Jim P

Thank you so much Mariusz, I will see how it goes. I just had a look at Fords post do you know if Ibota wax can be used as I have some but from fords post must be different types ? (I will buy some Renaissance, since ford is pointing the way)

Thank you Mariusz, I have tried to read as much as I can but as you can see different people different advice. So just use a brush, and not try to stabilize the active red rust spots.They are small at the moment can you suggest a way to stop it growing? maybe its just me but I am not a fan of red I sometimes find it hard to appreciate rusty Tsuba. It must be because am new to it PS will try and get a photo of it .

Hi Mariusz, Thanks for your reply, I did email Fred but did not get a reply. I asked about the age ( my guess is late 19c ) but thought I would ask the board as I was not 100%. I was also asking about the patina as I can see no color only rust patina brown which must have come later? or was it that way from the start.There is 1 or 2 Red rust spots in the the corners and I am trying to work out what is best.I have been reading some of the posts on rust and Tsuba but am a bit unsure, I know to work on the rust with a bone but what then is oil OK I read in some posts not to use oil some say use wax what the right way forward ? Good list but which first ? PS I was Not thinking of cleaning it (just the rust) :D thanks

Hi all As I know very little about tsuba can someone help with this Bushu tsuba by Masanori that I picked up. 1,what was the finish was it bare metal ? 2,which Masanori and 3, the age. thanks

Thanks guys I to thought it may hide faults, and thinking about what Keith said. it may be a nasty shock if you lift it off. Its one of the few I have seen on a sword. but not this old. Jim

I was sent this today how common is red lacquer in the bo-hi on old koto blades and is there a practical purpose or is just cosmetic thanks, Jim the link (http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT116095.htm)

Guido I am sorry to hear that, It is hard sometimes to work out what is fact and what is fiction. I am glad we have the board ! I like a lot of people are grateful that you are helping us, so it must be disappointing. Thank you for your input with out it we would be a lot poorer Jim

Richard thanks for the photo, maybe one of the members has photo or has seen one. and Eric your right maybe just an oversight. Jim

HI Franco, thanks for ( painted' with a wide brush, rather than a narrow line.) now I understand, I had a look at Mr. Kenji Mishina's lecture. I seem to be able to find cosmetic polishing up to the 1600 but not much before then trying to work out what a sword looked like in the Kamakura?was it polish beyond the Shitaji stage, was Nugui used or some form of darkening ? to contrast the black and white thanks for the help Jim

Hi all, I was reading a web page today that speaks about Muromachi swords only receiving Shiratogi, or navy polish most of the time. What does a navy polish look like?and what type of polish was used before Muromachi compared to today ?what did the Shiage, or final polish, look like in say the Kamakura? also he speaks about. (Sashikomi could never do the bright, Milky Way like Suguba of a Tadayoshi blade justice. It would make a very active Sôshû Midareba look too ragged, and ignores Hataraki in the Jihada.) what is meant by (It would make a very active Sôshû Midareba look too ragged,) ? someone will ask! So this is what I have been reading(http://www.shibuiswords.com/polish.htm) Thank you, Jim

Thank you Markus, Jim

Hi, Can some kind person, please help with a translation of this Sayagaki. (sorry about the bad photo) Thank you, Jim

Hi Roy, Sorry to hear about your problem. I live in Melbourne and have had a package, (sword 15k) left at our door in a apartment complex. It seems that some workers are not getting a signature and just leaving it, that was with aust post. I just had one delivered with fedx and had to sign,that is what is suppose to happen. All you can do is get in touch with aust post and ask who the driver was. Hope it go;s well. Jim

Hi Clive,Eric, Thank you for your input. It seems its one of those things,on Darcy.s site he thinks Yukihiro was experimenting with it and that is about it,( just experimenting )? (http://www.nihonto.ca/hizen-yukihiro/) thank you Jim

thanks ,jean that's the best laugh I have had in a long time :D jim

Hi,Jean As I explained its not my comment, that's why I thought someone more knowledge may shed light on it as I have a hizen Blade it came up, I still do not have a opinion and have not found it in the 1 or 2 books I have so thank you jim

Hi, paul,lee, the source .https://www.aoi-art.com/kantei/kantei03.html as its the first time I have heard this too,thanks Jim

Hi all, I ran across this comment, but its the only time I have heard this ? "Daimyo Nabeshima kept it top secret when making hizen steel. I think for making swords especially kawagane(surface steel) was used Nanbantetsu and Japanese Tamahagane mixed." was Nanbantetsu commonly used in hizen swords ? and when this started ? thanks for the help Jim

Thank you Malcolm, I will try to track something down . Jim :D P,S If someone on the board Knows of someone who can do this type of work, Please can you Point me In the right direction. Thank you :D Jim

Hi Brian, it certainly is Now all I have to do is find someone who can do it It is for a Late Kamakura period Ko-mihara blade I am trying to get Koshirae for Big thank you Malcolm would you know if it is still done there ? Thanks Jim

Hi all, Would someone Know the name in Japanese, of this type of Saya finish ? thank you Jim

thanks Nobody, I did not see that post jim

Hi all, I came across this Tanto Aoi Art and was wondering why it has what looks like an outer piece welded on https://www.aoi-art.com/sword/sale/10023.html on the description, (This blade’s signature on the Nakago is protected by iron plate.) how is it protecting it ? and was the shape of the inner part the original as it looks strange. thank you Jim

Hi all, I just wanted to have this clear in my mind, so I apologize for going over it again. If I buy a sword that has the papers lost and if I resubmit it and it does Not pass it still stays a Juyo. Jim

Hi Ted,Jean jean I was not making a judgment on this sword and you are 100% right I am not qualified to say if this sword shall pass or not another Juyo shinsa. I was trying to work out what do you do in if you are thinking of buying such a sword, and if the papers mean as much in a case like this. Its like going to the bank and finding the currency has been changed. So it can be confusing, Ted thank you for the excellent info. I was speaking only hypothetically for the 1 in a 100 that will no longer stand up as my knowledge is low I look to the papers a lot more than I should (like a lot of collectors) and find its a lot more complicated than it seems and trying to understand the contradiction. So it comes down to the knowledge to know what makes a Juyo with out papers influencing you as you cannot let the papers do it for you thank guys still such a long way to go Jim