How About Shedding Some Light On Tampa Show

[Tom Darling]

How was the turn out? Anything interesting you can share, would be appreciated. A picture or two is worth a thousand words. Shinsa etc.

 

Tom D.

 

 

[Ray Singer]

I have always attended these shows as a collector and have never had a table. This year was the same and the best aspect of these shows for me is the social one, connecting with friends from around the country and internationally that I may only have a chance to see once or twice a year. From that perspective it was very enjoyable. I probably looked at every sword that was out on the tables at least once. I would say that (overall) the quality of swords had declined with comparison to past years. I did not purchase anything for myself this time, but a few friends bought pieces I thought were exceptionally nice.

• Shodai Hizen Masahiro katana in shirasaya (shown in the NBTHK discussion)
• Nidai Hizen Masahiro wakizashi
• Orikaeshimei Soshu Hirosuke wakizashi in koshirae
• Mino Kaneuji tanto

Another friend had a Yamato Senjuin ken that would have been a target if I have not just bought a beautiful Shizu. The same dealer who had the Kaneuji also had an exceptional Soshu Hiromasa that was unsold at the end of the show. A dealer also had a very nice Nobuie tsuba I enjoyed very much. Juyo Sa Yoshisada and Chu-Aoe daito were available as well. So again, I would have liked to see an elevated quality overall however there were a few gems to be had.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Tom does have one good point: why are there seldom photos posted of these shows? Just a couple of wide-angle shots would give a feel for what to expect, & maybe a shot or three of NMB members would add a lot.

[raynor]

Would you say the items submitted to Shinsa mirrored the overall level of quality of what was on the tables? Anything interesting about the Shinsa this time, rough pass percentage etc.?

[Ray Singer]

Omar, I was only briefly in the shinsa room and cannot speak to what was submitted. The most interesting item I heard about was a massive yari which was submitted on Friday and took two hours to complete the oshigata.

 

A few photos from the show attached.

 

 

 

[Soshin]

I picked up many Japanese fine art works which includes swords and sword fittings adding to the business inventory.  It was a good show for buying and selling in my opinion and I enjoyed myself the whole weekend.     

[Curran]

I'd shared or taken a table many of the last 15 years. This year I had little to nothing I wanted to sell, but sat with an old friend and put out 3 tsuba for sale.

I also had 4 or 5 tsuba brought for conversations with various people, including one that was a fun rope-a-dope set to mess with some of the more veteran tsuba collectors.

 

Logically, the increasing ease of the internet has slowly killed the physical shows.

Yet there is lots and lots of junk on the internet today, with all sorts of prices.

After coming back from the show, I thought to myself it takes a lot of work fanning through a lot of items on the internet to find 1/10th of the items I casually saw at the show in 1 day.

 

I took some decent money to the show, not expecting anything.

Instead, there was a brisk bit of show n dealing behind the tables. I sold some of the ones just brought for conversation, and came back with two of great interest to me.

[Peter Bleed]

I arrived at Tampa expecting to "share" a table so I brought only a couple of blades. I also had a BUNCH of katchushi tsuba that I thought might attract some attention. I spent little time sitting behind the table I ended up with. I certainly did not flog my stuff, but action was slow. As far as i can tell no one examined my tsuba and i got rather few hits on the blades I set out.  Marketing matters and simply putting some items out ain't enough.

I did not see one Sendai shinto - not one!

To be sure, I enjoyed seeing friends. The NBTHK-AB Hizen show was worthwhile.

Overall, tho, the Show was pretty flat, IMHO

Peter

[raynor]

The internet is great for ease of information, but for really learning, no matter what field, nothing beats hands on.

 

Definitively going to try to attend a show soon.

[Tom Darling]

Headed to my inquiry, were their any Japanese dealers present?

 

Tom D.

[Stephen]

Thanks for the photos Ray, glad to see collectible rifles, any word if the one a true Golden Boy? 

[Blazeaglory]

I'd shared or taken a table many of the last 15 years. This year I had little to nothing I wanted to sell, but sat with an old friend and put out 3 tsuba for sale.

I also had 4 or 5 tsuba brought for conversations with various people, including one that was a fun rope-a-dope set to mess with some of the more veteran tsuba collectors.

 

Logically, the increasing ease of the internet has slowly killed the physical shows.

Yet there is lots and lots of junk on the internet today, with all sorts of prices.

After coming back from the show, I thought to myself it takes a lot of work fanning through a lot of items on the internet to find 1/10th of the items I casually saw at the show in 1 day.

 

I took some decent money to the show, not expecting anything.

Instead, there was a brisk bit of show n dealing behind the tables. I sold some of the ones just brought for conversation, and came back with two of great interest to me.

 

I agree. I do ALLOT of internet searching/buying and I can say that in the above few pictures, I have seen more items I would purchase than Ive seen online all month.

 

I would like to attend a show but I always pictured them more popular? Or with more people? Not that it matters.

[Tom Darling]

I am surprised there has been no comment on the Shinsa. Is this a moot point.

 

Tom D.

[Curran]

I agree. I do ALLOT of internet searching/buying and I can say that in the above few pictures, I have seen more items I would purchase than Ive seen online all month.

 

I would like to attend a show but I always pictured them more popular? Or with more people? Not that it matters.

 

Dwain-

    They certainly were more popular in the past and have thinned out a good bit in the last 5 years as the world has gone over to people gazing into their phones.

 

I was a bit stunned at the easy hunting. Several of us on the fittings end of the spectrum were having a good hunt. I was only there for about 6 hours, including having some food and wine with an old friend. I don't think I saw 1/3rd of the tables. I now regret not getting there on Friday.

[george trotter]

I have only been to a couple of shows/shinsas...all in Sydney. Ray's pics brought it all back. I always enjoyed them, chatting with fellow collectors etc. I usually only went for the experience and to buy books, "odds & ends" etc. I never bought a sword there.

Speaking of "odds & ends", I must say, the last pic of Ray's of those military tsuka with mon...would you believe it, I have one with the exact same mon as the middle tsuka (white tag is resting on it) of a circle with a square inside....I think it is a carpenter's "nail washer"? but don't know the family....what are the odds!

I think it is the internet that has eroded their importance, although the attached shinsa at my last show was very well attended and some good swords were discovered....maybe the shinsa will keep them going, although less often.

Regards and thanks for this post.

[TheGermanBastard]

I am surprised there has been no comment on the Shinsa. Is this a moot point.

 

Tom D.

 

No word is also sort of a comment

 

Some really nice things on the tables. Thanks for sharing the images.

 

But it seems like it was pretty poorly attended?

[Mister Gunto]

Am I bad for being really interested in that M2 Carbine in that one photo? 

[Mark S.]

Am I bad for being really interested in that M2 Carbine in that one photo?

Oh no... absolutely not! I was thinking the same thing and wondering what the asking price was? Although I would be almost positive that it was an M1 as an M2 is full auto capable and a no-no without the special license.