Wang C

Hello Koichi, Nice to hear from someone from Japan on this topic. Have you conducted any tests yourself? I understand that a Mr. Koichi Tanaka from Shimadzu Corp. in Japan won a Nobel prize for chemistry working in this field, maybe we can contact him for advice? Yes you may well be correct that only the XRF test is required to achieve the data. In fact I have only used AMS testing of small samples myself in relation to my work. I am not an expert or scientist in this field. I did not consider looking at the question from that angle. Now I am inspired to look further into the XRF test and will inform the board of my progress. I will also research Radiographic testing, costs and availability. Wang

Hello again, Thank you for your interest and encouragement. I have been researching these test for some time. The Atomic Mass Spectrometry test can be done for around $300, but a small sample is needed. It only needs to be a small shaving (from the mune of the nakago would be easiest), not a great problem for swords that are already o-suriage. As yet I have no local contact for the Laser version of this test. Discussions I have had involve setting up a special rig and chamber to handle nihonto, difficult but entirely possible. The real problem is assembling reference data from known swords, there was some testing carried out in Japan in the 60's which would make a good starting point, but many more samples are needed. I have been collecting my own samples for some time , as has a friend of mine, it will be a big project. I figure that without historical known swords to test it will take hundreds of samples to start to discern conclusive data. Also the testing of the samples needs to be funded. My friend that always loves a conspiracy theory believes that the Japanese already have this data, but are not going to share it since it is not in their interests. As for the Xray Flourescence tests it is commonly available and I will be conducting my own experiments with swords in my collection. This is a great test for perspective big sword buyers. Actually I'm not a big ticket sword buyer and the best blades in my collection have not gone to Japan. Sorry I have heard too many first hand horror stories of stolen and missing swords in transit to and from Japan. Note I said first hand , not hear say. Wang

Hi, Long time collector and lurker. Seems that the NBTHK are in the news again. I am very interested to see what happens when the dust clears this time. I would like to hear others with opinions about scientific testing on nihonto. Accurate testing is available in many other collecting fields such as ceramice, painting , sculpture, jewellery etc. Nihonto can also be tested for construction and composition easily and cheaply. If fact nihonto are uniquely suitable for this testing. So why arn't we using the science available to us?? Imagine a different world... You have a very nice sword that you are considering sending to Japan for polish, papers , the whole deal. Before you decide to spend the money you send it for Atomic Mass Spectrometry testing. The lastes test is called (wait for it) Laser Ablation Inductively-coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. It involves a laser giving your sword a little blast (on the mune behind the habaki would be a good spot). The laser leaves the tinniest of dots the size of a pin prick and only a few microns deep, no big deal for a polisher to remove. From the vapor formed the test can analise the chemical composition of your sword. Hey, first thing you notice is no borax, this means it is not shinto or later. You excitedly compare the results to the chart of historically dependable swords already tested. Wow, you discover that your sword is from the Kamakura period and tallies with sword steels known to be used in the Bizen provence. This combined with your kantei skills allows you to make that decision to invest in the polish. Oh, bonus, you have the sword re-tested when it comes back to make sure it is the same blade! Hey the technology is already here, we just arn't using it Now image this... You are offered the big sword with the big price tag and you are in love. Before you spend the big bucks you have the sword Xray Flourencence tested. This test is like a super Xray that allows you to see everything in the structure of the steel. You see past the heavy keisho polish and see this funny area on the hamon. If fact it looks like a Tig weld spot, maybe to repair a hagiri. You suspect the sword has been re-tempered to hide the weld halo. Wait a minute, you can clearly see that a signature has been removed and a new one put over the top. You politely pass on this sword. XRF testing can easily spot umegane, ware and fukure that haven't surfaced, welded on tangs, changes in metal. You may even be able to read rusted out meis. But do you think anyone in this world selling you the big sword is going to let you test it? Before you think this is all just fantasy, the same test was used on the priceless "Spear of Destiny" which is in the Hofburg Museum in Vienna. This is the famous relic that susposely pieced the side of Christ. The test showed it to be celtic from the 6th or 7th century by comparison with known burial examples in the British museum. The problem is that many people have a vested interst in the status quo. Scientific testing could cause the nihonto world to explode, very dangerous talk in some circles. Prices would crash, worse still image if swords in some Japanese museums were proven to be fakes! But in the end it is going to happen, and it will not be the Japanese sword groups that instigate it. Change will need to come from the bottom up, from the collectors. Now what has all this got to do with the glut of Juyo comming out of Japan and the news about the NBTHK suspending papers for relatives of board members? Think about it... Wang