John A Stuart

Hi All, Could someone translate these seals for me? I am updating files on some collection stuff and need a translation for filing. One is a Kutani seal and the other is I believe Yoshitsune. Thankyou, John

Here is a Kamakura tsuba that shows tagane work that shows little change in the nakago-ana, some Akasaka show even more metal removed with no change in dimension. John.

Yes, I've seen the presentation piece de4signation to tsuba. Still called tsuba, what else could they be called, I guess? Back to the tagane-mei thing. Besides being the convention of the school, later classified and I understand the way in which these punch and chisel marks are used to ID pieces, what was the original purpose? Before being used as identifiers. Indeed I have seen the punch marks reduce the ana size but lots of chisel work that removes metal whilst leaving ana dimensions the same. Was this originally to adjust the weight to a particular sword? or space for the kuchibeni to form into? John

Hi Milt, Pete, Here is something that could use some clarification for me and maybe others. These punch marks on early tsuba seem to be a convention used by certain schools that were carried on by the descendant tsubako so subsequently they could be a tagane-mei used to identify a particular school. Yes? However in most cases the punch marks do not alter the nakago-ana dimensions and are added as pure embellishment. They seem to add character to unmounted tsuba where the seppa-dai would normally be plain. This also brings to mind those tsuba that have metalwork right into the seppa-dai where the seppa actually sits upon this work. Those tsuba have wearing from the seppa that has damaged the metalwork. Were these made to not be mounted? John

I had some hope that it was a legitimate sword that someone had mucked with but the nakago tells the story and it is that this is a Chinese replica. Those fittings that I can see sure would be hard to tell via the internet, don't you think? John

Thankyou again. John

I don't know guys. This one has me curious. The saya is the navy 95 I think. The blade may have been acid etched but seems a legitimate sword. Do I not see a hamon?I wouldn't condemn this one yet. Maybe the yokote is malformed by camera angle. More pics please. John

Beautiful, Thanks Simon and Guido. Great information. John

Hi All, I ran across this in a book recently acquired from Kodansha and I wonder about it. The west has used words incorrectly eg. Harakiri instead of Seppuku, by not being informed. I have just run into the use of Suemonogiri for test cuts that demonstrate the abilities of the swordsman on non-secured targets, whereas Tameshigiri is the demonstration of a swords sharpness. Has anyone used this word in that context? I previously had used Tameshigiri as all encompassing. John

Hi Koichi san, A paperweight!! That is funny, I had mentioned to my son that would be all it is good for. I would buy one that showed very good craftmanship. Thanks for that. John

Hi All, I collect some Japanese silver and bid on this even though the craftmanship is inferior. The price I think is over what it is worth in my mind and have dropped out. It has a stamp that reads 'ashigin' which is 'silver stick' I think. That is how it is described as well by ole po. What is it? John http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... :IT&ih=016

Hi Stephen & Brian, I have that article if you would like to have it. E-mail me and I will send it. John

Hi Simon, Here are the Jumyo pics, altered only slightly. John

Hi Simon, Yes given that information I would suspect they are refering to the godai Owari Jumyo smith. My info shows him signing nijimei. Why not other signatures? After all this ha produced many swords and my info is a guideline of the likliest mei. Also, Fujiwara was in many Jumyo mei. Can't wait to see pics. John Send them via johnstuart@johnstuart.biz or the e-mail link below and I will post them,if you wish. John

Hi Guido, I shall not belabour the point but I shall add a point or two. The gunto seppa are steel for sure, as they are highly magnetic. I do not collect gunto per say but have one just as a representative example, like the kaigunto I have that has the traditional European leather washer. I don't know if it was a later ww II saving copper thing or not. It wouldn't be a good shock absorber. The seppa that are new are from Namikawa, I know they are gold plated but did not know the core metal. The foil covered seppa I have definitely are copper inside, one is delaminating fairly bad. That set of black and brass seppa really are brass with the one being chemically blackened. Those were placed by a restorer and maybe they aren't traditional?? I have another sword that has a solid siver habaki that has some kind of alloy seppa that is bleeding into the silver. I can not get the tsuka off that one. Anyhow, thats what I have run into. John

Hi Guido, I include a pic of some seppa I have. I forgot to mention the copper and foiled ones but also the steel ones found on Gunto. In the pic in the upper left corner are seppa purchased from a Japanese company to replace worn ones, on the upper right an older set. The bottom set is a contrasting set and the gunto set on the bottom left is steel. These are mostly brass. John

Hi All, Can anyone help me with the following? I know Milt, you collect woodblock prints, so, maybe you'll know. How do you go about relining a print. I have a 1854 Ando Hiroshige I need to reline. I know it must be acid free paper (is rice paper good?) but what is the procedure? Thanks to any who answer. John

Hi Somin, There are a few different types of seppa that range from quite plain to highly worked, including the keyfret design (here we go again). They are found in sets of two or four. Some sets of four use a contrasting set of pairs. They are usually brass but silver is common and other soft metals appear from time to time. John

Yes Rich, I think it shows a little more refinement in the craftsmanship. The dewdrop is a silhouette not just a circle of metal; the cut-work just a bit more true. John

Hi All, Here is one that is very close that is in the new KTK 2nd covention catalogue. John

Hi Simon, That is an interesting story. Yes, please send the pertinent info and pictures. I would like to research this further and if anybody else has more info re: this, please tell us. I would rather trust the NTHK than the dealers at this point. Thanks, John

Hi Milt, I can not tell for sure. I believed that this kotetsu was legit but when I sent in the scan was told unlikely. It seems replicating these things was quite the cottage industry. Last year when I had posted this kogatana on another site I had correspondence with a fellow that also had a Kotetsu that he subsequently was pinked for. He was sure by comparison that his was legit. Go figure. John

Hi Milt, I had an e-mail from G. Robson last year that noted how many of these kogatana were treated like mementos or keepsakes and a lot were not legitimate signatures. Like tourist stuff. John

Hi All, This thread leads me to discuss an issue that is kind of important. If someone puts an item for sale in the public's eye then we should have the right to discuss its' merits or lack thereof. A major part of what discussion forums is about is learning and in the process save a shilling or two. I find it sad to be under threat of sanction from sellers that can not have their merchandise bear the weight of scrutiny and discussion. Last year I had a fellow from the States phone me about some innocuous comment about some auction piece of his wife's' that I had caused a diminished return on. That is what honest opinion gets you. I stress honest, because our comments must be sincere and not intentionally harmful, no matter how deserving they may be. We as a community of collectors have a responsibility to each other to eliminate dishonesty. I didn't mean to jump upon a soapbox but I felt it had to be said again. I just wanted to add that there are members of this board with the expertise to assist when unsure about something via PM. I thank them. John

Hi Guido, Very interesting information. I hope the publishing run of the book is of sufficient number so we may all get an opportunity to buy one. Count me in. John