moss

Thanks All, I will try the idea of moving the subject further away. Looks like I will need some more lamps though to be able to flood it. Bruno I will have to see what daylight bulbs can be bought,we seem to suffer from the govt. idea to have everyone install low watt /energy saver bulbs at home...... They are terrible to live with ,the yellow way to yellow,the white feels like in a 7/11 store. I will try again tonight in the dark. Moss Mariusz ,that PDF info you sent looks like good info and actually answers a few questions on light placement. :D :D

Hi Bruno, Do you mean like a daylight bulb? Cheers Moss

Mariusz, Nice clean looking book. Regards Moss

Hello all, How do I get rid of the reflected light in photo's. When I stand above the blade there is just a clear view ,no bright reflection. I might be not the deepest thinker but no I'm not using the flash. So that is out. If I change the angle I lose the detail I'm trying to capture. I tried Jeans trick with an LCD torch but sadly mine is the Bad kind with too much blue light so even worse. The result achieved with this photo is done with a no heat sewing machine lamp dirrectly above the blade. I tried different angles and background colours ,no real change :? Any thoughts? Thanks Moss

Yes Jean, The hi on the side with the opening is longer and marginally deeper. Would I be wrong then thinking that the tosho tried to cut out as much as possible to remove the opening? I would have thought if he could salvage the work then a little inconsistancy is a small price to pay There must have been alot of explicatives when a ware appeared or in a case that they were trying to cut one out? Moss

Hi all, I had a look through the photos and found a shot of perhaps the reason the hi were cut to different depths. I never thought to include it as it is a very small opening of a fold. Maybe that answers that the hi was actually cut in a skilled manner,it was just that an opening appeared and then had to be worked in a way to reduce it visually? I appologise if it caused any mental anguish ,just never thought it was important enough to include. Cheers Moss

Hi Lee , I'm with you on the tsuba interaction and of course there is another reason . I was given a very nice email explaining the difference in the hi. which I suppose stands to reason ,thanks. I will look later at the remainder of the photos and put up another Moss

Hello all, Have we reached the point where I post a bunch of emotionally distressed messages. Demand a refund in full from the seller, stamp my feet,generally caterwaul and make an ass of myself. Nah I will post a few more pic's Jacques there appears to be a fair bit of wear around the nakago end of the groove ,could that be distorting the line ? Nice to have some discussion on this blade and get to see what members with more knowledge see from a photo. John,another photo of the Kissaki as well . Cheers Moss

Paco, Reinhard only answered the translation question. Actually he answered 2 ,the purported smith and that it is gimei. Would there be interest in this blade at a show? That is another question all together,there may be interest amongst collectors. How is the blade mounted? What is the condition? Just because it is gimei doesn't write it off as a piece of history. Only the has signature is fake the blade is real. Many people collect many things for many reasons ,as you say you bought this in the 70's you probably turn a profit :D ,that is of course if that is what you are after. Cheers Moss

Hello all, Many thanks Paul for having a look at the mei. It is a mystery why someone would gimei a rather obscure tosho. The only reason that springs to mind is that perhaps they thought there would be a better than average chance of passing it off. To me it is irrelevant whether gimei or not the blade is sound ,healthy and was a reasonable price. Which brings me to your question Jean. I paid $1600 Au which to bring into context was $1200 US approx at the time. Then as I do now I still think this blade was a nice buy.IMHO There is a lesson in all this to new members. This blade was offered to a newbie who knocked it back as too expensive,then preceeded to throw his hard earned into finding the missing national treasures on Ebay. I'm not saying I'm smarter by any means than others just that I took advice from the board,there are some nice buys that happen in house In fact I now only have 2 blades that were not bought off the board the others all came from other more advanced members. Infinately safer and a much more pleasant experience buying off fellow members. Jean ,I think I will contact Gordon Robson for his opinion. I am fairly certain of his answer though And yes the nakago has lost some of its patina,with all of its warts I'm still happy. Thanks for looking and the comments. I will post the other blades over time. Cheers Moss

Keith, I guess there is an end point for all blades. The real trick is not to end up becoming a tamahagne fishing knife collector Still can't get rid of mine or use it on fish,it was never a great one but it serves as a what not to. Cheers Moss

Keith , Thats her mum on the left in the other photo. Lots of places to hide a tanto . Moss

Jason, Sadly it is near on impossible to capture this boshi. The blade is in old polish and has been cleaned for what would be guessed the best part of a century. I will have another go with a LED torch but even at all kinds of angles it is weak at best. If I can nail the photography issues I have a few reasonable blades to put up for comment,like I said to you previously the camera is not my friend. Cheers Moss

Paul, Much appreciated. Regards Moss

Hello Paul, What I see with this blade in hand is a choji midare hamon. Mokume hada that is has probably been cleaned for a few years too many. It is nioi deki and there is abundant utsuri in long waves. The boshi is a continuation of the hamon (Midare Komi I think)but very hard to follow and impossible to photograph. Oh and to add there is no nie that I can see. Overall it is a pleasant enough blade as is to look at, but to really bring out its features I would guess a visit to the togishi is in order. This probably will never happen in my lifetime so it will just have to stay maintained. I am happy with it remaining in old polish ,it just adds a certain softness. I am not good enough to call gimei or not ,any help will be recieved happily. Cheers Moss

Jason , To answer your question ....yes of course the boshi continues into the kissaki. It also has a very nice turn back,I will try to capture it for you later once I'm home. I think that the small comment from Jean is aimed squarely to quieten you down a little. That is one man who would not say a harsh word or make any comment for that matter to cause discomfort. Keep looking the pic's will arrive tonight. Moss

Some more pics. I'll get rid of the other post that I made a pigs ear of. Cheers Moss

Morning all, I thought after more than a year of looking at this Wakizashi I should post a few pictures. Yes it is mine ,no it didn't come from Ebay and Yes I'm well aware it is no Juyo piece. It did come from a member of the board and no need to hold back. So here it is warts and all for no other reason than to stimulate a little discussion. Any thoughts on the mei would be appreciated. Bishu Jyu Hisatsugu,perhaps it is gimei????? I will post measurements later on today as unfortunately I'm at work right now. I found the measurements here at work. Length overall 614 mm Nagasa 505 mm Sori 16.5 mm Kasane 6 mm Mihaba 29.5 mm Cheers Moss

Hi Magnus, Seppa and Dai Seppa look poorly made,even gunto fittings were generally given a bit more pride of manufacture. And also all brass???? A combination of brass seppa ,copper dai seppa or maybe a steel with brown paint variant but all brass. Can't say I have ever seen that,of course I expect there is exceptions to the rule. The tsuka wrap even though blurry look wrong,so the chances of a genuine blade Cheers Moss

Jason, I tried to give you a little helpful advice. Wether you take me up on it or not is your perogative. There is little I will learn by skim reading so I will continue with the way I read. Thanks for your input I will file it in the appropriate place. Moss

Pelleman, Nakago pictures,overall blade photo,better shots of the fittings in general . The castings all look "soft" My opinion is not to spend too much time on this one as to my eye it looks a bit off. Of course I may be wrong but without better pictures of the detail it is near on impossible to tell. Cheers moss

Pelleman, It looks fake to me,having said that I am only going off the tsuba. The wrap does look strangely chinese and the colour of the saya????.......better pictures would be needed to definatively say fake or genuine. It just has that soft chinese repro. feel Moss

Jason, The nasty little habit of putting up "quotes" in every post is painful. Most of us do have some form of recognitive ability so therefore the quotes are superfluous. I know I should pussy foot around a little more so as not to upset your sensibilties ,just it feels like remedial reading class 101. Cheers Moss

Hello Jason , Overall the photos are O.K. Hard to get good shots,did you try Jeans trick with an LCD torch?It will help. Forget the closeups the old happy snapper can't cope with them,unless you try macro.?????? I'm worse at pics than you so don't panic. Are you pleased with this blade? Moss

No elitism or snobbery here Rich, No shouting with capitals either,you got your answer. The way to solve this hibaki situation is to have a new one made,simple answer. No one suggested the blade came from a low end dealer on Ebay,unless I missed something Some of the fittings you have posted may be confused. regards Moss