Brian

Thanks Guido, I have been looking for an explanation of the various oils, as there has been a lot of confusion lately. One of my acquaintances recently told me too that mineral oil can contain slight traces of acids, and said to use vegetable oil. However I also don't agree with that. So basically Mineral oil is a petroleum product, and vegetable oil is an agricultural product. That would lead me to think that there are varuious grades of mineral oil. I know there are light and heavy mineral oils, and the one that we use is light mineral oil? The thin "sewing machine" oil that I use is a light mineral oil? I don't see any reason for that to have any traces of acids, so I go with your thoughts on this. The confusion must come in with all the various forms that vegetable oil and mineral oil can come in. Pharmaceutical grade etc etc. I assume normal cooking oil is a vegetable oil..but you wouldn't use that on a sword. Vehicle oil is a heavy mineral oil? (called petroleum oil?) Sorry to steer off topic like this, but I'll likely strip these from this thread into a new thread on sword oils so that we can finalise the subject once and for all. Regards, Brian

Just a quick one before dinner. I won't hide it, as it is just my observations and shouldn't influence anyone Whole blade looks quite fresh and healthy. From the machi and sugata, it doesn't look like it has seen too many polishes, and looks to me to be late shinto to early shinshinto. The horimono and nakago patina also leads me to this period..I would be looking at early shinshinto I think. The jigane also looks a little hard, but quite nicely done. Yasurime not higaki as I would expect on later shinshinto, although this isn't a rule, just a hint for me. I can't quite decide between late shinto or early shinshinto. Will have to take more time before I can take a stab at a smith, but not easy on these (maybe) post koto. Brian

Give it a chance for the weekend crowd to take a look. That's when most of us have a bit of time, and can hit the books a bit Brian

Am I wrong in thinking it is a very stylised dragon chasing the pearl? Could be he is looking back over his shoulder. Or maybe it has just been a very long day Nice looking blade. Brian

I think while a horimono (such as a hi) might make a blade stiffer in one direction, it can never make it generally stronger. Removing metal can only cause weakness in the other directions. This was discussed somewhere here by Darcy. Similar to an "I" beam...it resists bending in one direction, but is not inherently stronger in other directions. I agree with Henry that this takes the sword more in the direction of an art item and away from a weapon. The one posted recently is also mentioned as having had this done much later in its life. Beautiful though. Brian

Rob, I'm not going to let the conversation steer too far into Wootz steel, and that is outside our sphere of speciality here. Unless it is speciafically Nihonto related I would direct those specific conversations to the various SFI forums. The Namban tetsu link and its use in Japanese swords is on topic, but I don't want us veering off towards other swords and other steel. Thanks Brian

Yes, I think we have to clearly differentiate here between Nanban-tetsu, Wootz steel and other imported steel. That article does say that the steel that was imported from India was called Wootz steel, but I think that they would have lumped all the steel under that classification possibly, and it was likely not all Wootz but more plain steel. It seems from all the articles together that Nanban tetsu was sometimes used, and that could be both Indian Wootz...or Dutch, Portuguese etc plain steel. The Wootz was only really useable when forged further until it lost its inherent properties and became more like normal steel. Most likely these were all mixed and forged with Japanese steel to create a forged billet of useful properties. Brian

Yep..don't you love those English to English translations? Brian

To be fair, I do see exactly what Jacques is noting though. It is something that does cause suspicions of machi-okuri, and even if that isn't the case it is good to note it when examining the nakago. To me it looked like the nakago wasn't shortened from the bottom, but the machi were moved up. Might just be wear from something or there was slight reshaping, but what he indicated is definitely there though. Not serious, just worth noting. Brian

Anyone who actually takes that theory further is going to get themselves a week's ban Let's just leave that one right there as a funny story shall we? :lol: Although all logic says that a hardened and tempered tip should snap when under stress, I have seen at least 2 swords with the kissaki rolled over or bent, so it is possible. Some have said that if it bends, then there can't be a proper temper there, but maybe some of the metalurgists here can explain why this happens? Brian

I think (I hope?) that Steve is just making a sarcastic joke at those who say nothing good ever arrives on eBay. I'll be interested to see where this one goes. Regards, Brian

Actually the reasons come mainly from the comments I have been sent privately Also...some really wouldn't like the comments about sellers that they regard as good. One of the most popular sellers sold me a wakizashi that had pics of every part of the blade except for the slightly nasty open fukure and hi that was cut skew at the end. Rest of the dealings were great, but how do I rate him now? See what I mean? I have also had good blades from some sellers that everyone else avoids. And I am sure others have similar stories based on the pm's I receive. Nah..I don't want to go down that path. Brian

Yep..DanielLee just pm'ed me that link too. You guys are fast :D Wow..first I have seen up for sale. Anyone wanna buy a kidney? That is a nice one, and certainly in the realm of scarce. Brian

Lawrence, Yep, the thread wasn't locked due to anything you said, it was just that it went off in a different direction that was too off topic, and there wasn't anything we could add to the discussion of the 3 swordset, as we showed that they didn't really exist. So there wasn't much more that could be said. You would need to let us know what you intend using the swords for. Remember that a modern traditional daisho is going to cost you probably upwards of $25K, and you can commission one from any of the modern smiths. Finding an older daisho set would cost at least that too. Is this what you are after? If so..they are going to be for study and collection, I don't know anyone who will spend upwards of $25K to "use them" for any purpose. Give us a bit more info, and we will try and assist further. Regards, Brian

Ah...you see..now you are talking the right language Good deal. Someone poach that beast before I get too tempted by tomorrow? Think you should add this to the end of you auction descriptions in case anyone gets miffed at deals off eBay: "Note, I reserve the right to end this auction at any time as the item is listed elsewhere for sale at the same time" Brian

Pffft! Opening price means nothing. May as well start it at $9.98...means the same. No eBay item is a bargain until it ends. I wanna know what you want it to end at, not start at Brian

What's your "extra special, NMB-only" BIN price on that one Milt? Brian

Yep..Jinsoo is a highly respected member of the Nihonto community. But as Stephen said, last we heard he moved to Korea and dropped out of the scene, then posted a single message a long time ago saying hi, and he was getting his site up and running, and then nothing again for a year. Make sure you are able to get hold of him and that it is indeed him. If so, he's a knowledgeable and decent guy. Would be very interested in hearing if he is active again. Brian

I hardly call possibly saving interested members a few $1000 that were unaware of the gimei a "post of death" :lol: :D It's a good service. Now how do we get a representative group of NMB members into those Sothebys and Christies auctions? Brian

James, I have had this happen before, and I'm afraid that it seems that this is the truth. Canada has very high shipping rates, and I think we are often spoiled by the USA postage rates which are very reasonable. EMS and Priority International from the USA get a sword anywhere for around $40 to $75, but other countries don't have EMS and it often goes over $125 for a sword (Japan is ok too I think) Purolator and the other methods from Canada are going to be around that rate imho. Just lucky that the USA is still cheap compared to other places. Regards, Brian

Moriyama san also pm'ed me his doubts and pointed here: http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT111197.htm Sadakazu was indeed meticulous with his mei, and I would have to agree with Ford and Moriyama san. I guess it was a long shot anyways to find a shoshin sleeper like this Nice polish still, and I would love to see the mei on the f/k. I revise my opinion in that it is gimei, but someone put some money into it with polish and fittings. Am sure we will have some other comparisson mei soon to verify. Can't say the NMB aren't on top of things Brian

I haven't checked the mei yet to see if it is gimei, but I hope someone will do that and let us know if this one is as good as it seems? Will try and check it myself a bit later when I get a chance. Brian

Well..i would like to see it to go right here to my home :lol: Wow. Nice one. Who was the guy that said it read Bishu Osafune Sukesada Hmm....nice in polish and great condition. How on earth do militaria dealers end up with good stuff like this? Brian

Bojan, While ware are common, I think it would be unusual to see one running the entire length of the sword, as that would indicate pure masame hada, and the grain structure should follow this. Is it possible that the construction method is one of the other methods such as honsanmai or warihatetsu etc (see http://www.tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/d ... sword.html which I think is copied from Dr Stein's site?) and you are seeing the join line between the shingane/kawagane/hagane? Based on the fact that you say this is a shinshinto, maybe they were using different construction methods? Just a thought, since long ware are sometimes seen, but usually not as long as you describe. It is it indeed a ware, then I don't think it would be fatal, but definitely undesirable and espcially so on such a late sword. Maybe a fairly unskilled smith? Brian

Was thinking about this in bed this morning. Attention Milt, Grey, Barry etc.. Don't you think that this would make a great article for the JSSUS newsletter? "Is my sword worth polishing?" This is such a common question, and the answer could certainly make for a great article. There are all kinds of points such as "Is it sentimental" "Can it teach me something" "Will it raise the value" and "Is it necessary" I think the article could be very informative. Basically there isn't a finite answer. I often see it like adding an expensive sound system to your car or redoing a room in your house. Often you won't recover the cost when you sell, but you do it for your own enjoyment. And as Grey mentioned, it is sometimes not just a question of restoration and is not always better. Hope this raises a spark in someone, and they do the article (unless it has been done before?) Regards, Brian