Anthony de Vos

Hi! I'm really suprised. I have bought several swords from him a couple of years ago. Always good comunication, items as desribed, smoth transactions, never any hustle, and now this....hard to belive, shocking. Anthony

Hi! Alex, for a balance to the regular mainstream economy news read Zero hedge, for a wider picture. In order not to stray from the subject, I think both Europeans and Americans alike will benefit from Prime minister Abe's attemt to double the Japanese money supply until 2014, if buying the swords from Japan. Swords bought from Japan will cost less, but the competition on our markets will then increase since there will be a larger supply. Anthony

Hi! I know this is not an economy forum, but Alex, as long as the US continue to increase their balance sheet with 85 billion dollars a month through Fed, and the Saudies considering to trade oil in all currencies, thus making the dollar to loose the petrodollar status, there is not going to be a strenghtening in the dollar. Regards, Anthony

Hi Howard! Did you manufacture the maedate? Great job, looks nice. I'm not sure though if the vailtail goldfish with telescopic eye had been breed from the basic goldfish in those days. newertheless beautiful handicraft. Anthony

Hello! Thank you Morita san! Anthony

Hello! I use "mink oil" with good result on old dried leather. Recommended for leather garments as well. Anthony

Hello! I hope you get well soon, Marcus. Regards, Anthony

Hello! And the naginata went to Sweden. I,m a very happy customer beutiful.... Anthony de Vos

Hello! Nice Jan, nice! Anthony

Hello! Eric this is the second time picture of the tatami dou with the green fabric shows up on the forum, I think you were the culprit last time to. That dou still haunts me since the day it was sold on E-bay to Holland for $650. My intenet conection broke down 5 sek before I was going to bid . (this was before I found Gixen). I have tried 3 times to get in contact with the buyer to no avail. I will not sleep tonight...... Regards, Anthony

Hello Uwe! Great dou, I like.... Anthony

Hello Eric! Let me know what armor and what part you need and i will take some photos. Regards, Anthony

Hello! As compared to the more common regular plain laquered brown or black. Regards, Anthony

Hello! Since kusari and tatami is discussed, I would like to contribute with 4 of my more unusual tatami armours. Regards, Anthony

Hello! Anthony and Jan from Åkersberga and Rönninge clans, Sweden Regards, Anthony

Hello! Piers, the b-man was very pleased indeed, it was on a "I told you so..." level. For him this is evidence that this teppo is quite unique due to the pure iron content in the barrel (without knowing the Fe content in teppos per se). Is it anyone that have any information regarding the metallurgic distribution of teppo barrels in general? Bye the way did anyone notice the price for the medieval sword with provenance from the mamluck armory i Alexandria, on Bonhams auction yesterday? a staggering 135000£+fees... The 3 teppos went for 1200-1300£, two sold, one not. Regards, Anthony

Hello! The latest act in the bog iron, only emperor touch, teppo drama; The bog iron man has made som metallurgic readings of his teppo at SSAB (large swedish company). They had 2 machines, one old, making readings deeper and a new, making the reading more superficial. The result is as enclosed; Deep reading all FE ( the bog man clearly states that the machine also detect carbon, so no carbon in the FE!?.) The superficial reading states a rather high silver content AG, Interpreted by the b-man as a silver inlayed or even silver patinated surface. Any comments? I have invited him to test my teppos, long and short to compare in order to se if they are the same or if indeed this is a rare bog iron teppo. Regards, Anthony

Hello! Thanks john for that clarification. "Kyosha" is soon going to get a proper repatination and a new serpentine before resting together with her more anonymous, not babtised, brothers and sisters. Regards, Anthony

Hello! So with your resoning, the actual pistol is named "No Retreat"? Very interesting, That I've heard regarding swords, but never firearms. Thank you all for this info! Regards, Anthony

Hello! Thank you John and Piers! Without you two i would never find that out. "No retreat" it is then. Much better then the "bang flag" coming out.... The two pistols will have new serpentines (and the small one a barrel repatination) fitted at a very well renowned gunsmith here in Sweden. I will send pictures when it's done. Regards, Anthony

Hello Piers! My google translations didn't make me wiser. Does the kanji on the barrel mean "Have an inbuilt lance with a flagg on" Maybe a flagg comes out with the word bang, if i pull the trigger? :lol: Regards, Anthony

Hello! I would like the top one to be my little friend... From Seki school, somebody seen one of these babies, Piers? Regards, Anthony

Hello! Thanks for all inputs regarding the "teppolitos". When it comes to the beutiful teppo sold on the Probus gun auction in Sweden, it was initially rumored it was sold to Russia. But after talking to a member of NBTHK (swedish sub chapter to Germany) it seems that a another swedish NBTHK member bought the teppo, so it still stays here. Regards, Anthony

Hello! I just recieved another mail from the owner of the 3 swedish teppo pistols. He tells the following story regarding the teppo with the dragon; The owner participated in the "world championships in black powder shoting" 8 years ago in the US. He claims that the Japanese team went to the competition office in order to have the swede not to shoot with the teppo, since it was a national treasure, and could be damaged and should stay in a Japanese museum. They made an estimate regarding the value at $75000+. The swedish owner claims there are 3 weapons known to be from 100% iron, this teppo and 2 swords, supposed to stay in a Kyodo museum. He claims that metallic parts of pure iron is difficult, "almost impossible" to manufacture. The swords are supposed to be made from "bog ore" (direct translation) from nothern Japan. The ore is very rare and only the emperor is allowed to touch the swords!! Ok, before you all shoot the messanger , I just translated the mail as an example of storys and provenance people try to attach to things in order to make them intresting. Since I'm obviously not an metallurgist I can not value what that story is all about, but the whole story has some many holes in it..for example how did the Japanese team manage to check the iron content in the barrel, out in the field? Anyhow he want to sell the other two teppos, $2000 for both together. I don't even dare to ask the price for the "priceless bog iron emperor only touch teppolito" Pierce should I go for the two ? Regards, Anthony

Hello Piers! All photos are sent to me by the owner. Regarding the amounts of "teppolitos" the misstake is mine. I didn't look close enough last night. The teppo marked 2 is the one with the "iron story". On the photos with 2 teppos, the small one is the one I saw at the show teppo 1. The other one is, as you pointed out, a third one. they are multiplaying in Sweden, where is it going to end 0ne and two needs repatination for sure. Regards, Anthony