Chicago sword Show April 25-27 2014

[Mark]

The April 25-27 2014 Chicago Sword Show is getting closer check http://www.chicagoswordshow.com

 

The show plans are going well. I already have more table commitments than I had tables on the floor last year. I will have to move things around to fit all the tables so it should be busy. Tables are just about sold out.

 

The hotel room block is filling up fast. For those planning to attend it would be wise to make reservations, here is a link https://aws.passkey.com/event/10702618/ ... 31/landing or

https://aws.passkey.com/event/10702618/owner/4631/home

If calling ask for "Midwest Token Kai" rate

 

There will be a some tables with excellent displays, one will have a number of Naokatsu swords, another will have fine menuki, and there will be armors and some excellent koshirae and fittings on display.

 

The NBTHK (American Branch) will provide and educational presentation Saturday afternoon.

 

If I can do anything to make attending easier let me know. And as the event approaches if you have any trouble with hotel reservations let me know and I will try and help.

[Stephen]

Show coming up fast, wish i could make it.

If your driving home you may want to stop at RIA on your way home.

search for Japanese on the site. other words may bring up more.

 

http://www.rockislandauction.com/search ... dium=email

[mdiddy]

Mark and team did an excellent job last year making the show a success. I am glad to hear it has grown.

 

I will have a table again this year and will have an excellent selection of pre-war Kokuho and Juyo Bijutsuhin on offer!

 

Please stop by and say hello.

 

Matt

[Mark]

If anyone is considering coming to the show, TODAY is the last day the hotel will allow the show discount rate of $109 (I was able to get them to extend it past 3/30 to 4/15), the regular rate is about $150

here is a link https://aws.passkey.com/event/10702618/owner/4631/home

 

Tables were sold out but I have one person who has health issues and may not be able to make it, so I have 2 tables available.

 

If you have any questions contact me at chicagoswordshow@gmail.com or see http://www.chicagoswordshow.com

 

Thanks, should be a great time

[mdiddy]

Packing up for the show is almost as much fun as the show...

[SwordGuyJoe]

Day one was great! Good to see a few people I know. Better still that I have yet to lose about a pint of blood. Nice job Mark!

 

And thanks to John with ricecracker.com for my new Kasama Shigetsugu! I've been dreaming of that since last year.

[watsonmil]

Once again for the viewing pleasure of those of us who for a multitude of reasons were unable to attend, .... would a few of you attendees post some photographs for us less fortunate to enjoy. Thank you.

... Ron Watson

[Stephen]

What Ron said.

[Mark]

will do, be home tomorrow and will get some posted

[Mark S.]

REALLY GREAT show! So much so, I made my first ever Nihonto purchase! Of course, now I am VERY eager to ask LOTS of questions, and get parts of the Kanteisho papers translated (in detail), although I am trying my best to figure out as much as I can on my own first.

 

Mark S.

[Mark]

I now realize I do not have a flair for photography, or even the ability to focus it would seem. anyway, here are some, maybe someone else has others

 

I will do it in sections:

 

this is" View From The Door" since I don't have wide angle it is 3 images panning across

[Mark]

here are Some Individual Tables

[Mark]

More Tables

[Mark]

One of the Displays Naokatsu swords has mentioned earlier sorry for the poor pictures, look much better in person

[Jean]

Congrats and many thanks Mark, it makes me dream.

[Mark]

I will let others give their opinions of the show as it would be self serving to say anything positive from myself. but I will say some things about what was there... The NBTHK American Branch put on a GREAT program Saturday afternoon, they first had a kantei session with 2 blades, one of the a Chogi, then Bob Benson reviewed the kantei "guesses" and explained some pointers to help participants learn. Then they put out a group of SoShu blades, all Juyo and higher, as I recall:

 

Chogi - powerful and wild

SA Hiroyuki - elegant

SA Sadayohi - fantastic horimono

Yukimitsu- just "Wow"

 

Usually these exhibitions are for members and others can come in for a small charge but the NBTHK (AB) genourously opened it to all at no charge. You could walk in and walk up to each blade, pick it up, examine it, study it (great sword viewing lighting was set up). What a great opportunity to learn hands on. It was very kind of the owners of these fine swords to share them with anyone who wanted to study them.

 

In the show room was the display of Naokatsu as mentioned before, Thank Ron!!!!! Also there was armor displayed (available for sale but great to see). There was a display of fine menuki. A real highlight was a display of Very Special Tsuba, they are Daimyo fittings. The owner, from Japan, brought them to display, he had printed information and he was happy to answer all questions and discuss the history and provenance of all the items. I am not a tsuba collector so hopefully someone else will provide more information but I remember one was a Miyamoto Musashi tsuba, others owned by Daimyo and important historical persons. This was a better display (items together in one place) than you would see in a museum in Japan. As a side note the owner said he was so happy to see the items being appreciated that he will bring some other special items next year ( I heard him mention a Masamume but we will have to see next year).

 

From a business end: it was encouraging to see a Japanese dealer in attendance, he flew in just for the show. It seemed he had a successful visit and I saw him carrying a lot of swords out of the room and he needed additional cases to pack the items (I was happy to donate a case as a few of the swords were mine and I did not need as many cases going home. A number or dealers commented they had great shows, one said it was his best show in 20 years, another was excited to sell a high end item they had carried to shows for several years.

 

Buyers perspective: I know quite a few swords were brought in from by the public, I saw them come in but as promoter I wanted to make sure those in the room had the opportunity so I worked hard to buy none of the swords that walked in. I did hear some quite excited about items they bought. Maybe some will comment about that (as I said not buying any I have nothing to say). There seemed to be some very good deals on tables and a lot seemed to find new homes.

 

that is all from me for now.

 

I hope others will give there thoughts

[watsonmil]

Dear Mark,

Thank you so much for the photographs. I recognize a few faces from the times I used to attend. Older now, ... but so very nice to see them again.

Some lovely swords as well by the way.

... Ron Watson

[Mark]

Ron

 

I did not mention any names (privacy) but a few NMB members are visible in some pictures, if they want to identify themselves that is fine

[Grey Doffin]

I'm the guy in top hat and tails with money falling out of my pocket.

Grey

[watsonmil]

Actually Grey, ... I thought that was you in the orange shirt shoving a hundred dollar bill into the pocket ! Sorry I must have been mistaken !

 

... Ron Watson

[Peter Bleed]

Mark's account is right on. The show was larger than last year's and full of stuff. I drove (thru a tornado on the way home!) so that I could bring a wad o' stuff. I left some stuff there, but my goal was to find something to buy. I brought a group of Ainu belt knives to prime the pump. But there was no Ainu stuff there.

As always, I was also looking for Sendai Shinto, especially Kunikane school blades. Unfortunately I did not see one Sendai blade on the floor. Not one! I enjoyed seeing many friends. And there were a couple of terrific swords, but I brought nothing new home - darn!

There were buyers (including Okayama no Daijo Ando-san), but they demanded very low prices and there was not great competition. In general, I think most of the stuff that was offered was - well - ordinary. Solid, collectible swords in nice condition stayed home or were "protected" by higher prices than the traffic would bear. Could it be that collectors are holding on to "nice stuff" and trying to shed the "utility grade" stuff? Ron Hartmann's Naokatsu display and some really high-end fittings from Nick Nakamura were real horizon broadeners.

The important point is that there were lots of people, lots of swords, and considerable action. Mark and his family were terrific.

Peter

[Grey Doffin]

Yes it is the orange shirt but it is a $5 bill.

Grey

[b.hennick]

Great Show! Mark and family treated all the exhibtors very well. A welcome package greated us at the table. after the show in the evening there was a welcome suite with drinks and conversation. Mark's son also named Mark was his usual warm and helpful self. I was one of the guys who bought from a walk in. You do not see yumi (bows) for sale at shows often. You sometimes see an arrow head or two. I was able to buy from the same seller - 5 bows, many arrows (including three older arrow heads), a stand for arrows and a quiver for arrows. I intend to keep two bows, the stand and some arrows. I also bought from a vendor at the show a holder for two bows and a place for a quiver. I managed to sell some things and buy some. I call it recycling money.

The NBTHK as usual did a great job in setting up a display and kantei. If there was a fire I would have grabbed the Yukimitsu.

Ron had a wonderful display. It is great to see the range of work of a smith. Nick Nakamura who lives both in the USA and Japan (at different times) had an amazing display of tsuba. NIck is the President of the KTK and has very high standards for his group and for his own collection. One does not see tsuba that are not only great but that were known to be owned by great personages in Japanese history.

[Soshin]

Hi Mark,

 

Thank for the photos. Good to see at least one person from my local club made it out to the show. Maybe next year for me.

[Robert Housley]

Hi all,

I attended and this being my first show, I was very pleased. Everyone was very pleasant and helpful. I bought a couple of tsuba from Mark and Grey and I am very happy with them. I want to say thanks for going to the trouble to arrange so much to Mark and everyone involved. I spoke to most everyone who had a table and learned new things at each turn. I hope to have the chance to attend next year. I would also love to get to the Tampa show next year.

Robert Housley

[seattle1]

Hello:

Yes, an excellent show, and now it seems firmly established that there will be three key shows on each year's fixture card: Tampa, Chicago and San Francisco. Shows play a vital role for the collecting community, particularly if major dealers are present, and they were. Dealers play a vital role, not just as sellers, but also as buyers and they all carry a big bag of knowledge and experience, and generally they are willing to give good and insightful advice if asked.

The show's location was easy to reach by car, free parking (not enjoyed everywhere), a nice hotel, near by restaurants, and gracious and helpful management by the show's promoters. I believe the Porpora/Jones show is transitioning to Mark Jones and he did a great job appreciated by everyone.

The show floor was busy, new faces both in front of and behind tables. I had the impression that kodogu was still an important focus, as it had been in the last half-dozen years, but people seemed to be more wary of iron, it perhaps being somewhat over sold, particularly the "ko" anythings. Some nicely qualified and presented blades were seen on dealer's tables, and I understand the selling was fairly strong on Sunday. Yours truly was suffering from an extremely sore shoulder and hit the road first thing Sunday before the last frenzy.

I went home without all the things brought, but went home with an extremely interesting blade. It is a slim ko-dachi, 24 1/2", made as a ko-dachi, considerable curvature, koshi-sori (slightly), a monouchi that is about straight for the first 9", ko-kissaki, ubu though somewhat suriage, the jihada is mokume, large, with rather nagare masame, lots of chikei, and utsuri; the yakiba is narrow and rather disorganized, nioi and nie, intact boshi, somewhat kaen, one kanji and perhaps another - both unclear. Two mekugi-ana. It will take further study to pin down, and restoration in Japan, however Heian is not a stretch. Stay tuned.

Arnold F.

[Mark]

Good to hear Arnold found potential treasure, I heard a number of attendees found something special to take home. Here is another picture I copied of someone's Facebook page

[Jussi Ekholm]

Looked to be an awesome show. Did anyone catch what this beast in red saya was? I tend like large swords. Also the tachi koshirae under it looks very much to my taste.

 

 

Thanks for posting the pics Mark.

[Peter Bleed]

Jussi,

That sword was on Fred Coluzzi's table. I remember nothing about it, but Fred has an eBay presence. The Red sword has not appeared there - yet. His handle is fredericksswords. You could easily ask him for details.

Peter

[Jussi Ekholm]

Hah, what a coincidence. I remember seeing that sword some years ago in Fredericks catalog and I kept admiring it. Just checked it up as you said who has it, it's darn massive sword 40" nagasa.

 

And after seeing more pics of that tachi below it ain't exactly my taste. But that big beast looks intimidating.