Brian

Ok..I know I am guilty of starting it (Milt...puns and subtlety work wonders, you should try it! ) but let's try and steer this one back on track now. Not sure if any more can be said about dai-sho-sho though. :lol: Brian

Not to promote Ford's work or anything, but I did want to say how impressed I was when checking out a recent Nihonto kanji Pages link to the NBTHK 2005 Forging Competition results, and noticed way down at the bottom among the Chokin (chasing) Nyusen awards (accepted for competition) a solitary Western name http://www.tousyoukai.jp/english/17th_e.shtml Nice to see you listed there Ford, I can only imagine how hard it must be to compete with local Japanese on their home ground and be accepted among them. Regards, Brian

Hi Anne, I assume you have also checked out Ford's own excellent page on Japanese metalwork at http://www.followingtheironbrush.org/index.php ? I am pretty sure it is the leading resource on the actual processes, and they have detailed step by step tutorials. I am sure nanako is one of their specialities and they will have your technique refined in no time. I look forward to seeing the pics of the sword, and am sure we will do our best to assist where we can. Regards, Brian

I agree. Many of us have that same fantasy of a threesome. Brian

I've also received a few emails from Xuan, elaborating more on the auctions and asking if he could be reinstated here, and apologising for the lack of judgement in his prior posts. I am not vouching for him, but I feel that a seller who is prepared to give his address, his contact details at the university, and allows someone to come and see the tsuba personally is probably above board. And I am sure that any custom photos of the sword when it arrives would be sent. Yes, it is all different and odd, but I would be more hesitant if he wasn't in the USA and contactable. I believe caution is advised as mentioned, but for the sake of a possible real charity donation and a good cause, perhaps we can wait and see what happens with the auctions and decide from there. He has also promised to post scans of the actual charity donation slips once they are done. As said before..odd, but possibly still genuine and with the right intentions. I think also that payments done through the charity function on eBay are automatically sent to the charity itself via the eBay system. Brian

Yep..that's what I suspected. I would think that if it was done, then probably by a modern collector making up a (what would you call it anyways? :?) set for himself...or if there were any earlier, then probably by a wealthy merchant who didn't carry them, but just wanted to own them. That's a big if of course. Either way, I don't think it is too realistic, and the OP should be looking for a daisho to remain historically correct. Brian

Lawrence, Tachi were usually paired with a tanto, or katana with wakizashi. I am sure there are matching sets of all 3 out there somewhere, but they would be unusual, and extremely rare/expensive. I haven't seen one myself. Brian

Piers, If it's too much, how about you only attempt every second kanji character, and we'll ask the next guy to do the ones inbetween? Sorry, couldn't resist. I can't even attempt them, way beyond my level. Brian

Personally I like the look of the sword, and I expect it is well within the abilities of a good polisher. The rust pits don't seem as bad as many I have seen removed, but of course only a polisher would be able to tell you more. However this one looks like it will be very nice after a polish (length is going to cost quite a bit to polish though) but I would say it is a very good candidate. Brian

Valid points, which is why my reference to "good lots" wasn't based on the catalog descriptions,, but the descriptions by Clive Sinclair who I am sure is qualified to comment. Of course anyone bidding would have to attend and see for themselves, but I maintain that whilst some of the lots weren't superb, there were good swords that went for lower than they should have. This is based on opinions of those that did attend. No point debating this, as we all agree that the market is down, and good swords don't go for what they should. I am sure there are many factors causing this, but remember that Nihonto are still a bargain in the art world. Brian

Maybe, maybe not. Remember I snipe..just like you. Only I am good at it. Brian

Ok..so I know this one is not Nihonto related at all, but since it happened in Japan...and is such a cute story, I just couldn't resist Please forgive my hugely off-topic for once Brian

Oh dear, you are hitting the brick wall that I hit repeatedly. "Prove to us it is antique, but we have the right to not accept anything you offer, and not tell you where to get the proof" I think you are going to see more and more of that. It is much easier for them to deny it and make you bend over backwards (or forwards in these cases) to prove it, than let something through and risk a potential legal issue. This is what happens when there is no specific procedure and the individuals can interpret it as they like. I will quote Ian B from a previous post: I suggest getting a letter from the seller saying he has been dealing in antique swords for X number of years, and this is indeed an antique. Then I suggest you show them paragraph 6 and tell them they have to prove it isn't. Either way, it is going to be a bit of a battle for swords without origami. I am sure the Token Societies can assist, but if they are like here, then that will incur a fee for their time and effort, which is reasonable, but adds expense. I am sure the UK collectors here will assist you in any way they can, and good luck. Brian

Chris, I need to bump this one to the top again. Having read the kikuichi page in Knutsen's book last night, that is an incredible find! So you are saying that the one mentioned in the book is yours? I will try and scan the page if no-one does it before I get home. What an amazing history that yari has. I think these are amazingly rare and interesting polearms. Please do tell us more if you have managed to dig up any other info on them. I would also love to know if there have been any for sale lanywhere lately. I would love to see more pics of it, and perhaps the writing on the box. And thanks again for sharing. Regards, Brian

You guys are funny. I can't imagine my SO (significant other) ever not wanting me to buy something new. I guess that's what happens when you have kids and responsibility and those other things that come with marriage. No kids = more money for swords Brian

Yes, when taking reflective shots of a blade, then shade is better. But on a dark nakago where refleaction isn't as much of an issue, I think outdoors might be better. My older camera (2.1mp Sony Cybershot) takes great macro shots, never had a problem with any close-ups. I keep it for that reason, and use my DSLR for longer shots. Brian

Feel free to bid on anything you like I am sure Stephen wouldn't mind the increased price, and I am certainly not married to the kozuka/kogatana. I would be surprised if there weren't more bids. Kogatana are worth $100 up imho. Brian

James, Have you tried less coffee? :lol: If you have access to a scanner, sometimes they do a better job than a camera. Also, try taking pics outside in natural light, sometimes makes it clearer. Brian

You won't be laughing so much when I request all the members not to bid on it, and I get it for the $55. :lol: Brian

Well..to get back on topic, yep Piers, I like it. Very nice, with an original pole and nice shape to it. Looks in very nice condition too. I don't think it was a bad impulsive purchase, and if the wife complains, I will be happy to store it for a year or 10 :D Brian

Ok..stop raising it..you got your $55! I'll go after the kogatana, the kozuka is a bonus if I get it. Brian

Yep..it's true. eBay is smoking crack again, and making changes to screw as many people as possible. http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200805.sht ... 5-07090115 Whoever there thought there was any benefit at all to this, should be strung up and flogged. Brian

I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that one he uses for his own stock, and one is for consignment items he is selling for others. Brian

I am sure you don't need a dictionary definition of what is a good lot.. But there were some good swords there, and judging by what good swords have fetched there in the past, I would have expected them to sell. Maybe it demonstrates how under-rated Nihonto still are in the art world, or maybe it shows a weak market. Not all of the unsold lots were bargains and some were probably gimei, but in the "good lots" I would have considered the Tokubetsu Juyo Go Yoshihiro, which only reached GBP75K, and the Rai Kunimitsu didn't go higher than 19K? Even if not one of the best, it should still be worth more than that. The Nobuie kabuto with its history was probably a worthwhile investment too, but went unsold. Not everything was good...but it does seem like the market is a bit down, or the high auctioneer commissions are having an impact as predicted. Brian

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20 ... Y02302.htm Nice Japanese newspaper article on Keith (in English) Brian