Alan Morton

Hi there Simon, why don't you talk to Ford Hallam about sending it to him for re patina. It would be a small price to have a perfect tsuba back in your hands. If he would do the job for you of course. You are never going to be happy with what your own efforts leave you with as a finnish. Alan

Hi John, what is that thingymebob with the coiled dragon on it ? Does it go round a wak or tanto handle? IF so do you have the other half Regards AL

Hi Gary, Higo/Shoami style of tsuba but it is in very poor and almost relic condition.http://www.swordsandtsuba.com/tsuba/higo.html click on this to see what the surface should look like Alan

Hi Ed, it is the first one I've seen, tell us the story of how you found it. Thanks for posting it. Alan.

Nice piece Johno , you'r turning up much better pieces than you were getting here, experience ? We are off tonight to watch the fireworks on the Harbour tonight and have a few red's, you should be here. Regards to the girls and you, Al & Sue xxx

Marcello, Take great care with what you rub tsuba with. The patina is thinner than skin and is very easily removed for ever in your case. All scouring pads and gritty cream cleaners are forbidden. Go and read as many past posts on NMB on this subject and keep your hands in your pockets for a while. Look at Ford Hallam's site and posts. Alan.

Marcello, Acetone or nail varnish remover will not hurt the tsuba or patina. Failing this to remove the paint, paint stripper won't hurt it either, I've used them many times. Alan.

Dave, Kojima Katsumasa Showa & Seki stamps + kakihan on some blades Fuller & Gregory 43, 126,172, 237. i'll always look after you Dave. Alan.

Matt, Search the house where this sword was stored high and low for the other fitting off the handle, they just might be somewhere around and would be an absolute bonus. You never know. Alan.

Steve and Baz, you should come to Sydney more often, all the other collectors over there do and then you could get-together more often. Alan

Hi Ed, yes it did and Gordon Robson came out and gave a further written translation varying slightly of the cutting test saying "cut right through the arm pits and into the mound" so Jim was very happy indeed Alan.

HELLO TO ALL, well what a great weekend we had. Surrounded by swords and old and new friend collectors. I have 56 photo's from over the weekend so as soon as I can figure how to post these I will. We had some great nights out with people from W.A. Melbourne and Japan and of course the mandatory red wine. Cheers to all Alan. :D

John, you have a real problem, your addicted and you can do better than this one Alan.

Hi Curtis, what country and whereabouts do you live. Alan.

Andrey, that is a very good Photo of a very nice tsuba you have posted. Alan.

Hi John, do you have more pictures of your Shoami Arinobu tsuba? Regards Alan.

Hello Apellion--N, you are only going to get cut to pieces here verbally, these guys have spent the last 20-30 years looking at Japanese swords ,good bad, duds like yours and Fittings. Go back to the main page and go into Tosogu and then into What are your Favorite Fittings go to page 5 and find BobM entries , there you will see the fantastic tsuba" Shoki and the Oni" that yours is poorly copied off.This tsuba will bang your artisic socks off and then start looking at books. Alan .

Hi Chris, I work in the Fibreglass boat industry and use acetone all the time. IT will dissolve most glues in a short time , even maybe stand the tang in a jar with some in the jar, be careful about breathing and flames. Alan.

Hi all I stand corrected the Yuyo sword at the Art Gallery of NSW is Kuniyasu belonging to Colin Mc Donald and not a Kaneyasu. Alan.

BaZZA, just found a link to his Photos of Kaneyasu blade and nakago in his Profile. Alan.

Hello Sir BaZZa, is this the same smith as the Juyo Kaneyasu from the Art Gallery NSW? Very fine diplay of yours at the moment there . Alan PS. We are stockpiling reds for your visit. A&S

Hi all, as Justin says the exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW is not to be missed. It is put together by a group of Melbourne collectors Colin McDonald, Bazza, and a few other collectors. All items are of high quality, swords in full polish,good tsuba and excellent koshirae. It is on permanent display and is changed about every 6 months. Last Shiza Colin took a group over there and gave a talk, maybe this time to? Alan.

Hello all, For those of you who live in Australia and NZ who are thinking of not coming to the Sydney Shinza, you are going to miss a unique and possibly the last big get together of Japanese sword collectors and good dealers under one roof for 2 whole days plus the social side after the show with old and new friends. Before the last Shiza 2 years ago you had to go to Japan to the DTI with Robert Hughes's party booked out well in advance because it is just such a great event and the people you meet become life long friends. I'm lucky because I move in a small circle of good sword collectors from all around the country Sydney ,Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane I get all the gossip news fist hand so don't miss this opportunity to extend your collectors circle it will not happen to often here on such a good scale. There will also be some Juyo class red wine. Alan & Sue.

Hi all, I was approached by both David and Adrian to take on the job of receiving and returning blades and tosogu sent to us for submission to the Sydney Shinza. Upon consideration of the consequeces of some valued piece going astray in Australia Post and the liability that would follow it has been decided not to do this. If you wished to send these items to some trusted friend or relative here in Sydney who would hand them to us we would ensure their safe passage through Shinza and return to them to be returned to you. Regards Alan Morton

Hi there John, who does the hornet tsuba belong to,you? I like it . Alan.