Tohagi

First time I had this tanto in hand, after examining many good blades (I was about to buy a beautyfull Takada Katana in exquisite Hito Koshirae), my all body begun shivering. My wife never saw me so touched. In a way, it's my masamune... I can't explain this feeling.

Hi Brian, Remind me never mess with you! I wrote a very formal and factual mail to M Wahl, I also wrote a quite a snap paper letter to the La Post directors. I will gradualy try many of the mail adresses you found and probably go to police soon. I will alors call and go every day to the post office until they call the security... Maybe it could do something. Thank you Dee, thank you Brian, thank you all of you for the energy. Eric

Thank you all for your support : this really helps ! @ Dee, thank you so much for the contact I'll write right now. @Bruno, it was La Poste Colissimo Thanks to you, I'm taking courage to fight back ! I'll remember this, Best regards, Eric

Yes, you are right, this could have helped, unfortunatly the seller in Japan (a perfect gentlemen by the way) didn't inclued a tag in the pack. By the way, French Post Service is very little helping in this case. They consider they only have obligations towards the sender despite they made me pay customs fees and service fees to take the custom process done... No way to ask further investigations or research. You can not trust Post agents anymore, it's really a shame ! Best regards, Eric

Hello Lewis, The carrier, french side, was La Poste. It pass the customs' process just before Christmast, The last register point is the logistics' plateform of Montereau-sur-le-Jard 77950 FRANCE, it was the 26 dec 2024 at 16h08, after that it"vanished"... I feel so ashamed for the French post service ! I'm part of the French high administration and allways trying to defend it's values. I am desapointed and very angry! This beautifull piece of art could be lost or destroyed forever... Thank you so much for your kind words and support. Friendly, Eric

Good evening to all the community of the Nihonto Board, It's heavy hearted that I open this topic. After passing Custom and paying custom fees, the Kiyomitsu tanto I was waiting for is declared "Lost" by the French Post. Considering the value of this sword, it seems to have been stolen. I am begging for your help if you see something like this in any web market "ebay", "Le bon coin", etc... please spot it ! It had realy a fantastic hada, unfotunatly I have just these 2 pictures of the Koshirae and the NBTHK, it comes in shirasaya : Many thanks to every one for your vigilance and integrity ! Best regards, Eric VD

"That's a piece of a story!" Wonder how he could see a "pears skin hada" in such a polish condition... This seller could sell sand to MBS ! Maybe he write storys for Netflix in real life ...

Hello, The urushi process will take almost 2 mounth and 1/2 for a squilled sayashi. You should try a good Smith in Belgium or UK... Best regards, Éric

The sayashi (koshirae maker) will advise you on appropriated tosogu for your sword. I made many mistakes in my young time... Best, Éric

It's possible, you can have a koshirae made with decent parts for around 1000USD. In my experience you will not save money trying to do it yourself and you risk catastrophic funballs. There is a lot to check before buying pecies and the size of the fuchi ana is not the must relevant. If i may dare an advise, study a lot before buying something, there is a lot to consider. If you just whant a Frankestein customized sword for tameshigiri...please don't take a gendaito. Best regards, Éric

I love oeï Mihara Masaïe... Maybe people learn to love what they understand? Very hard positions here sometimes. Best, Éric

Hello Léon, On the chu-mihara subject, could you post a picture of the other side of the boshi (omote), sometimes kaeri is not symetrical, of course a "tiger tail" kaeri could also fit. No kaeri at all would be probably an issue. Best regards, Éric

Hello Leon, I see why you are pointing on middle mihara work on the first wakisashi. Strong Yamato den influence, very classical work. I have a doubt because some caracteristics are not seen on the pictures: the first is "water fall drop" Kaeri, quite long and straight. Maybe the picture is not clear enought, but this is a major point on ko and chu mihara (last mihara masaïe loose a little these standard). The rest is alternative chikeï and sumitetsu (difficult to say here), and nakago edges (should be not rounded but I'm not so sure of this one). Please don't take it as "True gold", it could really goes mihara at a shinsa, and it still is a very nice work. Best, Eric

With these samples we can't appreciate sugata for example. Funbari and sori are important in Bizen osafune... Best, Éric

Hi Léon, Chu-mihara is in my interest range. Happy to share if you have pictures. Best, Éric

Hello, I had the same kind of koshirae on a shinto satsuma sword: tsuka made of wraped lacquered string or sometimes wale phalenum, saya tachi style covered with leather with urushi... Looks legits parts to me except tsuba. Maybe end of shinto ... Best regards... Éric

I suppose the scale is in inches, not cm? Best Éric

Very nice and informative topic on a very specific point. My two cents: if we admit the reshape kissaki theory, we must consider that it would need a new temper (wich will not be an issue in war times)... And we should find some examples showing signs of retempering as "water shadow" ... isn't it? Best regards, Éric

Togishi choji oil... but it's expensive. I often cut myself and choji is perfect to cicatrice...

Fantastic experience ! Thank you for sharing ! That blade was yours'? Best regards, Éric VD

Sorry byrddawg, I must agree with PNSSHOGUN. 10 year ago chinese copies looked liked that, they improved since...

I really do care...but have no clue how to solve this issue. Must of the time you pay 20% ( instead of 5% on antiques) online and double pay 20% plus fees to get custom process done by chronopost, FedEx or DHL. I wrote letters, waste time with SAV and online reclamation... no way to get my money back! Whish I live in SA and get a gun.. Cheers, Éric VD

...same issue, many times and no solution founded yet. This is a real pain in the a.... Good luck! Éric VD

...by the way, very nice wakisachi.

A very usefull little book in Italian for beginers, "Technique di Kanteï". If I dare to compare, as a French, with.... wine: - you may learn a lot in books, know the sepages, the best process, regions, areas, and denominations, you can even dream yourself as an expert...without have taste wine once. - at the same time, you can have tasted wine (maybe a lot) without been able to say "this one is a good one" and why. - at the begining is good enough to say what you like and don't like, maybe why. It is because tasting wine is an educated taste as, for me, appreciating nihonto. At the begining, I was only dreaming to find one (very difficult at the time) but I had no taste. What I realy like on this forum is to share with educated gentlemen and ladies, even if NewB's in swords...or wine. Best regards, Éric VD P.S.: by the way how many ladies on NMB?