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Well.... they can ask whatever they want to... Looking for a gaijin buyer? rkg (Richard George)

This is unfortunately what happens when one tries to use "diplomatic language", i.e. "yes, some descriptions might be better than others, but it does not need to be interpreted as dealer's fault or ill intent", blah-blah. Then you read this stuff and wonder whether the "description issue" is not well understood, or ... ? Lets be specific. Mandarin Mansion trades in many different fields. Question was - how reliable are the descriptions? I obviously like Caucasus, for example. Mandarin Mansion has three items labeled as such. Consider each one of them: its not pick and choose. https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/caucasian-silver-niello-miquelet-pistol Yes, its a Kubachi pistol, named after the place where they were decorated. The site states its 1800-1849. To understand the issue: similar pistols dating 1800-1835 are rare and worth a fortune. 95% of existing ones are from 1840-1870. Because many are signed and dated one can try to be a bit more specific with dating. Somewhat diminished skill, shallow surface... Probably 1852-1867? One could choose to be optimistic and argue for a slightly earlier date - but while there is a subjective element here, it only goes so far. The site states "Not all plating is the same shade or finish; some appear to be working life replacements.". Referring most likely to the silver panels at the barrel's end. Well, this "replacement piece" shows more simple work, shallower carving, niello which is relatively unstable, steady yellow tint of the silver itself, background zigzags which are lined up rather than appear as individual "dots", unlike the other pieces. This is similar to 1900-1915 style, probably the subset associated with "souvenirs" made by Zhitomir Jews traveling around and doing small pieces here and there. Unlikely a "working life replacement", more likely early XXth century collector replacing the lost portions. Next piece: https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/dagestani-shashka-dated-1912 The site describes it as "Dagestani shashka dated 1912" with "Romanov monogram" Presence of Imperial cipher on the hilt usually simple means it was an officer's sidearm and per regulations carries the cipher of the Emperor during whose reign the first officer rank has been bestowed. Coupled with the use of flowers on the back and the fact that the shashka hilt stacks with the scabbard rather than goes partially inside it - suggests it was made for an officer market. Which usually (but not always) means Vladikavkaz or other similar places, not Dagestan proper, though the style and very likely the maker are connected with Dagestan. The site states the piece is signed and dated as "1912". The date however clearly looks like 1919. I can guess it was read as 1912 because then it would "match" the Imperial cipher. However, the signature is clearly non-traditional (i.e. done by a typical city engraver working with watches and canes, not weapons), different and later compared to the rest of work. Classic Civil War case when weapons in silver originally belonging to officers were given around as awards, pay, or simply traded, and signed to new owners. Was "A.M. Melnikov, 1919" Red or White is a good question and I would argue the signature does answer it. https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/transcaucasian-kindjal Not much to say here since not much is stated, and more importantly there are very few dated pieces. The site's opinions are fully plausible, though (subjectively) differ from mine. I can work in the same way with other sections (Persian, Ottoman, Chinese, Japanese), forcing myself to very diplomatic language like "better photographs would help to ascertain whether the blade is not a XXth century replacement". More importantly, wasting considerable time. Instead: short summary of my very personal, subjective opinion. Chinese items - I am aware of the attribution/dating philosophy used, it has been around argued for and against, remains plausible. It comes with an interesting selection of items offered, some descriptions are really good, there is more or less nothing absolutely-horribly-wrong. I can guess who are the people the author talks to. I can't state the same about the other sections of Mandarin Mansion site and offerings. In the end its buyer's responsibility to make a choice. With Japanese at least there are papers, so there are substantially fewer unknowns. For both buyer and seller. You are not going to get a completely bogus attribution, but the information presented while generally matching the name in papers might not be 100% applicable to the specific blade or 100% reflect the most modern thinking on the subject. Rules of the genre.

Don't understand why some people comparing different time epoch and argue which is the best. Personally i think in every time epoch, there are made wonderful blades.

Let Mike do them, I have no time right now.

I was about to really let rip…..but decided a glass of wine was a better idea. Talk about a government in total utter chaos. Glug, cheers!

I do actually own a "Ninja sword" (obviously not a ninja sword). owned it since i was a kid. Inspired by movies. Looks like i will have to take a grinder to the blade, ww2 chop style. Will keep it though, as a keepsake Colin is correct, Britain is an embarrassment, to say the least. Ran by morons. If you want to find out more about what a shambles we are, watch Dominic Cummings spill the beans in his latest talk via the power of youtube.

Showa 13, 12th month. december 1938 It looks very good to me. Maybe you can share better photos of the blade ?

Sure, Lex. The seller didn't take good pictures ,but here are a few where you can kinda make out the jigane.

Delete what i said if comes across as disrespectful, no probs Something Brano said touched a nerve, there are dealers willing to rip folks off on a daily basis, just wanted make that clear. Its not a rarity. Again, it had nothing do with the firm mentioned at the start. Jacques is right, blades ideally should be seen in hand, but that's not always possible, for many reasons.

Not wanting to further stray off topic here, but regarding dealers and Jacques' "mantra," it's not always possible to see a sword in hand. In places with no shows or local dealers, the internet is the only place for many to see and purchase swords. But Jacques is correct that a photo is often not enough. So, please be sure that when you buy online you have a minimum three-day inspection period to make sure that what you saw is what you got, and that it is what you wanted. If you don't you should be able to get a full refund, minus the postage to get the piece back. Most reputable dealers will do this. Yahoo and Ebay auction site holders as a general rule do not. So, as in all things, caveat emptor!

My mantra again, Never buy a sword even tokubetsu juyo without having had it in hands

Honestly, this is just distasteful @Rivkin. When Darcy was around, it was the same story of vague and unwarranted insinuations. Whenever a dealer offers a high-end object, I sense a certain resentful undertone in you, disguised as some sort of underhanded insinuation of inaccurate description or a subtle denunciation of the Japanese tradition of expertise in the matter. We all remember the "Green papers are mostly good" and "45K TH Masamune filling drawers" and so on. These sentiments come from a dark place. Work on it, because It's genuinely a pity, as I find many of your contributions very valuable to the community, and I say this earnestly.

I have a feeling that a lot of their products circulate as ww2 "gunto koshirae only"

Why are we generalizing about dealers in a question about one? Just disrespectful. Please start a new topic if you want to generalize.

Jean, Sorry about that after a long - time study of the sword I am still an amateur. They are ordinary ones with contours. I assume you will make them. Regards Bob

Looks like something made by Hanwei. I just checked their site and didn't see any WWII replicas, but I have seen examples of their work posted on NMB. Top notch workmanship.

Pappered long ubu koto blade. What not to like here? I wrote that is long? One mekugi-ana. Dated, no signs of retempering and packed boshi. Oh and yeah he have tendency to give photos with over-sharpened details. But its better for buyer. Good deal for eu denizens. Photo of random part chiyozuru.

Bigger fool theory

Bob, it may not be a "s**t storm" (SHITODOME) TSUBA, but a SHITOGI TACHI TSUBA? The SEPPA look like ordinary ones with the adapted bend.

Ray, Awesome books. But does need to be noted that there are 2 Japanese volumes making up the set of these books....you are missing the other Japanese photo one. Then there is a rare additional volume with the English explanations, and that you do have there. So half the 2 book set, plus the additional volume. Worth checking out there what's available, as I daresay this will affect value and they are out there complete for considerably less. Sorry, but needed to be mentioned.

Im not talking about the dealer mentioned here. There are dealers that specifically target wealthy individuals that lack the necessary knowledge, in fact do very well from it. You could say the same about many antiquity dealers of all kinds of antiques. Those that know what I'm referring to will know the dealer/dealers in question. Just a point that i felt needed a mention.

Hello members, I am open fpr fair offers. Please contact me if you are interessted Best Sebastian

I have had a Chiyozuru katana in the past that had some minor scratches in the same way as well but more prominent (I am certain it was used for cutting something, likely by a westerner). Also some slight damage on the Hamon and cutting edge which doesn’t seem to be the case with this sword. It could have been used or iaido in Japan which is more common than you’d think. A lot of sellers still sell blades from the Muromachi period as Iaido blades.

Gentlemen, I completely understand and I'm not saying these scratches should impact blade quality or price. It really looks like a very nice deal. I would buy it personally if I could just afford it. What is interesting for me is the fact that scratches look like typical Temeshigiri 'flaw'. I was just wondering who and why (can't understand why people would use antique blades for that) used it for cutting.

Wonderful.