The Japanese Sword Index

[Geraint]

I can still remember the excitement of finding Dr Stein's fabulous work for the first time and have probably spent more time there than anywhere else on the internet since that day, (or so my wife says!)

 

I am fairly sure that Brian has been overseeing it recently. In any event it is good to see some newer and very good sites added in the last couple of days and a big "Thank you!" to whomever is keeping it up to date.

 

If it's not going to cause too much grief perhaps we could lose the dead ends; Ronin Swords hasn't been active for some while and WellLink doesn't. if you see what I mean. Bye the bye what did Andy Quirt do wrong?

 

Very many thanks to whoever is doing the work.

 

All the best.

[Brian]

Rich still runs it and updates the files. I just host it as a service, and upload the files Rich modifies.

I am sure Rich will update the links page. Not aware of Andy Quirt having done anything at all..why do you ask? If he was missed out on an update, that will be corrected.

 

Brian

[Geraint]

Thanks Brian, you are right Andy's site seems to be missing but no dramas. Good to see several new sites added.

 

All the best

[Rich S]

Geraint -

 

Glad you found the JSI useful. It still exists thanks to Brian. However, I can't keep

the links pages updated. I did go through and delete dead links a couple weeks ago,

but I haven't added any new ones unless directly asked in a long time.

I did somehow delete Andy's site. I've added it back in and sent an update to Brian.

I think you'll find this site, NMB, has a much more complete and up to date

set of links than does JSI.

Thanks again Brian.

Rich S

[Brian]

Like Rich, I find it very hard to keep a links page up to date. Sites come and go, and what is down today is suddenly revived in a few weeks, and dealers close down all the time. We try our best, but reply on info from the users. New (decent) links can always be suggested.

Would be nice if a few of those dealers and collectors on the links pages would link to us too...they are the ones that benefit from the publicity and feedback.

 

Brian

[laowho]

The NHB should be a nexus/hub for all things nihonto, not only for convenience but for the expertise available here, both as real-time responsiveness as well as an excellent search function for archived info. Many have been the times that I've thought I'd exhausted all the available sites for various things only to find members here linking to obscure or Japanese sites with copious quality offerings. Moreover, when I was at a loss for finding a particular piece, upon joining here there were members who had what I needed. I can also tell you that among the sword forums generally (SFI, SBG, et al.), most don't know of the NHB or it's regarded as an experts only site for what nobody can afford anyway. People need to be disabused of these notions and realize that the gulf b/t the real Japanese sword and what they consider as their only other viable option isn't as deep as they assume. Yes, the backyard cutter may not care, but those who spend more for better quality production blades and fittings will find themselves not far from the real thing. There are also the serious martial artists to consider, and many of their demanding sensei who insist on quality blades. Just a thought.

[Rich S]

Doug -

 

Interesting idea. I think of NMB as the hub now. However, I've found (like Brian has) that many (if not most) websites don't keep their links updated or don't even have a links page (I can't find one on SFI; the Ethnographic Weapons site does list NMB as a resource on their geographical links page).

I think Brian has quite enough to do just to keep this wonderful resource running. I do recommend it to anyone posting about Nihonto on other message boards/forums that I read. Perhaps other members could do the same. Perhaps that will accomplish the same result with a lot less work.

Maybe put the URL/name for NMB in their signature file on whatever site they read. Just a thought.

Rich

[Brian]

Trouble is, a forum like this needs advanced collectors as well as students. Without the advanced "experts" all we have is a bunch of guys who know little advising guys who know little. However those advanced students are exactly the ones who probably benefit least. They give out info all day, and I expect get back not as much. We are very lucky that we do have the advanced students and collectors we do have. I won't name names, as I am bound to forget a few and offend, but maybe most important are our language experts like Morita san and Moriyama san and others. We are priveleged indeed that they take so much time out of their day to assist us with things that are beyond our grasp.

But this thread isn't about that. There are many advanced collectors that have left us over the years for various reasons. It is the nature of an internet forum that there will always be controversy and people will take offense. It is even harder sometimes when you realize that satisfying one side will lose the other side. If I had a wish, I would like to see those guys return and play a part here. Then we could grow more, add oshigata databases, add other features and discuss more advanced topics. If some of those collectors would like to throw me some ideas on how to improve things, and what it would take for them to play a role here again, they can always pm or email me, I would love to hear from them.

Finding fault and leaving, is something that everyone has a right to do I guess. But sticking it out for the benefit of collecting in general and making some friends in the process says a lot more about a person. Drop me a note with suggestions..I am open to ideas. Dealers...get more involved. Those that do will tell you that there is commercial benefit to having your offerings open to a few thousand people a month.

So what's my point here? Nothing I guess....just some meandering thoughts on a Friday night.

 

Brian

[laowho]

Yes, and sorry if I seemed to imply more work for Brian. Rather, I was suggesting that there seemed to be an opportunity to fill a niche and one which might also pay dividends. How Brian or the NHB community decided to go about it would of course be up to them. Thank you Dr. Stein. And Brian, your post came up as I typed, and I suppose my suggestion would be that while you're giving a shout out to the dealers, maybe also call upon the web designers in your midst to come up with creative ways to bring all of nihonto-dom under the penumbra of "The NMB--Your First and Last Stop on the Way to All Things Katana," etc., etc. Guess I'm rambling too.

[Brian]

I will be purchasing VBulletin software and hope to migrate us towards the end of the year. That will come with many improvements such as additional pages, image galleries, live chat etc. I hope to integrate dealers more too. Perhaps have dealer specials to members only, in return for publicity.

I am still working through the details and any possible complications. But it will happen.

 

Oh...and can someone tell me who this NHB is that I hear so much about on the NMB? :lol:

 

Brian

[laowho]

Umm...Ni-Honto? Me-Tonto? Sorry. :D

[drbvac]

Links are one thing and knowledge is the big transfer and I have to say that Dr. Steins has been the go to site for me and many beginners for years and he deserves many congrats and platitudes for doing it when it wasn't the way that stuff was done. Brian and this site is almost next generation - Windows Nihonto 7? Bottom line is they are the ones !!! Thanks to both of you !!

[Rich S]

I will be purchasing VBulletin software and hope to migrate us towards the end of the year. That will come with many improvements such as additional pages, image galleries, live chat etc. I hope to integrate dealers more too. Perhaps have dealer specials to members only, in return for publicity.

I am still working through the details and any possible complications. But it will happen.

 

Oh...and can someone tell me who this NHB is that I hear so much about on the NMB? :lol:

 

Brian

 

Brian -

I'm on several sites that use VBulletin software. I can email you their URL's so you can see their various setups if that would be of any use to you. What is "live chat" anyway? I don't have a mic or speakers on my 'puter (I don't like machines that bleep, burp or make noise at me).

 

Two suggestions for when the new software goes online:

Keep it simple for us old geezers who don't know all the new 'net stuff and

have a sub-forum for old geezers who just want to bs about the good old days or ramble on about nothing of importance to anyone :-)

Rich

[Brian]

Rich,

I was mistaken. I had looked at all the forum software, and it is Invision Power Services software that I have decided on. Too much controversy over VBulletin's service and support. Invision gets better reviews and has better addons. Not cheap, but I think it is the way to go. A yearly fee will make things a bit tight, but think we'll manage ok.

I will try and keep it simple and easy to read with a colour scheme easy on the eyes.

Afraid for those like you that hate java, you may have to install a browser with it enabled just to view the forum. About all the forums use Java now. But will try and keep everything hassle free.

As for chats...it will never be a big part of the forum but hoping to have a live web chat (typing) going for those who wish to have a quick chat about something. Just a few users at a time...like a small chat room. No speaking or noises

There will always be a place to chill out and ramble a bit.

 

Brian

[Rich S]

Brian -

 

Do you mean Java or Javascript? Have the Javascript, but not Java (and won't).

Mozilla has blacklisted Java due to security concerns. It won't run on Mozilla.

I don't know anything about Invision, but almost all the boards I'm on use vBulletin

and don't seem to have any problems with it. Just my $0.02.

Was kidding of course about the old geezer forum - I do enough of that now.

Not kidding about "live chat"; I recently found out that "Bluetooth" isn't

a type of make-up used by punk rockers or goths.

Rich