raven2

Hey, if you find any of those "sleeping treasures" , please direct me to the end of the rainbow, I can't seem to find them.

Not sure aobut the signature but I really like the activity both in the hada and the hamon.

Hi Mark, I am not sure about the Rai school attribution, but it certainly could be. No matter what, it is a beautiful hada and an impressive blade.

Unfortunately I would have to say yes.

Geez, you could have sold it to me. :D In all seriousness, I have to agree that the snowflakes look like a later addition. Otherwise the piece is too "busy".

If you have fingerprints on the blade, you should clean and oil it.

I agree, the mei is not the same and the sword looks much younger than Nambokcho.

Most definitely a nice set. Wish I had one like it.

Nice job. Great improvement. The blades are going to look great after they are done.

Hi Jason, I do not like the set either. It appears to me that they rather cheaply made and the decoration, while somewhat decent, doesn't do anything for me. The cost is about what you might expect for a set of this quality. Remember, you get what you pay for.

D'oh. Sorry Henry.

Hi Henry, Looks like a nice piece. Any way to get some closeups of the blade?

nope, not Japanese.

Hi Jason, I am not sure the translation has much to do with the price going iup like that. I think it is just that like mosty ebay stuff, people really don't start bidding in ernest until the last 24 hours.

Yep, That one is right up there for bad. :D

Thanks Jacques and Jean. I had read that when I looked up the kanji ad oshigata, but I just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything.

Thanks Jacques, Can you tell me your reasoning? I know there is a difference in the cutting of the mei, but is there anything else that would give you information to make that judgement? Just trying to learn.Thanks for any info.

Hi Stephen, Actually, I am not fretting the mei at all. I went into it expecting it to be gimei (Bob knows a little more than I do..... ). But I also learned something researching the mei. I bought it because I thought it was a nice blade in good condition and the price was right. It is better in hand than the picures show. Also, I have an early shinto wakizashi and I am thinking of mounting both as a nice daisho. :D

Just got this one in from Bob Benson. An early Shinto Katana with a Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi signature. The previous owner thought it was an authentic Shodai signature. Bob thought it was a jidai gimei as the rust is proper and the temper is similar to Yoshimichi just before he developed the sudare ba hamon. As I look at the signature I also think it is gimei. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Colin, you are right, good tsuba do cost a bit. But I would be careful with setting a limit below which you can find only low value. Look at this tsuba (picture attached), bought form one of the Board members. Would you consider it low quality? I bought it at slightly more than half of your limit of$300. It is small, a tsuba for a yoroidoshi tanto, but typical Higo, very good iron finished in migakiji with excellent, deep patina. I have got to agree with Mariusz. I got two very nice tsuba at the Fla show for under $300. (Here is the link for pix: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7056) But if you are buying, you have to know what you are looking at and who you are buying from.

Hi Jason, If I can be so bold as to say so, I think you need to slow down a little bit. 4 cast tsubas, a chinese fake, this blade. You seem to be bouncing all over the place. Take a deep breath and ask yourself what you really want. As I have been reminded only last week, there is always another sword out there. If you slow down a little bit, you may miss a piece or two but you will also get time to think about each piece and consider whether it is right for you and won't be left thinking "o god, why did I buy this" Remember the tortise and the hare. Good luck

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view) we all have it. It's an epidemic but better than the swine flu. Welcome Jaimie!

I certainly agree with you in that sentiment and I always look forward to the the knowledge that is imparted here. :D

Hi Mark, Watch out, you may have to define the word fun. :D After some of the previous discussions on this topic.

I am sorry, Peter, but if John is correct about it being Shinto, then it is 17th century at the earliest.