Brian

Jesper, It was great meeting you and your lovely wife too. Pity we didn't get more time to chat, but we will take care of that next time :D Regards, Brian

Likely the tsuba in Ludolf's database is the MFA one. At least now you know the source Ludolf When you say "I had it papered" I assume now that you meant in your notes on this one, you had it down as papered? Regards, Brian Edit to add: That sounds like a great database you have created there. Hope oneday you will consider putting it online

Guido's right there...to the right of Ted in yakatabune3.jpg As for me...I prefer this side of the camera thanks. Besides...forums like this tend to build up enemies sometimes Brian

Thanks Steve, looks like it is likely Kawaji Choshu school. Brian

I considered Kiyo and then decided against it..but a look at Shosankenshu shows the mei as written this way. Well done John. H.03393.0 Haynes and Shosankenshu have him with this kao. Only info is he is dated around 1800's and seen on a f/k set. Toso Kinko Jiten page 406. Brian

X Yasu.....that first kanji has me a bit stumped. Brian

Hi all, Another iron one that found its way back with me in my luggage from Japan. Nothing great, but it also has its charms. I just wanted to confirm or deny my call of Choshu on this one if possible? Brian

It may be one of the very few threads that we lost in the recent server move and outage, or during the change to the new forum software. I can't seem to find it, but I am not sure if that is the same post or not. Brian

I actually think this is quite a nice tsuba. Better than usual shoami imho. The one pics is quite blurred, but the other shows some good detail on the goose and elsewhere. Not saying it is a masterpiece, but I do think this is a good piece, maybe late Edo that is worth having looked at. Brian

Alan, Why are the lines on the nakago so uneven? The shape isn't as regular and refined as I would have expected. Do you have a shot of the nakago from directly above? Brian

I need to check when my parcel of books arrives from Japan (had to post, too much luggage) but I think I bought the same book when I was there Looked good. If the same book, I think there were many pics of very early swords and chokuto? Brian

The second gathering was a stunning "yakatabune" boat trip at night down the river showing Tokyo at night. This was an amazing trip and a great evening. I would consider this a must-do in Tokyo. View was breathtaking and the company excellent. Thanks to Bob and Guido for co-ordinating everything. Bob just needs to learn how to draw up a decent map Brian

Just to prove it wasn't all work and no play, here are a few pics of the NMB/NBTHK USA/Gaijin dinner in Tokyo. Not too many embarassing stories this time, but everyone had a great evening and there was sufficient liquid flowing to make sure that the journey home was "interesting" for most :D I hope no-one minds their photo posted, I will leave any identifications to the guilty..umm..er...I mean participants

Richard, Thanks for updating us, much appreciated. If anything..at least the sword should now get some attention and care and will likely be preserved for the right day and the right buyer. This is a tough game, and there are no certainties. Values aren't set in stone like other fields. Hopefully he will get it to an expert oneday and find out more. It could be 700 years old, and still be not a great sword, and it could be 200 years old and a very good one. Nothing is ever certain. Values always depend on condition and state of polish. Usually it takes a good $2500 polish and shirasaya before anyone can really tell anything for sure. Anyways, if he ever wants to get it to someone who can give him advice in hand, I am sure we can find someone who won't try and buy it and will give an honest opinion. Otherwise just make sure he keeps it well, dry and safe Regards, Brian

Just a few quick examples: An antique and collectible matchlock rifle with a welded shut flash hole:- Will never be fired again, and yet the flaw makes it undesirable and far less collectible An antique camera:- If broken and non-functional, reduced collectibility and desirability even though no-one was going to use it for photos. Porcelain such as Wedgewood etc:- Unlikely to be used for its purpose, but with a chipped rim it loses value and not collectible. The above are all overlooked slightly if the item itself is a very rare example or unique to the point that better examples are not common. I just use these as an example of the same thing in swords. A hagire is a fatal flaw even if the item is not going to be used anymore. The scarcer and more desirable the sword is..the more flaws are overlooked, but at the end of the day it is something that is avoided if possible where you can. Not to say people should toss blades with hagire, just giving related examples to show how this is the same as done in the entire field of collectible antiques and art. Brian

Pete, Couldn't agree more. All great advice and this is a good thread to future reference. Whether gimei or not, I love this set, but not mine so I can only drool. Thanks for all the help on behalf of the lurker. Regards, Brian

Steve, In the spirit of honesty..typical lowish grade late edo fittings, often done in this design. I have seen this fuchi many times...almost as many times as that bunch of flowers with angled rod (know which one I mean?) and they were, I suppose, standard grade fittings done profusely during that time period. Brian

So what you are saying is that the application of the abrasive materials was considerably below the usual, expected, exemplary standards and therefore the results are lacking in their aesthetic beauty and refinement? yeah..the polish sucks. (top one, not the new pics) Brian

Jean, Unfortunately I would be lying if I guessed. The shop spoke NO English at all, and I was too busy gazing to take notes. However I did see a LOT of Tanba no kami Yoshimichi on this trip. It was as if every shop had one or 2, with papers to various generations. Brian

Yep, in 100% agreement with Moriyama san. Forget about it, not worth the hassle and trouble that will come. Especially not for something like this. Japan is strict, and even the ones that are legal (alloy unsharpened) would be a major hassle to import, and likely to just cause inconvenience if not worse. I would give up on the idea. Brian

A few more....

Just a few teaser pics of the DTI. A lot of the pics didn't come out as well as planned. Must be the camera :lol: Bear in mind that there were I think between 60 and 70 dealers there this year, so this is just a fraction of what went on. More over the weekend... Brian

Here are 2 nice pics of sudareba that I took of a Yoshimichi in a small Kobe sword shop. Very nice when properly polished. Brian

Franco, I don't have a vested interest in this set, so my opinions aren't biased. But the one you linked to doesn't strike me as being all that well done? Good work, but not what I would expect from the limited exposure I have had to Omori work. The quality of the undercutting and varied size of the drops (mixed metals) on this set looks far better done? Just my opinion of course (and an amateur one at that) but I think there have been better examples posted. I am of course not sure at all about the mei, but not so much about the quality. Compare the detail of the waves and lines in the water, and the inlay. Here's from the MFA collection: (Also in Lethal Elegance?) All very interesting discussion and a good resource for future discussions on the Omori school. Brian

That's my taste too. Really like that one Henry. Brian