Visiting other collectors

[Peter Bleed]

                I know we live in a digital era. And, “Yes, yes,” I am saying this on a digital venue, but I have just returned from a wonderful visit with a wonderful sword friend and I want to encourage NMB members to reach out to actual, real, “sword owning PEOPLE.” I drove out to a friend’s home and  brought a couple of swords that I was ready to discuss. These included an Ichiryusai SADATOSHI by a smith discussed in the last issue of Token Bijutsu. He also had a new blade that needed to be compared to one of mine so I brought it along for the sake of discussion. It was a nice comparison. I’m not sure mine was better or worse than his, but I certainly saw more as a result of the comparison. .   .     Well, the cutting test on his blade probably is better that the one on mine, but, hey!  It was still useful to see them together.

The point I am trying to make is that human contacts of sword collecting are very important. Nothing takes the place of seeing and closely inspecting real  swords. And the best way to do that is to find others with whom you can discuss and inspect swords. Knowing how to read about swords and knowing how to look at picture of swords is useful, but nothing is better than looking at the real deal!

Turn off your computers and go find another collector and look at swords!

Peter

[Stephen]

Great idea Peter...ill wait till the thaw.

[Peter Bleed]

Stephen,

And of course you are right. There is a lot less snow in Arkansas than there is up north. And, now you have to deal with the whole campaign thing. Are you gonna caucus for Warren or Klobechar?

Peter

[IanB]

Can I invite any reader of NMB to join the Northern ToKen Society members at our next meeting to be held in the meeting room on the 1st floor of the Britannia Airport Hotel, Manchester, UK on the first Tuesday of February ( the 4th) at 7,30pm. Just take the lift to the 1st floor, go through the swing doors and you are there.

You would be very welcome.

Ian Bottomley

[Stephen]

Pete

Caucus is day after super bowl...i wonder the turn out? The last person I caucus for bowed down to Hillary Clinton. Im not into it this year.

Democrats don't have a lick of a chance with who they have now they won't beat Trump none of them.

[Rivkin]

     Turn off your computers off and go find another collector and look at swords!

Peter

 

I am on a constant quest to collect photographs of J and TJ. For a good collection - will fly in, do the pictures, the owner gets the photographs, can shoot about 30-45 blades in 2 days. I need about 600 blades photographed to do good selection for a photo-album, have about 300 as of now.

 

Kirill R.

[ChrisW]

Central Indiana here, always up for a meet at an antique dealer friend of mine. He has some interest in the subject as well.

[Ed]

Hands down the best way.  Miss my study days with both Dean and Dr. Ford.  Before he died, we had a regular study group with Dr. Ford.  One of those meetings was the last place I saw Paul Goodman before he passed away.  Harry Watson used to stop over for the night on the way to Tampa every year. 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Absolutely the best way. I meet with my sword mentor at least monthly, & sometimes more often. My sword club isn't as advanced, but seeing other members' blades is always a good opportunity for kantei.

[raynor]

When in Miami I started looking for options. For the foreseeable future I am working in Norway, where the nihonto community is non existent. I got myself a copy of Pechalov's book as the next best thing.

 

If you have the opportunity to attend a real meeting with real people and real swords count yourself lucky and jump in..

[Bruce Pennington]

I’ve been blessed 2 times to actually meet a couple of our dear friends.  Got to visit briefly with Kevin “Beater” in the south of England one day.  The other was seeing Neil “IJASWORDS” as he came through the States.  Can actually say the moments are more precious to me now than my swords!

 

Traveling isn’t easy to come by, I know, but when able, I second Peter’s recommendation.

[Surfson]

Kirill Rivkin came and visited me and we took photos of a large part of my collection.   It was great fun and I thoroughly recommend that others take him up on his offer mentioned above.

 

I enjoy visitors and visiting other collectors.  It really is the best way to learn, as you can discuss details of sword structure with others that have different knowledge and you can hold good and great swords in your hand for study.

[BIG]

Kirill please explain the 600 swords project. Are you going to publish the pics in a book? Why 600?...

 

Best

[Rivkin]

The goal maximum (which can prove to be unreachable) is to produce a photo essay of 200 blades covering the entire history of nihonto from chokuto to gendai. Of those 50-80 will be masterpieces, and the rest - typical period items. Some very average, some quite advanced.

Right now I have about 300 photosets from which I can select 70-90 items for the publication.

I figured with 600 good photosets will give me the desired 200. But that's very approximate, since I am still missing specific schools and names that need to be filled if the work is to be reasonably complete. About 30 items, mostly quite rare cases, but in the worst case I have lower quality photographs for about half of them.

Some dislike my photographs, but I do believe in them and the technique is simplified to be reasonably quick... The only thing that remains is getting the actual items.

 

Kirill R.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Definitely a worthy goal, Kirill! Do you have a list of the blades you're still seeking, that you're willing to share?

[Rivkin]

Will be honored to! Unfortunately the list is still ambitious.

I am doing reasonably well with Muromachi and Edo, except for the following:

 

Umetada, Horikawa, Kotetsu.

Which are badly needed.

Also, the photos of Inoue Shinkai, Sushinshi Masahide, Shodai Hizen Tadayoshi, Shodai Yasutsugu are not the best and if there is an opportunity to photograph other pieces it would be great.

 

The biggest issue comes with pre-Muromachi, since the diversity of blades within apparently the same school or even maker is staggering. So even though I have quite a few examples of what is listed below, they do not really reflect the schools well enough.

Katayama, Fukuoka, Yoshioka Ichimonji, Hatakeda, Ko Bizen are badly needed. The ones I have cover only about 20% of the wealth of expression that exists there.

Also badly needed are Rai works not in suguha, and Awataguchi (I do have Shintogo though, but there is never enough Shintogo).

Aoe is badly needed.

Would benefit from better Enju, Echizen Rai, Ko Hoki, and Sadamune. Also my Chogi photographs are of not very representative blade (lots of tobiyaki). Would benefit from really good ko-Mihara.

 

Overall anything good pre-Muromachi helps a LOT. There is a reasonable representation of Soshu as is, but if there are good blades they will always be included.

In the publication its owner's choice regarding whether he wants the pictures identified as coming from his collection, or a more general acknowledgement in the introduction.

 

Kirill R.

[Blazeaglory]

I wish I knew more collectors in orange county CA but the ones I've met through sales have been the part time collector so to say. They didn't seem really interested in the history or getting down to discussing details, etc...

 

Would be nice to have a place to go or more people. Kinda like how the "magic card players" would meet but a little more serious maybe? We could still play magic tho haha

[Stephen]

Not sure but they used to have meetings down around San Diego

[Greg F]

My best sword moments are when I get to travel south to see my dear mate Bazza. Im truly lucky to have met him here on this greatforum. Last year I had a very special weekend with Baz and also a meeting at a gallery with him and some other great Nmb members and got to look at some beautiful items and had a nice time. Cant wait to make time for the next trip.

 

Greg