Lindus

Thanks Chris This is an interesting reply and would go to answering question that are out there in the silent majority. Having said that My Ex Kotetsu was for sure by the great man after a long lunch and loads of "Cheap" sak'e

Roy, it's sometimes not easy to make the right decision :D Your are dead right,I remember a very well known UK dealers throwing in a comment many years ago re Mei from a dealers point of view. "It is easier to say its a fake and come over as a genius than agreeing it could be genuine and then having to explain why,as well as paying more" I will go with my own feelings as it has always been a question as to how a man can chisel the exact same mei over a period of decades with out on occasions making some major variation. Perhaps some of the more learned of the membership might throw in some comments as I suspect many new collectors as well as us old guys could benefit from a discussion on this subject.

There are listed on your home page Katanas by Sukenaga and Sukekane...are these the two items you intend to polish That Sukenaga with date Ansei...is not a work by Sukenaga first generation and the mei when compared with Sukenaga II Hi Eric This has come up several times over the years,I took it to the first To-Ken Taikai where several men far more knowledgable than I looked at it. The constuction of the blade and in particular the Hamon was agreed as being pretty much identical to the work of the man. As to the Mei,hell I do not know but can see both sides of the argument,it came in a combat cover from a chap In Redruth,Cornwall. His father was in the occupation force post war and bought the sword for six bars of carbolic soap,this says nothing other than soap = sword days will never come back

Now in the ownership of a venerable Belgium collector and NMB member, I am sure he will enjoy your comments.

When he lived and worked in the UK,that would be around twenty years ago'ish.

Always an interesting site Malcolm and that is a nifty piece of woodworking,pity about the finish of the outer shell.

The "Blue plaque" Has been erected young Bowen. In the UK this is a mrk shown on buildings where a person of note has either lived or visited http://collectorsloot.homestead.com/index.html

Shortage of polishers that were affordable at the time, affordable is subjective of course when the collecting lust is there...am honoured that you visited my humble site Chris,will have a blue plaque erected

I know that when I was a regular visitor to taikai and Token meetings many potential students were put off by the seemed elite'ism that prevailed. Like many other clubs peoiple are split into groups of the usual five,Treaure hunters,students,profit takers,militaria & martial arts. Difficult as the web has blown appart the old world of Sensei and student, where this will end only your god knows.

Indeed,or perhaps it was way outside the mainstream.

LOL Chris,I would guess you have never had my income. And the Tadamitsu?

I once had a Gassan tanto,shown to Ken mishina who said he would polish it but that it would not get "Good" papers as late Gassan blades were not considered well. My question is why?,if the man was the first living national treasure why would this be?. Did not ask the question then but am quietly interested now.

I have an urge to get a sword polished ,never done this before, but it is decision time, what will I keep to take into the old folks home with me . Two swords that have always pleased me as they are not Gendaito or in some peoples books, shin shinto, are a Suke kane & Suke naga. What is the members opinions of thesemen apart from the obvious?, are they worth a polish and shira saya?. Your input would be most appreciated. The third option is a Tadamitsu dated 1509....not a great smith but a lovely sword.

No, the mimi is flat, no raised surface at all. The inward slope of the ana would infer the compression caused by punching the hole don you think?

Now I see the image enlarged the Ana seem to be punched so I guess your reply will be on the side of Tat.

Back to an earlier post while I am on the subject. This ugly beast also had some weed in it, never seen anything similar???, the body seems to be some form of root while the hinged face is hard wood with inlayed eye{one missing}. Probably a cheap tourist item from the early pre WW1 period??

In a drawer lay this: a Tsuka and some seppa, been around for some time and occasionally I wonder where it came from. 8cm x 7cm x 4mm, plate with the remains of gold around the Gourd design. Any idea if this is Rubbish and what age that rubbish might be?. How's this?.

Just a side line on finding things in odd places, this was being used by a butcher in the Scots Islands in 1990,ya just never know.

Morning Ron Yes it is on my site,had forgotten about the piece untill this thread started. It came with a pipe {See below} which I would think is a later addition, the price I have on it is.... CAD 788,US774,Euro 630,GBP 500 If this is too cheap please let me know as the car needs taxing soon Roy

When this came tied to a very tatty Tachi, the pouch was half full of what looked and smelt like the real old shag. So dug out my old pipe and had a go..... dont do it but the old set seems to be Meiji'ish??.

May have at some time had a combat cover,was there any sign of a tatty leather saya cover?. By the way,welcome to the NMB Pat.

The ito is as it should be,most Naval swords were wrapped as yours is.

Beutifull set of kai gunto mounts with a mint Showato,rare to find in this condition,lovely piece of militaria. Any war time history with it?. Well done Brian

Modesty becomes you both

Found this tucked away in my documents file,someone sent this ages ago and as I reckoned it was a joke just left it there. Is It??.