Alan Morton

What about a comment from Mike Y to clear the air and stop all of the assumptions . Alan.

Alex, It's pretty empty out there on your own. I know that there are sword and gun shows in the Miami area and Jssus that will lift what you are seeing and so your apprciation of what is mediocre to what is very good. Sometimes older collectors might even show you some good peices. Alan

Hi Steve, PM sent. Did you get it? Alan.

Brian, you should talk more to Dave Flynn about this subject he knows far more than than he lets on. if you PM me I will give you his home phone. Best Regards Alan.

David, how lucky can you be, a genuine Higo crane Tsuba in need of a bit of TLC I'm not sure of full age but at least 150 years old. It'a very popular motive amongst collectors. Did it come off a sword? What are the daimentions height and width? Regards Alan.

Dow, looks a pretty legit tsuba to me, just in need of some TLC with an old tooth brush with a crew cut and stay clear of the soft metal. Alan

Ron what a fabulous habaki to have on a mount what about the other fittings on the koshirea are they of this quality. Alan

Where about do you live Henry, Other collectors are a great source of information if they live round about Alan.

Hello Henry, I would agree with George on the polish. All 3 swords look almost in mint condition to me a very desirable feature in swords from WW2 Alan

Hi all, It could be done with a silver and mercury amalgam . It is the ideal question for Ford to answer with any accuracy. Alan

Hello Dow, your tsuba and handle look like many Showa civilian mounts that I've seen with a wire sarute added. The habaki on the other hand looks like Kaga style from an earlier period. How old is the blade? Any photos ? Regards Alan.

Hello there John, {F] nice to see you are getting some better pieces in your collection and it is improving. Are you ready yet to part with that square dragon tsuba yet Ichi??? something so you can buy more good things like this one you have posted. AL xxx

Hi all, Jingo???? Alan.

Hi all, I just recently for a newbie collector removed gold paint from 2 tsuba bought from one of these Japanese dealers mentioned. One with a dragon motif had been painted black all over and then gold high lights added to the tendrils and eyes.Both Tsuba were iron and real. Alan

Congrats Ford from a long time admirer of your work and comments. Australia is closer to Japan for you. Alan.

Eric, it is not an armour piercer but is Unokubi-zukri, if it has a yokote line it is Kanmuri-otoshi. The tang and tip looks Bizen to me. Alan

Hey Rich, It's obvious, you are going to have to ask an easier question. Al xxx

Sorry about that guys, a bit more than I intended Alan.

Hi Ken, did you see the very good Mantis tsuba in this sale Bonhams magazinesContact usMy Bonhams Advanced search Auctions How to Services Events About Bonhams Locations Browse by department Fine Furniture, Decorative Arts & Asian Arts Auction 20234 Sydney, Byron Kennedy Hall 27 May 2012, starting at 10:00 EST with lot 1. Sessions Lots Show lot of 394 ListGrid BID 1 A tea-dust glaze plate with Indian lotus patterns 19th/ 20th century Estimate: AU$ 3,000 - 5,000 £1,900 - 3,200 US$ 3,100 - 5,100 BID 2 A Chinese flambé-glazed tripod censer 19th century Estimate: AU$ 1,200 - 1,800 £760 - 1,100 US$ 1,200 - 1,800 BID 3 A double gourd shaped vase with bat decoration 20th century Estimate: AU$ 1,800 - 2,500 £1,100 - 1,600 US$ 1,800 - 2,600 BID 4 A crackle glaze celadon bowl 19th/ 20th century Estimate: AU$ 1,000 - 1,500 £630 - 950 US$ 1,000 - 1,500 BID 5 A small pear-shaped vase 19th/ 20th century Estimate: AU$ 1,000 - 1,500 £630 - 950 US$ 1,000 - 1,500 Show 10 | 20 | 50 | 500 1234579 Register to bid Follow this auction live Send to a friend Flag this Auction Order the catalogue How to sell A simple step by step guide on how to sell your goods at auction with Bonhams More information Lot symbols Y CITES ≈ Item contains ruby or jadeite Auction viewings Melbourne, Como House 18 May 2012 10:00 - 17:00 19 May 2012 11:00 - 17:00 20 May 2012 11:00 - 17:00 Sydney, Byron Kennedy Hall 25 May 2012 10:00 - 17:00 26 May 2012 10:00 - 17:00 27 May 2012 10:00 - 17:00 Contacts Customer Services (Australia) Tel: +61 (0) 2 8412 2222 Fax: +61 2 9475 4110 Email: info.aus@bonhams.com Customer Services James Hendy Sydney, Australia Tel: +61 2 8412 2220 Fax: +61 2 9475 4110 Email: james.hendy@bonhams.com Specialist - Australian Colonial Furniture and Australiana Dalia Stanley Sydney, Australia Tel: +61 2 8412 2221 Fax: +61 2 9475 4110 Email: dalia.stanley@bonhams.com Specialist - Chinese Works of Art , Australian Colonial Furniture and Australiana Related departments Australian Colonial Furniture and Australiana Chinese Works of Art Catalogues Forms Terms and conditions Copyright © Bonhams 2001-2012 Alan

Hello Kim, are there any other Japanese sword collectors in your town or area so you can get together and look at more swords. This type of contact and friendship wil save you years of struggle learning about swords by yourself. Sword societies abound in the US ,you have got to start looking at more good swords. regards Alan.

Henk and Adam plenty of people on this forum have been fussing with tsuba and fittings trying to drag them back from neglect to try and achieve some of there former finnish or just to clean them and it is discussed on this forum regularly. You talk as though he should be banned to elsewhere and you know all to do with this subject. Alan

I have just sent off my Gassan Sadamitsu aka Sadaichi for polish with instructions that the distinctive Gassan habaki stay on the newly polished blade . Alan

Hi guys I know people who have visited sword smiths and tsubako and have taken part in hammering and turning pieces in the forge and then consider that they took part in making of the article that was made ,which they usually own now, could this be the case with famous personages such as Musashi visiting well known artisans of the time ? Alan

Hi Charles this is a link to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts http://www.mfa.org/search/collections?k ... =1&rows=32 which is full of tsuba that are amongst the best in the world and can be magnified to viewed better, nearly 2000 tsuba at one site. Alan

Simon, Patina won' be hurt by thinners and acetone will be better and won't hurt the patina. Ford Hallam is one of the most talented guys around and made his living at one time restoring metal vases and pieces for antique dealers in London. His ability is well known on this forum. Hirata Hikozo utsushi is a link to a tsuba that he made in the For Sale section here. Alan