raven2

My condolences to all. I know the feeling. My tanto from Mariusz was stuck in Polish customs in Warsaw for 2 1/2 weeks. As I said in my other thread, when I finally got it on Monday night, it was covered in fingerprints. Not sure who examined it, but it is enough to bang your head against a wall.

You know I never noticed that before, Markus. It does seem like someone was not paying too much attention when they did the work. :lol: As for Mariusz's shameless plug, I would highly recommend to anyone that they deal with him (I was very close to taking the Soshu.)

That is a shame about your wakizashi. It seems to be a very nice blade. But as you say, for $160 on Ebay, not bad at all.

Thanks Again Mariusz. for all your help getting it here. I appreciate you going the extra mile to make sure things got done correctly. It is going to have another good home.

Hi Everyone, Just some pictures of my new tanto which arrived today. I bought this one from Mariusz and he has been nothing but helpful and wonderful to deal with, including making sure that the blade got to me after being stuck in customs for about 3 weeks. One more bad surprise was when I opened the package and saw that the blade had a number of fingerprints on it. Since it couldn't have been Mariusz, it seems someone was very interested in it somewhere along the line. I immediately cleaned it with uchiko and the gave it a light oiling and it cleaned up very well - whew. Some of you may recognize it since it has been around over the last 10 years. It is a hira-zukuri tanto with NBTHK papers attributed to the Sue-Mihara school in the Middle Muromachi. It has a beautiful suguha hamon in konie-deki and waterfall boshi. The hada is fine ko- itame with ko-mokume. The original paperwork from Aoi-art says it reminds them somewhat of Ryokai's work. I just think it is a beautiful blade and am thrilled to have it. The hada reminds me a lot of ko-mihara work. These pictures are not mine, they come from Yakiba and so I hope Ed does not mind me using them. NAGASA: 29.21cm (11.5") OVERALL: 39.37cm (15.5") MIHABA: 2.54cm (1.") KASANE: 0.635cm (0.25") SORI: NONE

Very nice blade! Excellent condition. I just think suguha is very elegant and this is very well done. Nice find.

I agree with you Dave, I think it is Shoami.

I am going to go with Chris on this one. The nakago looks very young to me also. Shinshinto maybe?

I think Grey is right. There is something about these tsuba that just doesn't ring right with me. Patina is off, subject renditions look a little strange and having 5 ubu tsuba is just too much of a coincidence. I am not sure I like the mei in the "soten" one. Even if they are real, I would not be interested in any of them but if they are fakes, they are certainly getting better.

Sigh! I guess I will offer my opinion here. I have been a teacher for 45 yrs and in my experience, getting down on new students does not help them learn, but rather turns them off to the subject matter. I am not saying you need to be PC (in fact, like Brian, I am very much against it, it hides the truth.) but one of the main tenants of teaching is to use POSITIVE feedback to help people learn. There have been times here when that has not taken place. I am not saying that it needs to be "everyone is a winner" but pointing out errors in a positive light is a much better way to approach people and more likely to help people learn (and keep them interested).

Every piece I have gotten from Grey has been as advertised and he has been very easy and prompt to deal with.

Ok, Darcy, That just isn't fair. I look forward to seeing the pictures.

No problem John. Yes I meant this piece is younger that ko-Shoami. I still think it is Shoami, but I can see how you could easily see it as Choshu.

Hi Dave, I would tend to agree with you. It definitely has age to it but I think ko-shoami is too early. BTW, I really like this one.

You are right, Jean. I saw that after I made my previous post.

Hi Florian, Welcome! I like the blade esp. if it is your first one. Nice job. Did you get it from Hitendo?

or three four or five Oh, just a little. Those are some nice pieces!

Welcome Randy! :D

This was my first one: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5492. (I was lucky to have a good friend to help me) :D

Hi Stephen, It was Andrew. The thread is here. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=17708

Barry is right, some very expensive stuff. Never mind the Nihonto, used golf clubs between $1000 and $1800? That should tell you all you need to know. I would definitely keep clear.

Interesting Stephen, I don't think the lack of a seppa-dai is a problem. I have seen some pieces before without them. My guess is real, mid to late edo. Here is a very similar Aizu-Shoami. http://www.cgfinearts.com/select_produc ... alleryID=2

Kamakura/Nambokucho - Mihara and Awataguchi

Well, it certainly does look old enough for Muromachi and I think you may be right about the macro, Mike. Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.

Hi Jean, I didn't say I was impressed, just that it was weird and since this is the ebay forum and we put lots of fakes up on it and discuss them, I was adding to it. I happen to agree with Mariusz, that it is a waste of a good meteorite.