Bazza Posted February 4, 2021 Report Posted February 4, 2021 9 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said: This is delving into dangerous territory, in my opinion if you wish to pursue something like sword polishing you do it one way: apprenticeship in Japan under a recognized master. Why this keeps getting brought up, questioned or challenged puzzles me. Absolutely agree with John. This whole thread - yes, whole thread - has been an exercise in hubris. I've been having swords polished for 50 years "at a distance". Now I sit at the feet of a qualified Master, hear his wisdom, and see the result in my swords and compare this to the last decades of me chasing polish around the world. To continue this little contribution would result in a polemic. Yes, I've seen these discussions on the internet now for 25 years at least and nothing has changed. Well-intentioned people all over the world are murdering swords on a daily basis, even in Japan. I don't know where else to go in this. It would be lengthy and brutally frank. To finish off, the base philosophy of the Board is that we DO NOT discuss amateur polishing, DO NOT advocate the practice of amateur polish in any degree whatsoever. I endorse this view with my entire heart and soul. I've heard all the arguments and they don't stack up and the preponderance of discussion about amateur polishing causes a warp in my sense of being tending to depression. Seriously. BaZZa. EDIT: Been mulling over this while watching TV. I just want to add two words - shitaji shiage. 7 4
lonely panet Posted February 4, 2021 Report Posted February 4, 2021 26 minutes ago, Bazza said: Absolutely agree with John. This whole thread - yes, whole thread - has been an exercise in hubris. I've been having swords polished for 50 years "at a distance". Now I sit at the feet of a qualified Master, hear his wisdom, and see the result in my swords and compare this to the last decades of me chasing polish around the world. To continue this little contribution would result in a polemic. Yes, I've seen these discussions on the internet now for 25 years at least and nothing has changed. Well-intentioned people all over the world are murdering swords on a daily basis, even in Japan. I don't know where else to go in this. It would be lengthy and brutally frank. To finish off, the base philosophy of the Board is that we DO NOT discuss amateur polishing, DO NOT advocate the practice of amateur polish in any degree whatsoever. I endorse this view with my entire heart and soul. I've heard all the arguments and they don't stack up and the preponderance of discussion about amateur polishing causes a warp in my sense of being tending to depression. Seriously. BaZZa. bang on brother 2
Stephen Posted February 5, 2021 Report Posted February 5, 2021 I guess ill mark this thread do not read !!Warning may cause high blood pressure!! Newbies do not do this! 2 2
Greg F Posted February 6, 2021 Report Posted February 6, 2021 I wonder how many swords were ruined during ones self teaching along the way. 2
16k Posted February 10, 2021 Author Report Posted February 10, 2021 New batch. Uchigomori finished, jizuya next... 1
Brian Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 Can't see this going anywhere good JP. Can you? Not like we are going to suddenly start praising a polisher that isn't qualified. So that just leaves criticisms and nitpicking. Which aren't going to be constructive either. I just cannot see this ending well. For the discussion. As for the sword...who knows.
16k Posted February 10, 2021 Author Report Posted February 10, 2021 Well, Brian, if you think you have to lock the thread, then please do. I have received sufficient support via PM to know that silent people support me. So, if you lock the thread, those people who have expressed their support, thank you, and as requested, I’ll PM you the progress. If anyone wants to follow too, just PM me or go to: https://www.facebook.com/pierluigiponziokatanakaji/ https://www.instagram.com/katana_kaji_japanesesword/ Once again, my purpose was genuinely constructive: help European collectors broaden their choice in terms of polishers and help a new talent emerge. I knew this would cause some unrest and was hoping for more open mindedness from some fellow members, but the world is what it is. No hard feelings I hope, Best to you all, JP 2 1
Alex A Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 Thanks JP, no getting away from the fact that we do need polishers closer to home, especially in this day and age. No doubt those reading this in the same situation will stay away from unpolished blades in future. Good luck with the end result, nice to see you being kept up with progress. 1
Brian Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 No hard feelings. I just cannot let us go down a road where it seems we are encouraging untrained polishing. And judging by just ONE post on his FB page where he shows an injury and about 3 others comment on their injuries while polishing their own swords....my instincts are correct. There must be hundreds of guys out there "teaching" themselves polishing from FB and Youtube videos. I know there are lots that support it. I'm just saying let's not actively spend time discussing this. Thanks for your understanding and good luck with your sword. 6 1
16k Posted February 10, 2021 Author Report Posted February 10, 2021 Thank you for letting it go that long, Brian! 1
Stephen Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 I know your intentions were good JP but what if a newbie doesn't know he has a GO blade and it gets sent there and gets ruined it's scary the amount of support you say you have 4 1
Suppaman Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 I agree with Brian and most of others here. Ponzio is surely not a togishi and he has not the ability to correctly polish a nihonto. But the worst thing, i think, is that this way it could incetivate dozens or houndreds of ponzio. And this is a shame for nihon token since untrained polisher has not to be the answer to the professional togishi lack in Europe. JP i will send a pm to you too. 1
JH Lee Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 Did the blade start with a "flat" hira-niku...?
Ingo Posted February 10, 2021 Report Posted February 10, 2021 I do think that the problem is money, simple money. As in any other craft you will get what You paid for. I have seen polishes from top togishi which i can not believe. Well i remember the session when an blades has shown to me polished by an mukansa. Holy shi.....I can not believe this. The answer ? He polished this low quality blade for an friend of him for nearly no money. What does this mean. if You want an real polish, do not discuss the polisher charges, do not teach him how to do his job nor press him to work faster because You want the blade to sell by example This will always end in an desaster. I knew the workmanship of most of the european polishers. Some are good, they can understand the blade, but nevertheless the qualtiy of the polish is not consistent. Why ? Explanation is most probably the same as in the case of the Japanese polishers. To be honest, i do think that is true for nearly all togishi with a few exceptions. Just thoughts about. Ingo 1
SAS Posted February 11, 2021 Report Posted February 11, 2021 Being able to perform the work correctly is a substantial hurdle; the other is access to good stones. My belief is that the best stones never leave Japan except in limited quantities. This limits the results using traditional methods outside of Japan. 1
IJASWORDS Posted February 11, 2021 Report Posted February 11, 2021 For what its worth, being a self taught polisher, is akin to being a self taught lover, they are both playing with themselves. 1 1 2 1
Mark S. Posted February 12, 2021 Report Posted February 12, 2021 Self taught brain surgery... I suppose someday you might get one or two right... 1
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