Fred Geyer

Well , here is one for you..it showed up!! the day after I go the letter, and it came with a letter saying it is on hold due to declaration (3-177) which is required by (50 CFR14.6) with a note that is contains stingray?? So I am not calling anyone as it is on hold.... but I guess I will consider it on hold at my house in the safe!! You do not know if you should cry or laugh with all this??? Fred

I will make copies of the paper work they sent to me and post on the site ..we need understand the rules so we can handle them with no problems. Fred

I agree with you, I have never had a problem untill this, all paper work I got is from them. I also have recieved a few privite emails with the same problem...so some one changed the rules in the last few months. Fred

this is a import from Japan so dealing with customs not a local person Fred

congress man is a good call ...will have a call in on Friday. Fred

Just got a letter from the US Fish and Wildlife that my Tanto is on hold due to the string rays skin on it and I have to prove what other skins are on the mounting and are they endagered or not ...also that just noting the sword is over 100 years will not work they want to know when the sword and when the mounting was made and by who!! Are you F'n shitting me!!! I have a 3rd grade person that is going to keep my tanto becouse they have no clue what they are looking at, they think the Same saya is tanned cow skin..well that is a plus for me! So FYI it was shipped Fed-X and they hit me for 143.00 for import fees on the paper work for the US Fish and Wildlife, so I also have to pay some ass who is holding my tanto!! God bless us, and where we are going! Fred

I am glad to here all is well again, we need and must have a over all piece or calm in this hobby and study.... it is to fragile!!. To have the NBTHK back is well is nothing but great news and nothing but a plus for everyone in this study. So glad to here it!! Fred Geyer

How do I get in contact with Tom Helm Fred Geyer

Guido, The set has NBTHK tokubetsu papers to Namban, I really looked at the set before I got them and fully believe they were 100% mounted on a Japanese sword as the tsuba has seppa marks, dragons have 3 toes " I understand some Chinese under class have 3 toes" the nakago ana is set to a Japanese sword, and the person who I got these from knows there stuff. But maybe they were at one time in there life and reset to a Japanese sword? We have seen coins, watches, rapiers mounted to suit the taste of a person to there sword? Fred Geyer

Peter, It was bought in Japan about 12 years ago from a family collection, and yes that was the first thing I noticed was the size of the sword, maybe a youth blade? It is 7/8 high and 3/16 wide. I have seen Kanbun blades that were made that would fit this and it would be in the right time frame..my idea anyway. I did not know the coin tsuba was seen on this site before, it is a really nice tsuba it rates up there in odd like the watch case I have made into a tsuba thst you have seen from Borris site. Anyone else out there have any odd Namban they want to show off ? Fred Geyer

Hey Chris!! No....I dropped a very expensive tsuba one time, so I ALWAYS wear the one with little rubber dots on them when ever I handle my tsuba ....well and maybe yours :D Fred Geyer

here are some that I like and had out of the safe. The set is really outstanding and very open the dragons on the single tsuba move freely inside the tsuba and the coin one is really nice a few of you have seen that one when I brought it to Tampa. So here are a few to open the Fad topic up!! Fred Geyer

This is a very good question, I have always liked the high end Namban fittings or ones with a odd content or construction, and feel that for years they have been very under valued for there history and quality so I feel they are just catching up to the prices they should be !!. I will post a few photos of some of the odd ones that I have, also as a note I have seen Namban for sale in Japan as much as 1,200,000 yen, so I would say as with any group of tsuba there are ones that really stand out. Fred Geyer

Curgan, What a cultural catastrophe and shame for the "West". They just take them to the States, give one to each GI as a souvenir, send them to museums. Anything that would save these treasures (and those that aren't) for the future generations. _______________________________________________________________________________________ I really do not jump into stuff like this but REALLY, Shame on the WEST....Really!!!!, I think it was planes from some place that bombed us on a nice Sunday morning...which then over the next 3 years my family lost 3 men on 2 different islands. One of which I display his letters, medals, photos and the letter to my Grandmother about sorry for his death. I study swords and tsuba as much as anyone and love it!!, but feel ZERO remorse about having swords that or GI's brought home.....OK I feel some what better.

David, Thanks, I will look for the issue I should have it unless my wife tossed it!!..I just picked up 6 boxes my Dad did out of a tree base that was cut down in the 1930's that are the best ones I have ever seen in grain and color, they are just outstanding examples that can never be reproduced. He polished the wood with buffing wheels and 2000 grit before he put them togeather. They are $200 each, I know that is alot but when you see them and the time it takes to make one. Also only selling 5 of them I am keeping one. Fred

Yes, will post a few photos as soon as posible. Fred

well I am studying his works, and yes there are outstanding works by him that are great and then you have so-so with different mei. So untill I have everything put togeather I did not want to plug up this site with just "stuff"!! Fred

If anyone out there in web land has any fittings by Hirado Kunishige please email me at fsg@nwiis.com off line thanks!! And very sorry if this is in the wrong spot!!! Fred Geyer

Bob, It really is a time "thing" I guess and looking at so many tsuba.......but with that said there are tsuba from other schools, I feel just as good. As I noted in my first reply I had to sell alot of tsuba to get this one but I would NOT sell others to get it. Each school has really great tsuba...as you own some from the Akasaka school that are top tsuba from every way you look at it. I like to look at it as Kaneie or Akasaka Tadamasa or Higo Hayashi Matashichi and many others are all great makers and must be looked at from the school which they come from and the work they produced, as there are masterpieces out there from many makers. With the question as to One tsuba being the best one out there, I think back when some of these statements were made it may have been the best one they have seen. Today with a click of a mouse we have photos from all over the world....think back then, it was only word and letters sent and then the trip to show it off!! So I feel we have seen more tsuba in our lifes then the old masters have ever seen in 3 life times. So there statement may still hold true on some items and maybe not others just becouse they never had the chance to see the one that was just alittle better!!!! Fred Geyer

Kevin, your photo by your name looks like a cat burrito!!..I know this has nothing to do with tsuba but I keep looking at it..time to make dinner I guess! Fred

First please see page 2 for the tsuba information when I posted it the site the photo went to page 3. I can bring it to Tampa again if you are going to be there so you can study it, once you see it and then look at the books or better bring a few of the books with you so you can hold the tsuba and look at others as well. Then you will see what I mean by the steel and the texture of it. Most of his works "that are his works" have this feature. This will sound goofy but to me I think of it as a wet rolled pizza dough, and I know if you have never made pizza you have no idea what I mean....so better to see in hand!! I am very bad with photos , but if anyone can post book photos of Kaneie tsuba to show them so all can see the likeness even when they have different shapes. Fred Geyer

Sorry the my photo is bad, but I think you can get the idea..tried croping it out of the background. In hand the steel is very wet looking and has a look that you should not forget as it is only his style of steel and with any you see in photos you will see the same kind of surface look and feel. Also note the thickness...or lack of, they are thin plates. Fred Geyer

Sorry I did not do it right

Thanks for the questions, Here are the photos of Rogan Yotsudeami ryo zu tsuba by Kaneie. Rogan (reeds and geese) Yotsudeami ryo (a net and a fisherman) zu tsuba Signature: Yamashiro no kuni Fushimi jyu Kaneie size: 86.5mm x 82mm thickness of seppadai: 2.3mm thickness of mimi: 3mm iron ground, takabori with gold, silver and suaka inlays The obverse side is carved with geese in a riverside. Kano Natsuo the famous fittings maker in end of Edo period owned and did a rubbing of this tsuba, plus made one that has the same theme. It is shown in the book Kano Natsuo kengu shitazu soko. NBTHK

Richard, Ginza Choshuya had 2 for sale before the DTI, I have photos of both if you like. And not bragging but I got one, to get it I had to reduce my collection alot and I saw some tsuba that I loved go down the road, but I saw this as a once in a life time opportunity to own a true masterpiece. Fred Geyer