Schneeds

Why wouldn't you just make an exception for antiques. Drug dealers are going to start dropping thousands on tanto when any idiot can buy a grind stone and fashion a knife from any number of sources? Lol

This is absolutely fantastic and a real pleasure to read, thank you for creating it. As someone interested in Tametsugu and Sankage, I found it especially interesting and that Naginata Naoshi is marvelous. If you are taking requests for the next one, something from the Shizu line would be great

That is a massive improvement in photograph quality, well done!

It's a matter of trial and error with respect to the angle and location of light. The position of the lens will also affect this. As others have mentioned, having the direct light source at the edge of the picture frame is a good place to start.

Photographing is infinitely easier if you place the blade on an acceptable dark surface, rather than trying to hold it and take pictures. Shine a lamp/flashlight onto the blade. Put the camera/phone in manual focus, set the focus to the absolute minimum focal length (.3 meters for example), place the lens close to the blade and slowly back it out until the hada comes in to focus.

Unless my AI is wrong, you got exactly the attribution as promised. Ko Bizen, Tomoyasu, and they even specified it as a kodachi. Very nice!

Personally, I only buy things I'm prepared to live with indefinitely. Because you never know. Homes, cars, electronic, etc. So that's an easy answer for me

That is a very interesting point you raise about boosting the prestige of TH, and one I'd not considered. Sucks for the person submitting it that session, but a good overall strategy on the part of the NBHTK to keep things interesting and TH relevant.

That is a nice looking blade especially the kissaki. I would also like to add that vulgarity absolutely made Wolverine's character better.

Easy way to confirm accuracy: a nickel weighs 5 grams.

Could be. If they had the papers in hand though why wouldn't you just provide a photograph? Maybe theyre desperate for revenue and can't wait.

I would want a specific guarantee on that papered attribution from Aoi before bidding. A lot of times they state a guarantee in the listing when forth coming. They did not on this one.

Depends on why you want it. The fact that Jussi can't find another example of a Tomoyasu is perhaps the most interesting part about it for me. If the papers hold up as Aoi claims you'd have a signed Heian blade with an extreeeeeeeemly rare attribution. From a historical perspective alone I'd say that's worth the current bid. It does beg the question though as Jussi pointed out, why not wait for the papers on hand? That would almost certainly increase the bids, and i would think command a hefty price. I too am very curious where the final price ends up.

Many here are proponents of rubbing a bit of oil over the nakago with finger tips after oiling for long term preservation. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/15202-nakago-oiling/

For whatever reason, the photographs of this are different from AOI's standard. The scans on the left are the same, but the photographs with lighting are both fewer, and in part out of focus. Contrast it with that Enju tachi further down. That is a longer blade but fully photographed their normal way. Just thought that was a bit odd.