Brian

Ann-Marie, When you add the info, it bumps the topic to the top, so we know there is more info in the thread. The source of the info helps in judging how accurate it would be, since there are a vast number of "experts" out there with varying rates of accuracy. If your source is the NCJSC (not NCJSS?) then I would regard that as excellent info. They are a great society with a lot of knowledge, and there are many members here on the board. Unlike certain other clubs (such as the other one in San Francisco) they have a great reputation, and I think you have all the info that you can currently obtain on your sword without submitting it for shinsa. That should be your next step, and then perhaps a polish if you are going to keep it, or sell as is if that is your plan. Sounds like you have all the relevant info besides a maker attribution which is extremely difficult to do without a proper shinsa. As for value, that is difficult to determine. You mentioned you have heard it may be as high as $8000, but IMHO, that is high for an unsigned wakizashi. An unsigned, unpolished wakizashi can be had from $800 up to any amount, with a nice example going around $2000. But the shinsa will tell you more. Sounds like a decent sword though. I must add that if you took it to the other society (I think called the San Francisco Japanese Sword Society) then you should post a new thread about them, and see what the comments regarding them are. They are more than a little..umm..err..controversial :? in Nihonto circles :-) Regards, Brian

That was an excellent and very informative post. Very intriguing to see how tsuba could be used in relation to a lunar calendar. Thank you for that interesting quiz. Brian

Ann-Marie, I deleted the other post to keep this in one thread. O-wakizashi means long wakizashi, so I am assuming that o-o-wakizashi is just emphasizing long, long wakizashi (or very long wakizashi?) I may be incorrect, but this is my understanding. It might help if you could let us know where you got this additional info on your sword before anyone comments about the info. Regards, Brian

It's very fake. Whenever you see that acid etched blatant damascus type pattern, you should already be thinking fake. You will see a lot of this in the fake sword links above. That handle wrapping is also a dead give-away, and is very poorly done. The nakago is terrible, and the kanji look like nonsense to me. I have never seen a genuine Nihonto with "cowskin" in the auction title..but plenty of fakes. I use it as one of my many filters to filter out repros. Stay far away from this sword and this seller. I seriously doubt he is in Japan. Brian

http://www.irfanview.com/ If you can't spring for Photoshop or one of the other image editors, then this one is free and fairly easy to use. Your pics just need cropping. I don't think you can save your pics on the camera past a certain point. But that is easy to do on the pc anyways. Surely your camera came with one of the image editing suites? Most do. Brian

Peter, That is true, but I feel strongly that in that case, sellers must clearly state that they charge for shipping and handling. When I sell on eBay, I sell with the foreknowledge that if I don't specify it..then I cannot try and make a profit for my time and effort. I have been gouged many times. The most recent was $44 postage for a tsuba and f/k that cost the seller $19 including insurance. That is just not acceptable. It seems to be almost standard practice nowdays to make up auction shortfalls with overcharging postage, and a bogus handling charge that is not pre-mentioned. Many (not all) sellers use old boxes that cost them nothing, and all you have is a minimal cost for tape and wrapping. I don't charge for that..it is part of my service when I sell. I don't even bother buying these tiny items from Japan when I see they want $50 and more for shipping a set of menuki or a single fuchi. OK..just my rant for the day Must be off to finish work so I can go away for the weekend. Brian

Hi all, I will be away for a short break this weekend, and am leaving Rich T in charge. If anyone has any queries, please expect email replies only Sunday night SA time, or contact Rich. He has full permission to take any action he deems necessary..so play nice :D Have fun all. Regards, Brian

I may be wrong here, but I think that the mei was probably written on wet clay before the vases were fired, and if so...then I don't think the kanji are badly done at all. This is not as controlled as chiselling them onto hard steel, and would account for the sloppy signature. This combined with the fact that some of these artisans might have been close to illiterate...means I don't have too much worry about the mei personally. Of course I could be totally wrong..but it's a possibility. Try write your name in wet (and maybe not too firm yet) clay..and see how masterful it looks :D Brian

Thanks folks..the replies do help. The reason that the votes don't add anymore is that the poll was set to run for 14 days, and then closes. So no problem with your votes Much appreciated, Brian

Knowing as little as I do about tsuba, I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about this one. I was given it by someone who didn't want it after a remounting job, and I have been wondering if it is even a genuine tsuba with any age to it. Very plain, and seems very thin to me? Thickness is only 2.7mm, and it is 70mm at the widest part. No raised mimi, and no sekigane which strikes me as odd? Could this be a tosho tsuba, a plain low quality tsuba pressed into service when there was a need, or just some aged rough repro? Thanks, Brian

In my opinion..this is as suspected. A google search pulls up an old ebay auction. Auction is long gone, but this is the cached version: http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:aEO ... =clnk&cd=1 It went for $7000 from a known seller...back in 2005! These guys really do save these old auctions for a long time before using the description and pics. Wow. Talk about planning. Good catch..I'll report it if there is still time to pull it. Brian

Many swords that came home from WW2 were roughly shortened for the simple fact that they were too long to fit in the duffel bag or trunk that it was shipped in. I have seen a few that were filed partly, and then snapped off in the nakago purely for this reason. Some didn't have the necessary war souvenir paperwork, so were "smuggled back" and if they didn't fit in the desired shipping container..then the shortening was done. Often they were stripped of mounts and these were shipped separately. Not sure if this is the case here, but it is always a possibility? Brian

...Guess who discovered all the new smilies :lol: (And yes...I deleted the video link. There is off topic..and then there is OFF topic. And I have to retain my evil power-hungry despot reputation, right?) Brian

Rob, Welcome to the forum. This is a frequent question, and one that has pages of info in answer to it. The best way is to visit and read the following links. They will give you a very good background on the subject, and will hopefully guide you in your next purchase. Feel free to ask here before you make your next purchase, and we will assist you in the decision. These are all very good sites with a huge amount of info: Read through them over time, and they should answer all your questions, and some you hadn't even thought of yet :-) http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/fake_j ... words.html http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/faq.htm (good links to what to look for!) http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/realold.htm http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/repro.htm http://seaox.com/nihonto/ebay_swords.html http://www.Japanese-swords.co.uk/fakes.html http://hometown.aol.com/machood/ Regards, Brian

I don't think the JSSUS newsletter is behind the N. Cal. one at all. Yes..they have some nice colour photos in theirs, but I find the info and articles in the JSSUS newsletter are superior. Both are wonderful publications, and I don't think I would give up either. Both do an outstanding job, and for the price...collectors should at least be a member of one...preferably both. Brian

Yes..it is thunder. Donder und blitzen = thunder and lightning. (Or 2 of Santas reindeer if you are so inclined :lol: ) Brian

I received my set a while ago, but haven't had the time to really study it in depth yet. But I can confirm that the set is a bargain at that price. Carlo has been good enough to post most of the pics and info, but I can verify that is is filled with great oshigata and info, and for a ring-bound set..it is very well done. The paper is good quality and for the most part the pics have been well reproduced. It is easy to negotiate throughout, with good indexes. Each volume is in 2 parts, for a total of 4 sections. It is divided up by roads and provinces, and then schools/smiths. Each smith has an exerpt from the Nihonto Meikan. There is plenty of info, oshigata and even some colour illustrations. All in all a great publication that belongs in any Nihonto reference library. Brian

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Samurai-Sw ... dZViewItem You have got to love the humor in that :D Nice to see some honesty in listings. Brian

Folks... I allow discussions about current auctions here. But due to the fact that we are playing with a $25000 sword here, I am going to make an exception here and lock this thread for now and I will unlock it after the auction ends. Please accept this and do not start other threads about it. It looks like a decent blade to me..and may well end up being a bargain for the buyer. If any buyer is prepared to go to this level online, I would like the decision to be un-influenced. I will unlock the thread after the auction. I appreciate your understanding, and if anyone has any questions or comments, feel free to pm me. Brian

I know what you mean :D :D Folks..let's please keep the comments to the items and less about the sellers if possible. Just a polite request for now for obvious reasons Brian

That is Christian...a member of some of the other forums. I have dealt with him before, and he is a decent guy. He finds LOTS of swords through contacts he has, and comes across some very nice stuff. The best he keeps for his own collection, but he always has a huge variety of stuff for sale. IMHO..Easy to deal with, and pleasant. Brian

Hayri, I think it is the very helpful Stephen (who is well on his way to getting his desired rank) you are refering to, and to whom you sent the pics? I am sure they will be posted soon. Perhaps if you tell us where you are, we can see if there is a member near you who can assist in person, or guide you to a group who can help. Looking forward to the rest of the pics. Brian

Here are the pics Dennis emailed. Looks like an interesting blade. Folks..please remember that the How-To forum contains lots of info on how to resize pics, upload them etc etc. You can resize using Windows Paint or other free progs..all the info is in there. No harm done though..you can always email me if you are stuck Regards, Brian

Bobby, That is not Japanese, and I don't think it is very old. It looks like it comes from Indonesia, Thailand or Burma, and they are usually made for the tourist trade. That flexible blade is typical of these types of swords. Japanese blades do not bend like that. I am afraid this has no interest for Japanese sword collectors, and I think the info you have on it is very false. At the most..I think it might be 100 years old..but I think it is more likely it is about 40 years old. Sorry to give you the bad news. Brian

Hi Dennis, The pics didn't upload. Please check out this thread: http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... ic.php?t=8 Regards, Brian