Brian

Before you get jumped on, you should maybe have said as a curiosity or novelty piece I know there are many here who will tell you that you don't learn from studying tired and/or low class pieces. But we know what you mean. Just the first step on the way to upgrading to much better items, right? Brian

Your answer lies right there in the question. They are not serious collectors. Merely dealers or amateurs who want to see a vivid hamon more than preserve a sword. And no..it is not restricted to the UK. I have seen many here in SA, and quite a few in the USA. I think where there are more proper polishers, there is less of this happening. People who feel like they don't have access to proper restoration resources go this route in order to show what they can't see. But in doing this, they seriously damage the sword. I think Ferric Chloride etching is maybe even more common than acid sometimes. It makes the hamon and nioi-guchi vivid white, but is terrible, and obscures everything you want to see. Then there is the terrible effect of opening the grain to the point that even a proper polish will battle to save it. There are probably ways in which it is used legitimately, and in ancient times maybe. But these modern day guys don't know how and ruin the blade. At best, you pay twice. Once for the bad polish, and then even more later to undo what was done. Brian

Simon, As they used to say in school.. "Did you bring enough for the whole class?" :D Next time you are there, pick up a few extra packets. I am sure you will find a willing market here for a few. Brian

Looks like at some stage it was converted into a pendant. I would consult with an expert metalworker or jeweller to see if it is possible to remove the rings without damaging the rest. Yes, there might be a mark, but I would think this would be preferable to having a ring attached to the side. Not a high class tsuba, so I would look at doing that if it were mine. Brian

Loren, I think you could fill a book with just the names of the books in Japanese. Check out http://www.japaneseswordbooks.com and http://www.satcho.com for just a few of them. The suggested reading link at the top of the forum is a good place to start though. Brian

The only way to check is to compare the workmanship on it. Plenty of these are done by students and prisoners with assistance from Emura, so each has to be judged on its own merits. The last 3 papered Emura blades I saw were all signed "Emura saku" but of course there were many signatures. Oneday someone will examine enough examples to say for sure which signatures were by him, and which were by his students. Best page on Emura is of course on Dr Stein's site, and Ohmura-san also has a good section on him. Just search the NMB for Emura to find more info. Brian

I'd like to see a pic of the nakago (tang) before I was to take any guesses. Does seem to have been based on a naginata though. Preferably upload some jpg's, as not everyone will or can open the .pdf. Brian

With all due respect, let's please keep posts to English (with Japanese when necessary) or provide translations for everyone..or take it to pm. This is for the benefit of all the members here. Thanks, Brian

Folks, Once again the pc I was using temporarily had given me so many hassles that I was forced to go out an purchase a brand new pc (Ouch) This is a continuation of the hassles I had with the old pc back in december. I now have a nice new pc that I now have to set up from the beginning. I am still in the process of setting email and everything up, so please forgive me if there are delays in getting to your emails, or replying to pm's here. I have read the pm's and will reply as soon as I am confident that this machine is running as it should. Right now it is sluggish and I have numerous issues to sort out. Still here...just very preoccupied Regards, Brian

Not being at home with my references, I was just going by the NKB swordsmith database for a quick example. Looked for those signing with Bishu Osafune, and only got the one (SUK748) but using a different Suke. Brian

I think Mr Pedersen summed it all up nicely. It is badly in need of a polish, but looks healthy enough to take one. Jacques is correct that all the lines need to be redone I think. This is what happens when amateurs have a go at leaning up a blade sometime in its past. I know giving an opinion as a togishi from online photos is difficult enough, so thanks for having a go at it. I hope you at least have some enquiries from the board for some polishing work, but if not yet, they will come Regards, Brian

Andrew, Ask your friend for a much better photo of the mei, from overhead. Spacing looks odd to me, not like a neat signature. The Osafune Sukemune documented is from the 1800's and used a different kanji for suke. So he is either undocumented (still many out there) or a gimei of a non-existent smith, or just a fantasy later addition to an o-suriage blade. Sword is still legit though, and he should be studying what it is, more than what it isn't Brian

Even down to the exact day of the month Wow. Thanks Guido, I will add that to the articles section too, for later reference. I would agree that it would be the definitive date guide for me. Brian

Andrew, Although I have seen some bo-hi that were originally cut extending deeply down into the nakago, usually when you see this, you start to think suriage. In this case, the nakago was obviously reshaped to fit into the military mounts. I get the overall impresssion that this sword was maybe quite a bit longer, and the original hi didn't extend this far into the nakago. If this is the case, then the mei is probably gimei, as it would be much too high on the original nakago. This is just my first impression, and should be taken as an opinion only. No doubt someone will show the error in my thinking here :D Still looks like a reasonable sword though, that he should look at having evaluated in hand by one of the sword groups in your area. The hi looks well cut, which sometimes indicates a well made sword, or one worth closer examination at least. Brian

I haven't had a chance to compare the mei or workmanship yet, but I found an excellent article on Naokatsu in an old online NCJSC newsletter here: http://www.ncjsc.org/ncjsc-oct-2001.pdf (There are also some excellent articles on other subjects there) I wonder how many of these old NCJSC newsletters are online? Brian

If you have Connoisseurs on order, then I would say you have the best book on the basics up to mid-level info and schools etc. Connoisseurs is a year's worth of reading and even then there is still info to learn. Sato is also worth getting, and I think Stephen had that too possibly. Pm him, as the prices were dirt cheap. I really enjoy The Craft...it allows you a much better understanding of the whole process. Brian

Jeez...Stephen had those up for sale for a long time, and now that he removes them...someone needs them, Loren, check with Stephen what others he has. It he still has Craft of the Japanese Sword..that one is also very well worth getting. Brian

Yes, they travel outside Japan, and hold shinsas in other countries. The USA, UK and now Australia all have shinsas where origami is issued. (Usually the NTHK) All papers for swords are valid anywhere the sword is owned. The only exception I believe is with the very top level Jûyô Bijutsuhin, which lose their status if they ever leave Japan. Everything else keeps its papers unless another shinsa changes the origami. Brian

Grey, Is Guido's evil twin staying over at your place for the weekend? :D I think there is an online pic of the Masamune sukashi horimono out there somewhere. That horimono is certainly absolutely stunning. Does anyone remember the url of that website devoted to modern high class horimono? Have lost it for now. Would love to see more pics of these art carvings. Brian

Remember that Showa 1 is not 1926 + 1....it is the first year of Showa..so 1926. You always minus one from the year. So the 18th year of Showa is 1926 + 18 - 1 = 1943 :D Good on you for at least having a go. That's what we are encouraging here. After a few, you will start to get the hang of them. Thanks to Koichi for making it more legible too, and Jacques for the help. These are always good for novices to have a go at. Next time I think we will use the spoiler function so that more people can have a go Brian

Yes, it's real. That is the date side, the other side has the smith name. http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/common_kanji.html and also http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/kanji/nengo.htm Have a go at the date..it is a Showa WW2 date. Brian

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2178&hilit=tired A good thread on "tired" and some interesting comments. I don't see any reason to suspect that your blade is tired though. A look at the difference in thickness at the machi vs the upper nakago will give you some idea though. Looks like a deal to me. Although far from the in-polish and papered swords that we usually recommend, and top level blades that you should be llearning from, if you are going to play in that lower ballpark for your own enjoyment, then it looks to me like you did well. I don't discourage these lower end blades because if you are clever, then sometime in the future you might sell all of them for a profit, and use that money to upgrade to better swords. Those that can't afford to jump straight to papered and polished blades should always remember that the goal is to learn and upgrade constantly. This one is definitely a good deal for the price from what we can see (as long as there are no serious problems with it) Wavy shinogi line and needs a polish of course. Go to the books now, and save for a higher end purchase Brian

Brilliant news Adrian! I am sure there will be a lot of Australian collectors very happy right now. Sounds like a great event. This gives me some hope that maybe oneday in the far future I will be able to organise a shinsa here in SA. Keep us updated. I am sure the slots are going to be fully booked in no time at all. Brian

Although I don't have it yet myself, one that was hightly recommended to me by a tsuba collector and specialist is The Baur Collection, Japanese Sword-Fittings & Associated Metalwork by BW Robinson. Does anyone else have comments on this book and is it worth getting? Brian

Yep...my silly mistake. Had too many swords in mind at the time, combined wtith trying to reply while on the phone to clients. Brian