Brian

This guy now has about 13 Nihonto related items going...all high end stuff. He needs to be stopped soon. I think eBay's policy refers to mass production items such as cameras and equipment where people use a standard factory image for their sale. But this does not work with one of a kind items where, if there is another one listed, it MUST be fraud. http://stores.ebay.com/kitsunomonoka If he had all of these, he would be a wealthy man. Someone with an expendable eBay account...bid $100,000 on each item to make sure no-one else can get fooled..lol. (Just kidding. I certainly wouldn't encourage such foolhardy and irresponsible behavior ) Chaos

Ford, Great work. I am seeing a horse design there, right? Love the work..but will leave the comments on the iron and the look of the finish to those infinitely more qualified than me Regards, Brian

Please could you sign with your name and initial yamamoto, thanks. I must say I agree with Grey on this one. The few things that do confuse me are the notches in the nakago (smaller ones..not those gouges) as I have only seen them on genuine swords. The combat cover and the fittings also look good to me..especially those WW2 seppa, but if the blade is fake, then they are most likely fakes too. Habaki can have a 2-digit assembly numbe ron it, but it is usually elsewhere. Nothing much can explain that hamon except a reproduction, I'm afraid. Seems a different level of fake though..these things are getting more and more confusing. The tsuka could be real...maybe not. How about a close up of the kissaki (tip) and tsuba? Regards, Brian

Will leave it here, as this is for anything auction related, but edited the topic to indicate the fraud. Reported it too...the more the better. Good catch folks. Brian

Great site Rich. I have his book, and it covers a lot. This is definitely one to add to the links page this week. Thanks, Brian

I think there are 3 or 4 different swords in there too. None of them match. Really odd one this. Good going Grey...eBay should start paying you a salary Regards, Brian

Eugene...you win the wierdest post of the month award :D Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0102734796 Now what type of subject is "you should is this" :D Brian

Gee...with one sword, you could get like 23 or more 1" sections for sale. 23x$25 = $575 for a broken sword. Hmm..don't get any ideas! :? Email Don (Myrna) and ask him what the hada and hamon is like on the section :D Brian

Henry, I'm assuming it is just good quality oil sold under the Fujishiro brand name (like the uchiko they sell) that is known for its good quality? Brian

Good to have you here. What are your main Nihonto interests, and how is the collecting going in Italy? Regards, Brian

Take a look here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... njin+guide A friend got them out of interest..not to use the techniques though. Hybrid polishing is not a good thing for Nihonto. Leave the polishing to the experts..but these might be of some use to those who work with knifemaking and modern non-traditional forging. Regards, Brian

This ties in nicely with Henry's current thread on his vacation and visit there: http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... 8caf9157f2 Btw..that sword is definitely a stunner. How much of the boshi is still there..looks like it lost a bit of the tip? But looks completely restorable. There is something about the nagamaki/naginata shape and style that seems to grab most people. Just has so much grace. Regards, Brian

Henry, That is an absolutely wonderful vacation and a great read too. The Osafune experience sounds like something that every Nihonto enthusiast should do at some stage. I think they only do the demonstrations on certain days weeky? All in all it sounds like a great experience. 2500km is a long way, but with such interesting sights, I bet it didn't feel like it. This is the type of trip to do every few years if you get the chance. Regards, Brian

Russell, Remember that online opinions will always remain just that: opinions. By their nature, they can sedom be more than an educated guess, and I think are always provided as such. You can only tell so much without having the blade in hand, and pictures don't always tell the whole story. The best way to get better results is through shinsa. Another good way is to get together with a sword group near you, if there is one. By "bottom of the pile" what type of points results do you mean? I understand that passing any shinsa is already a fairly good thing, no matter what result. On the other hand, if you mean points rankings such as found in Hawleys, then these don't always mean too much. You have nothing to lose by posting them here over a period of time, but understand the limitations of that. Sometimes a lack of replies means that not much can be added to what you can already see..and it is time to get it to someone qualified who can see it in-hand. Look forward to seeing some of them, and do hope you are able to get some info on them here. Regards, Brian

Hi all, I split this from the original topic, as I feel it is a good and informative topic on its own. Regards, Brian

I think you meant if $ is no object..... There is no way you will recover your money if you have a fatally flawed blade polished. Yes..some swords will paper with hagire, but they are in the National Treasure league, where there are few extant examples in better condition. Very very rare blades. In this case, I would enjoy it for what it is. Grey said it pretty much all. Regards, Brian

Ludolf, Thanks for the tip. Because of the info, I was able to do a search, and found a copy of the revised edition for a very low £10! (worth much more, and rare as you said) I grabbed it, and it's on the way Btw..for an excellent range of Japanese language books at bargain prices...try this: http://www.dworskibooks.net/?page=shop/ ... 43633e6ece (No use trying for the Sosho book..it's gone now ) Regards, Brian

Hi Ludolf. Thanks for that excellent research. Btw..your pics did upload fine and are there. It's just because they are over the max size that they show as a clickable link instead of showing directly. Regards, Brian

I agree with both Guido and Rich. While I don't want to start making rules about what we can and can't discuss...we need to remember that the organisations are fallible and human, and will make mistakes. They are however years ahead of 99% of us in their knowledge. Sometimes questionable decisions are made, but we are lucky to have other groups to go to for a second opinion. If they differ greatly, then we have a good reason to increase our own studies and also enjoy the blade for what we see in it. These situations are never pleasant, but we can learn from them, without comming to conclusions that might be wrong or right. There does seem to be a leaning towards the NBTHK, and that is a good indicator, but there are many satisfied customers from the other groups too. But opinions from any of the groups are better than a guess, and we should still respect the work that they do. Form your own opinion, and go with the groups you trust...or go with all of them. Rod..you have a difficult situation which I don't envy. All the more reason to follow the good advice of Rich in buying papered blades in the beginning if you can. In this case, it might not have helped, but we will always discuss the odd-ones out, whereas there are many more cases where the collectors are happy. Let's take this as one of the unique cases, learn from it and move on. Regards, Brian

Ok..now I am panicking :D My upcomming May trip includes a backpack and lots of jeans and t-shirts. Now it looks like I am going to have to pack something more smart casual I do notice everyone has more hair and 20 kg less than me though :D Thanks for that Rich..nice to put faces to the names. All very distinguished and scholarly looking gentleman..how are they going to cope with this young novice I wonder? Brian

Great wok Rich, it's nice to have those pages back again. I'll add the links to the links pages this weekend. Looking forward to seeing Jim's page sback up again when you have time. Thanks for your efforts and to Evzenie Tzoumasova too. Regards, Brian

Ray, Would you mind giving it a gold wash, and selling it to me? Would go perfectly with a set of f/k that I have, which are Choshu signed :D (just kidding..but a good match in theme) I love these fittings, but have never found a really good tsuba match. Regards, Brian

Wow..just wow. That is amazing..especially for those of us with limited access to shows and swords. I felt like I was going to hyperventilate just looking at the video Thanks for giving us some insight into what happens there. I suppose this is where the dealers meet once a year to trade and gather inventory? Is the general public welcome..or is this very much a closed community gathering where you have to know someone? Regards, Brian

I agree with Grey. Looks too well done to be a fake. I would take a shot at genuine, and messed with a bit. If I look at those 2 smaller ana (holes) in the nakago, they give me the impression that they were added later...maybe to mount non-traditional slab sided grips? I would think the larger one is the original one. Still..the shape and file marks look ok. I think it is worth looking into, as it is probably genuine (in my humble opinion) Can't say if it is just a machine made blade or slightly older though. What did the fittings look like, or did you get it this way? I would be interested in knowing what handle they used. Regards, Brian

Hi (name?) Glad to see you haven't parted with any money as yet. Did you have suspicions before you found this post? I would say that if you choose to walk away, you have every right to, but let eBay know you are going to back out, and the reasons. They need to block this guy if it isn't legit. Tell them you will use (your own choice of) escrow service to send payment to, and when you receive the sword the money will be cleared. The seller will give themselves away with the reply. By all means warn the second in line and possibly the third..as they will get the second chance offer. Hope the deal is legit...but if not, then it is a good thing that some buyers are being wary and not falling easily. Regards, Brian