Turbo storm

The pictures dont show the blade very close. All pics are from a distance and small details cannot be seen. If the seller posted better pics, I'm sure it would sell.

I'm just glad I was aware of this type of scam. Is there a way someone (admin) send an email to all new users warning of this type of scam. One person falling for this is too many, and I despise thieves like this! I see that it was stickied previously. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=62&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15

Update, He responded that he will not use Paypal. I let him know that I work for an American Government contractor, and this is a direct violation of International Traffic in Arms regulations (22 CFR Part 120) since he was communicating to me via my companies government email. He replied that he worked for the FBI here in the UK for 4 years. :lol: I didn't know the UK has the FBI???

I was contacted via my personal email by a person using the name of Pawel Nowak. He contacted me claiming to sell a tanto for $450 and a katana for $700. (my father's voice rings clearly "if it sounds too good to be true...") So I decided to play along. I asked how he would like me to send payment. He replied with bank transfer or Western Union. I told him I would only use Paypal to a verified user with a valid address, and he dissappeared. I have sent additional emails waiting for a reply, but nothing. He claims to have used the screen name of "Kaliope". Anyone heard of him, or had similar problems with him or someone else?

On ebay in the US, those items are selling for $300-$750. Most are around the $500 range. I think your friend did well.

Copper, and aluminum are excellent conductors of heat. If copper were to be wrapped around the blade, much like a very thich habaki, the heat would not transfer past that point, therefore protecting the temper of the blade. A typical "heat affected zone" from welding extends 1- 1 1/2" from the toe (edge) of the weld. the heat affected zone is the area in which the mechanical properties of the material have been heated to the point where the hardness, ductility, and tensile strength have been altered due to the application of heat. With the right welding process, and heat affected zone control, the affected area could be reduced to as little as 1/2"-1" (12mm-25mm). The heat affected zone is typically characterized by a dark changing of colors, sometimes resembling a rainbow of dark golds, dark reds, and blue/blacks. With this small of an area needing repaired, I see no worries with affecting the surrounding areas. The main question is, should a repair of any type be made. The bullet hole is a part of the history, but that part is better determined by someone with greater knowledge than myself.

As a welding engineer, I agree with the above statement.

This information was taken from Richard Stein's Japanese sword guide under Nakirishi Mei. http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm Since ancient times the signatures (mei) on the tangs (nakago) of Japanese swords have occasionally been carved by individuals other than the swordsmiths themselves. In some cases one swordsmith would carve the mei of another working with him. Sometimes a student would carve the mei of a sword made by the master swordsmith. At other times the master swordsmith would carve his name on an exceptional blade made by one of his students. These types of signatures are referred to as "dai mei" and "dai saku mei". During the Showa era (WW II period) it was a wide spread practice for a group of swordsmiths to have their mei carved by a single individual. Sometimes this was done by one of the swordsmiths in the group; other times it was a separate individual. When one individual carves the mei of several swordsmiths, such carved signatures are termed "nakirishi mei". This practice was particularly wide spread in the Seki area (Mino/Noshu region). Seki was the principle region for sword production during the Showa era. Below are several oshigata demonstrating this practice. Hope this helps

It has been my experience that quite a few Showa era smiths were very sloppy with their mei. It has also been said that many wartime blades, such as this, were made by apperntices and other workers, under the watchful eye of a smith. The apprentice or worker would then sign the smiths name. (thus your variance in signature). This is a late war blade and more than likely not a gendaito. I don't see a good reason someone would fake a signature on a blade of this kind, so the mei is probably correct. As long as you are happy with it, don't worry about it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just my .02 cents.

Arigato Koichi san! If Kanesada 3rd is valued at 1,500,000 for a katana, would a wakizashi in full koshirae sell for just under that? If 900,000JPY would be a fair price based upon this, let me know.

I saw a line like that once, and found that it was from a non-traditionally trained, backyard polisher. He was hitting his stones against a masking barrier, creating a line. Not saying that is a cheap polish, but it could be a reason for the line.

This sword is known as an NCO (Non-Commissioned Officers) sword. If you look closely, the tsuka is cast and painted aluminium. The numbers stamped on the blade are an assembly number, and matching numbers should be found on the saya koiguchi It appears that your saya is not the original one for the blade. The symbol just past the number on the blade is the arsenal stamp of Koishikawa. The three stamps on the fuchi represent on the left Kokura Arsenal (1929-1945), the center is Koishikawa (Tokyo) Arsenal (1870-1935), and the right is the Four cannonballs for both of the Koishikawa and the Kokura Arsenals. The blades are plain steel, and not tempered. These blades do not posses value as nihonto since they have none of the qualities. They do however have historical value to some WWII militaria collectors. These swords sell from $100-600 U.S.Dollars at various shows. As for the locking spring, you can sometimes find them cheap on ebay. Keep your eyes open there, or just make one. Hope this information helps.

I was contacted by a local antique shop to give an evaluation of a wakizashi that they had just recently obtained. The nakago is signed and dated as follows; Omi Daijo Fijiwara Kane Sada on one side, Kan-Bun Ju San Nen Ni Gatsu Hi on the other. I have looked through all of my material, and I cannot find any information about this Smith. Any information about him would be greatly appreciated. I am not interested in buying this item, just helping them price it correctly. Any reference material to a sword sold recently by this smith, or another from the same school, would be great. I should have pictures within the next few days if someone would like to purchase this. Thanks to everyone in advance.

That is one of my character flaws, I try too hard! Everything I do is to the extreme. I guess I thought bigger is better. Thanks for pointing out a better way. Thanks John. That was really fast. Question??? What is the second character down on the left side above what John translated? It is the same character on my 4 character tanto as well. Much appreciated everyone! Dan

I am having trouble matching the kanji on this tsuba. Any help would be greatly appreciated. the picture is very large and detailed, so it may take a minute to load up. Thanks so much! http://www.mkfotos.com/TS/slides/20110104.IMG_3906.html

Thanks for the advise! I will try that.

Very well said Mariuszk.

The kanji is stamped very lightly, and it is hard to get a good rubbing from it. I copied the characters as closely as possible in the picture attached in my first post. I will attampt some additional photos tonight to help out. Thanks for everything so far!

I have checked into it and figured out that I'm too cheap to let someone have a cut of my items selling price. Just my opinion, if you take a sword to them, they would not know what to photograph. You surely don't want them to pop the peg, and remove the tsuka, seppa, and tsuba to show signatures/details. Then you have to worry about them touching the blade and putting fingerprints on it. Try craigslist or another local venue for amateur photographers. They ususally have good equipment and will work for next to nothing, just to gain experience in their craft. Good luck with your sales!

Not all of us are, but if it makes you feel better, you can call me one.

If it is the price run up scheme, the person just got a little greedy and was trying to edge the real bidder up on the price. I seen it in person at auctions. Some people bid on their own stuff to drive the price up at live auctions. If it's your stuff, you just don't want to be the one with the final bid.

I will try that tomorrow.

I have tried going through all my character sheets, and think I have Nami no Hira? I am unable to figure out the remaining two characters, or how all four go together. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance,

That is the answer I was looking for. Much appreciated.

Please forgive me if I posted this in the wrong area. Moderator, feel free to move if needed. In downtown Charleston, South Carolina my wife and I were checking out the antique shops. One near the cruise port caught my eye with a sign in the window "Real Japanese Swords!" and another one with "Authentic Samurai Swords". At a quick glance through the window, there looked to be 7-8 katanas and 3-4 wakizashis. The door is kept locked for some reason, and you have to be buzzed in. Upon entering the store, I tried not to run directly to the swords. The wife went to the jewelry, and I stayed with her, eyeing the swords. As I got closer, I became dissapointed. They all looked like the $100 ebay chinese fakes. I backed away and went to tell my wife of the dissappointment, to hear her point out that all the jewelery was gold plated with simulated gemstones. The shop owner rudely calls through the store, "Can I help you?" I replied that I wanted to see the, ahem, Japanese swords. He said they are all $595. Morbid curiousity set in and I asked if I could view them one at a time. His next reply floored me..."Can you afford them?" I told him I am a collector of Japanese swords, and would like to see the fuchi, kashira, tsuba any horimono, or hamon patterns that are interesting. He claimed there is too much of a risk of me hurting myself or someone else, so I could not see them. (guess he figured I knew too much already) I started to lose my cool and said, "You don't want me to see that these are not authentic, as your sign says, and you want to pass this Chinese junk off to someone else." My wife mentioned the fake jewelry and he screamed at us to leave. Upon exit I made sure to tell another couple who just walked in to view the swords as well, that they are all fake. Hopefully I saved them from making a mistake. I still keep thinking of this guy preying upon travelers who come into Charleston looking for a momento of their trip, and buying a cheap knock-off thinking it is authentic. Any recommendations on what to do with this snake? My thoughts are Better Business Buereu, Charleston Chamber of Commerce, maybe even the atty. general. Sorry for the long rant, but situations such as this really burn me up.