Happy to report the collection grows

[Mantis dude]

Hi all,

 

Haven't been online here in a while, been spending too much time with online dating, certain needs take precedent!! I just wanted to say thanks to all who have helped build my collection to date, I didn't become the mantis dude without all of your help. I have recently crossed the 50 piece tsuba mark and added tsuba #51 from Christian Chaffee and awaiting menuki# 24 from Cyrus Chan and fuchi/kashira #16 is on its way from Japan. 3 great presents for myself as I turn 40 on the 10th! If I can control my hormones, I promise to try and update my website, I have to add about 14 tsuba at least plus many others. Just wanted to post a big community Thank You! I started out only adding a piece on a holiday or around my bday a piece would appear, I have become more comfortable being broke spending money on pieces as they appear. So I as my bday approaches it has been about 10 or maybe even 11 years of collecting and I do reflect on how the community has helped me, especially as I have to buy another display case. It is nice when a mantis themed fitting appears for sale, I get emails letting me know. So nice when we are out to help each other!! Ok put away the tissues, really this is just cheap self promotion...lol.

 

Thanks all!!

 

Of course, I am still accepting presents. :D

 

Hope all are well.

[Bugyotsuji]

Great to hear from you Ken. Sounds like you've been having fun! Occasionally a mantis-themed object appears and I wonder where you are. Glad to have you back (with a fine filly in tow?).

[Mantis dude]

Thanks Piers, no female attachments but I keep hunting them. I have this f/k coming from Japan so I don't have better photos but any help on the signature? Tsuba #50 papered to masahisa, I haven't researched yet, but it feels great in hand and is the first negative silhouette piece I have, a nice number 50. Since I am sharing, Christain Chaffee's kind thinking of me for tsuba #51 - mantis was different than any other piece. And last, the nice menuki, coming from Cyrus Chen.

[Brian]

Ken,

Love that papered tsuba!

Is that all ito sukashi? Nice work. I'll keep a lookout at the DTI for you.

 

Brian

[Rich S]

Ken -

 

Keep up the mantis collection; forget about the fillys -

tsuba, f/k are a lot less expensive and the upkeep is certainly

MUCH less. Even the initial cost is less and they will let you

take them out and fondle them any time you want :-)

 

Rich S

[Mantis dude]

I just don't want to damage anything as I fondle it. lol.

Brian when I shoot some new pics, I will post a better one of the masahisa. The cutouts are amazingly thin at points and it just has one of those great feels in your hand. I was so psyched when I saw it on yahoo.jp. I look at it and really there are just a few lines that make up an insect, just cool and I have been searching for a negative silhouette since about day one of collecting.

 

Thanks guys.

[Bugyotsuji]

The cutouts are amazingly thin at points and it just has one of those great feels in your hand. I was so psyched when I saw it on yahoo.jp. I look at it and really there are just a few lines that make up an insect.

 

Have to agree, that tsuba looks really special. Congratulations!

[Rich S]

Ken wrote:

>I just don't want to damage anything as I fondle it.

 

Just remember to be gentle with it :-)

I stand by my other commentary :-)

 

RichS

[Curran]

Ken (Mantis Dude),

 

My email is glitching this morning, so I'm going to post this here. It has one day on it, and figured it might interest you:

 

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w28955093

 

Still fairly priced, though agent fees for Japanese auctions can run about +20% now. Nearly as painful as an auction house. Its been a while since I purchased anything from the auctions, though still fun to look.

[Bugyotsuji]

Ken (Mantis Dude),

 

My email is glitching this morning, so I'm going to post this here. It has one day on it, and figured it might interest you:

 

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w28955093

 

Still fairly priced, though agent fees for Japanese auctions can run about +20% now. Nearly as painful as an auction house. Its been a while since I purchased anything from the auctions, though still fun to look.

 

Hmmm... no declaration as to age on this one. Possibly forgot to mention it. And, 'No Claims, No Returns.'

[Curran]

Dear Piers,

 

I do not understand. I am 99% sure it is authentic, though I wonder why the shakudo fukurin. What am I missing?

 

I am still learning Japanese and have ways to go. Does the auction actually say "No claims. No Returns."? Yahoo!Japan can be dangerous, but I thought this might be a safe one for Ken.

[Bugyotsuji]

Dear Piers,

 

I do not understand. I am 99% sure it is authentic, though I wonder why the shakudo fukurin. What am I missing?

 

I am still learning Japanese and have ways to go. Does the auction actually say "No claims. No Returns."? Yahoo!Japan can be dangerous, but I thought this might be a safe one for Ken.

 

He mentions the age on all of his other items, Curran, but not on this one. And all of them end with 'No claims, no returns' at the bottom. Not saying there was anything wrong with it, but with the very high quality of some modern tsuba, and the high price he was expecting for this tsuba, you can never be too safe... IMHO