bdgrange

Please take a look at the items listed for sale in the Sept. 23rd auction with Chait Gallery. http://www.chait.com/cgi-bin/listing.pl ... 250&query= See items numbered 264 thru 269. These include tsuba (not mine) and swords that are mine for sale. Any questions I might be able to field for you? The pics. are the only ones unfortunately. Thanks for looking. kind regards bdgrange

The show is over for 2007. It was well attended and there was a full complement of tables and sellers. It was difficult to get away to the lecture and display areas.The floor was always active with lots of people present. Folks were expecting to buy for wholesale and it was an effort to move anything. I was a little tired at the end of each day. I sold everything I brought to sell, 2 katana, 2 tanto and an assortment of miscellaneous items, like books, fittings, tsuka,tsuba,etc. I also had a couple of items for display purposes only. It was definately a buyers market as they say. It was good to recognize some regulars and returning people like Barry Hennick. It was a pleasure to have met Alfred Tan, Ed Marshall as well as Bill Marsh, and others, fine people indeed. The food was very good as well. Wish I could go back today. I do miss it. regards bdgrange

Colin Griffiths can have it all accomplished in Japan, at one time. He has utilized the same established agent for many years. Colin's reputation is without reproach. bdgrange

It looks good to me. File marks should be kiri or slightly katte sagari. Very lucky person. bdgrange

You need not worry with this person. I have used his services for both sword restoration and for shinsa. He has had the same agent in Japan for several years. He is first class and very reputable with a long history of good service. He will be at the S.F. Taikai this comming weekend for those who might be attending. Highly regarded by all and communicates well, a real gentleman. bdgrange

My source has advised that there is a backlog with the NBTHK. I have been waiting for April results with one piece submitted. regards bdgrange

Hello all I will also have a table there. Look forward to seeing you at the Taikai. It should be a good one. Bill Delagrange

Chinese sword. Bd

pg 170 Roger Robertshaw's book has an oshigata. The center strike in the box of Mune is done the oposite direction than yours. Appears left to right. FYI Bill Delagrange

Here are the pictures of a Tadayoshi blade I just bought from Fred Weissburg. Thought you might enjoy seeing them as well. The koshirae is unusual and in ex. condition. There is a mon on the very bottom of the kojiri of a Chinese bell flower. I know that a mon was placed towards the bottom of the saya so that when it was given upon entry to a house it could be more easily recognized later. Or so I have been told. regards http://www.nihonto.com/rh429.html

Fastest delivery ever encountered. It looks very nice and the photography is excellent. Reminds one of the Masamune exhibit catalog. Spoke to one of the contributers of two of the fine swords shown. Very good reading with insights by Tanobe that are honest and clearly defined. Not done reading this and enjoy it immensely. Good reading in bed with good lighting, doesn't weigh a ton. best to all Bill Delagrange

Looking for a good source to make a new shirasaya for a good sword, Tadahiro, shodai. Who do you recommend. regards Bill Delagrange

Sorry, my mistake. Best of luck, we all surely need it. bdgrange

Red rust is a problem. It is active rust. May indicate having entered the surface and can then leave a pit. Applying oil will stop the growth but will not remedy the damage already caused. Rust cleaners contain acids and or abrasives and can leave pits where applied. They also cause the hamon to disappear with machine made blades. A polisher should look at it, I think. Where a hole exists and salt water has been there it keeps comming back or weeps. My mistake you are right about nakago remedy and I was thinking of the blade. Just oil it and leave alone. regards bdgrange

Received a response from seller "also for sale elsewhere not on e bay" signed MH. Still not clear to me who owns this. Still an impressive sword. best bdgrange

Take a look at this auction. The sword is rather impressive. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... ink:top:us What is strange is the comment towards the end of the rather long description, "as sword is listed elsewhere for sale" Someone else's sword and listing being duplicated by this seller? Has a few negs as well, 13. regards bdgrange

Not gemei but I have complaints about the koshirae and concern with the boshi. The saya appears repainted and a high gloss. Look down at the kabuto gane and you can see where it was applied with out removing the piece. The tsuka with black same seems inapropriate. The quality of same is not up to par with Yasukunito. There is no mon. The boshi appears reshaped and the hamon may be just barely there at the yokote. Early works narrowed here but not like this. Hard to tell with the pics. Might be hard to get rid of later and someone would be upset with this. Someone has done this no favors. regards bdgrange

http://www.ncjsc.org/article_keith_austin.htm Keith Austin is remembered fondly by many who knew him in Northern California. Here is a memorial posted about him. You are most fortunate to own this piece. The Sacramento club is putting together a book about him and his work as a memorial, I believe. regards bdgrange

thanks very much a great project regards bdgrange

Perhaps as a last note. I was just informed that the NBTHK no longer considers these to be true nihonto, with all that this implies. The problem being the steel from the Mikasa, built by Vickers. No papers for one thing. best Bill Delagrange

I agree that the hada has been enhanced perhaps as with "Tanpan" method of polishing. This is where a mild mix of acid is applied to the steel after it has had boiling water applied. This is brushed on and left briefly before being washed off. I believe. This is a technique that has been used for a long time and produces beautifull results when done correctly. Normally it would only be found with blades expected to be used in some form of Iaido, or so I have read. Bill Delagrange

The Northern Cal. club has a room, among the many with displays, in the Miyako Hotel in Japan Town in San Francisco. Their display can be seen on the 20th and 21st of this month during the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco. Their is much to see and enjoy. It is all free as well. The weather should be very fine as it has been. regards to all Bill Delagrange

Hello Steve Sorry none to post. It is the shape of typical soshu nakago. It is mumei and the rust is black. The mekugiana is punched and old. I sell thru this company because among other things, I am not good at photographing blades. thank you Bill Delagrange

Stephen I do but not in a format for this. They are pictures on paper and I could shoot them and send as an attachment to you. The workmanship is typical shinto era horimono work carved deeply. It is quite good and done when the blade was made. The dragon is turning back over its shoulder. The tail is obscured by the habaki left from when it was shortened. There is the end of a ken at the end of the tail. The nagasa is still 26.1in., must have been quite long at one time. In other words it was not added later. It is as nice a carving as I have seen. The reverse is a double, bo hi that also is ends under the habaki about 1 1/4 in. same length as the tail does. The blade is faultless, papered and in good polish as well For someone wanting a dragon horimono it is as nice as it gets. This is a Yamato Daijo Fujiwara Sadayuki (Bungo provence) from around 1660. Hope this helps. thanks very much for looking Bill Delagrange

Hello all. I have 4 nihonto and one priests kesa for sale in the 4/29/07 auction at Chait Gallery in Bev. Hills Calif. Please take a look if you have the time. Items 220 thru 224a. http://www.chait.com/cgi-bin/main.pl regards Bill Delagrange