raven2

Klaus, If you look at all the descriptions on AOI, they all say the blade was polished. From what I have seen, it doesn't mean it was in new polish but just polished at some time. Either that or they are having them done at some of the worst polishers I have seen.

No problem Ford, I bought the piece because it appeals to me, not for the mei and that I think is the important thing, at least to me.

Actually, Ford, I was the one who orginally posted and asked for opinions and I feel I have been learning a lot from this thread, which was why I posted in the first place. I never said that you can't really judge from the pictures, although I do feel it is certaily better to see the piece in hand.

Thanks for the information Mike. I would truly like to attend because I feel that it would be a very valuable learning experience. I also think that that being able to compare the examples with each other makes it much easier to see the differences.

Thank-you for your information Mike. I appreciate the input. I will be trying to learn more about the pieces. I was going to mention that I didn't think the pictures did them justice and they certainly are better in-hand. I am very pleased with them and any more opinions and thoughts will be gratefully received. Franco, you are welcome. I think we all can continue to learn and I cerainly feel I am getting a lot of of it with all the valuable comments the board members kindly provide.

Congratulations, Jacob. A nice first blade. I hope you get lots of enjoyment out of it.

Thank-you for your replies so far. I thought it might be Ichijo but my poor translation skills are extremely limited (still working on them). I was wondering, Franco, what made you think it is contemporary? Are there specific things you noticed? I would like to understand as much as possible.

I was there also and got a very nice set of F&K (see the tosogu thread). Also had a very nice time meeting people and looking at a lot of blades.

Hi everyone, I was hoping for opinions and help translating the signature on this F&K I picked up at SF.

Sounds good, Pete, I will look for you.

I will be there also looking for F/K and possibly tsuba.

Count me in. I got one yesterday

Hi everyone, Unfortunately, here are some more fakes (to my eye) and this time they are coming from Osaka. http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-Japanese-SAMURA ... 7C294%3A50 http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-sword-Japan ... 7C294%3A50 http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-Japanese-SAMURA ... 7C294%3A50

Right, and you can buy it now for only $ 47,777 and they don't have any worries because as they say, they don't claim to be experts on Nihonto.

Well, Ken, Look on the bright side. If the dealers want to tell you "if a sword isn't signed, it isn't valuable" then you should be able to pick up some nice mumei swords at good prices. Seriously, though, it just seems to be more of an escalation of trying to fleece people as miuch as possible.

Hi Nick, I just thought I would add my two cents also. I am a newbie, but prior to beginning to collect Nihonto, I collected mineral specimens for about 15 years. At the beginning, I was the same way about "getting a bargin" and a "good deal". After the first 4-5 years I spent a lot of money and had a lot (400-500) of specimens, most of them lower priced. I began to realize I wasn't very happy with most of them and also spent a large amout of time just trying to keep them all clean. About that time I met a person who had been collecting for 10 years and had about 20-25 specimens, all of which I would have killed to have. It was then that I realized that you just can't get good quality without being selective and especially, without paying for it. I sold most of my specimens, keeping only those that really appealed to me and focused my collecting on a specific area. I have been much happier since. I think that patience is always rewarded and that if you take things slowly you will be able to make your collection much closer to what you really want without a lot of regret.

Hi, everyone, Just got my new camera and thought I would try some pictures of a tsuba I picked up at the Chicago show. Measures 7.1 cm in diameter. I think it is kyo-sukashi and would be glad to hear people's opinions on it (good or bad). Thanks

Hi George, I still think you are a little confused. You do want the blade polished but only the nagasa [the length from the kissaki (point) to the muni-machi (the notch or shoulder on the muni or non cutting edge side)]. The only thing that you do not want polished is the nakago (tang).

Here are another couple of nice ones in the same price range: http://www.nihonto.us/SATSUMA%20SUKEKUN ... IZASHI.htm http://www.nihonto.us/HOKI%20NO%20KAMI% ... IZASHI.htm

Here is another chinese fake. They are now going with the idea that if they charge enough, they can fool people into believing it it authentic. "(We consumingly condemn on someone copy our pictures and sell the similar item as low price!) ". Only $999.00, get in line quick. http://cgi.ebay.com/old-Japanese-Origin ... 7C294%3A50

I am 55 and really just took up collecting in the last year. Before that I had been collecting mineral specimens. At one point I had over 500 and a few years ago thought that was too much and sold the majority of them. I have always been interested in in antiquities (classics and archeology major in college) and both my wifre and I have always been very taken with Japanese pieces ang I have always liked swords. So it just seemed natural to gravitate toword nihonto. As I have said elsewhere on the board, I just purchased my first blade at the Chicago show (Kozuke Daijo Sukesada wak) and am very happy with it. I plan to continue and am in the process of looking for koshirae for it. I will be attending the San Francisco show to continue learning.

Some very nice blades. Wish I had all of them :D

I have been reading the responses here and I would like to add my perspective as a newbie who attended the show. Yes, I went there with the intention of getting a blade and I did. But I certainly learned a lot by talking to many kind people there and I thought the Tsuba discussion was very interesting and I enjoyed myself very much. I am definitely not young but I do love learning and so I felt the show was very successful for me (not the least because I also got a tsuba and pair of menuki as well as the blade and still stayed within my budget), but I would have to agree that if I had been to a few shows before, this would not have been very interesting for me. I think Darcy's idea's on invigorating the shows with new and varied material, are very good. I have been to other shows (scuba equipment) yearly for the past 25 years and I have found that even with 15,000 attendees, they get very repetitive unless there are new ideas and material. If there is, then I find I have a very good time and feel that they are worth it. Btw, I enjoyed the show so much, my wife and I are going to San Francisco.

My Favorite is my Yokoyama Kosuke Daijo Fujiwara Sukesada. Of course it is my only one and I just bought it this past weekend. :lol: . But I do love the hamon.

Just went to look at the site. Nice prices (lol) but you get what you pay for, or in this case not get.