Shuko

So it went from Japan to Texas in the States, then to WA in OZ and now to NSW in OZ !

Steve Got my four books. The green hardcover book is The Samurai Sword - A Handbook by John M Yumoto and printed in 1958 in Japan. So, the modern freely available paperback with the that name published by Tuttle appears to have the same contents after a very quick check. The green book was originally in the Fort Worth Public Library.

Thanks Piers. Any actual date the card was signed off or registration completed? I think the katana length is 71.9.

Can anyone give me the basic details on this white registraton card. Thanks in advance.

Steve Sent you an email. thanks Clive

Don't forget if the newbie has a genuine Japanese blade that after Stage 1 assessment comments, an appropriate NMB person should invite the newbie to Stage 2 for a more detailed assessment if the blade warrants it.

Perhaps three dot points in the Step 1 introduction summarising what step1, step 2 & step 3 are.

Gary A very nice kabuto. A good price agreed for this purchase?

Probably one of the four listed in Hawleys book on pages 828 and 829 with the title and name that Jussi has translated. The nakago looks very clean to me for an Edo period sword.

This has been a good tsuba lesson for me today.

Are there any events or shows coming up in OZ this year apart from the knife show in QLD ?

Got an email today from Kelly, he made a mistake and thought I was in Victoria (heaven forbid). He can post me blades and ko-dogu. He uses Japan Post and this is a link showing the current weight cost excluding insurance. https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/charge/list/ems_all_en.html Will look into what is value for money for me. I am sick of eBay and Jauce and all their padding costs.

Thanks BaZZa Any idea on the age of the bronze ? This stolen bell of Miidare tale seems to fit this bronze quite well. The actual temple bell is huge and no mortal man is ever going to be able to lift it up himself.

I am happy to mind it for you, have a dark room or two here to help preserve it

Yes, this would be a very helpful guide for a newbie like me and others who join this year. As Jeremy pointed out, it would save the knowledge experts a bit of time too.

I got an email response from Kelly. Unfortunately he can't post blades to Australia because of some silly Victorian state law. I live in the state of NSW so this is so frustrating. Anyone in Australia encountered this issue ? I will see what his prices are llke for tsubas, tsukas etc when he sends me an electronic copy of his monthly sale list.

If anyone can help clarify what period this medium sized bronze is from and the subject matter I would be grateful. It is 19 cm long, 30 cm high and weights a bit over 2 kg. I only know a little about Nihonto and almost nil about Japanese bronzes (except I like them). My guess is this is a late Edo or a Meiji period bronze of a warrior monk holding up a temple bell for protection. Thanks in advance for any information.

Thanks for the information. Is there any link to Kelly Schmidt and what has been your experience or understanding with this type of purchase ?

I was wondering about this site: Japan Sword Wakizashi / Dagger - Art * Sword * Specialty * Auction! WINNERS (winners-auction.jp) which is one of several listed. Can anyone advise if a buyer outside Japan can simply register and then bid on an auction item? Or do you need to go through a 3rd party to get items from this site (and all the Japanese ones listed) ? thanks

My two Bengal girls eat armored mice as an entree.

I think the prices for all types of Japanese swords, armour etc has steadily gone up in the past year from what I have seen sold on eBay and auction houses around the globe. My aim is to preserve and save as many of the cheaper items as I can manage to buy; thus stopping the owners from just letting them don't rust away. I have never sold any swords except a WW2 naval sabre styled one and an old European bayonet, in fact they were traded in to help get a katana. Unsure if my son will keep the collection intact and preserve the items or just sell them at auction to pay off some of his home mortgage. Collecting Japanese smith's works of art is a real pleasure and you sure get a lot of "bang for your buck" with Nihonto when compared to art and sculptures etc.

My two Bengal girls eat armored mice as an entree.

Did the swordsmiths make their own chisels or were they usually made by a blacksmith? What method was used in the Koto period to make the mekugi-ana? e.g. the tapered style usually found on an old nakago Thanks in advance for any information.

Hello fellow collectors, Have always had a Japanese thing (feeling of a past life in Japan) and my father bought me a few Nihonto when I was about 9 years old. Never damaged them but never knew how to preserve them either so they were wrapped up and kept in a dry place in my wardrobe. Now I have had the time to add a few items to my modest collection and have been busy reading books etc to understand a bit more before buying a few more bare blades. Over the past 40 years I was playing igo (go) and Western chess. Now it is sword time Happy to be here and learn, especially about tanto blades which are my favourite. Clive Sydney, Australia

Only a little way to go ..............................