new swords for photos. Uwe G.

Hello George, as Guido already mentioned, you see a tanto with sageo. I don´t know how much money your are willing to put in the photo, but when I see samurai15 and all the dust, scratches and spots then for this part alone I estimate 3 - 4 hours work. This is just a tenth of the photo. And after cleaning comes the color. So we talk about 30 h work. If it is done for free, then should be no problem. Below I show you a postcard from my grandgrandfather (date 23.January 1901) and it took me 7 hours to get rid of the writing, the yellow tone, the spots, whatever... Just to show you, what has to be done to your photo. Uwe G.

Sorry! I forgot about that. My fault. Again what learned. Uwe G.