tokashikibob

Gents, Saw this on Moses's site and was surprised at the audacity of the forging on this presentation blade. A lot of things to look at when you pull this out. http://www.nihontoantiques.com/project/name-sword-fss-728/ Best regards, Bob

Great Pick Fletch! I like it. When you get tired of it let me know, maybe we can do some swapping. Best regards, bob

Wow! That's a beauty Ray!

Nice find Ed, looks meaty and I don't see any forging flaws. Nice pick up!

Fellas, Can anyone make out what this sticker is on a shirasaya? Best regards, Bob

Enjoy as is for awhile and learn then upgrade to a better blade when opportunity arises and enjoy the hobby. Read Carvell's "Shogun" if you have not already.

Good looking blade Ed, can you see any characteristics in the forging? Maybe a inspection and window is warranted by the togishi?

Thanks Jean!

Gents, Doing some reading today and thought about the two character mei. Now if it has saku on the end for a total of 3 characters is it still considered 2 and maybe of older koto era? Best regards, Bob

Keep me in the loop so I don't mess you up. Are you moving out LRRP to take a look see at them? If so I send you some new cammie sticks!

Guys did we not try this once before? I foget the details but the guy was moving to China and ran a auction on NMB. We should look at that afteraction report to see what was Groovy and what was Square. I paring down and could put some tasty bits up. when we have a final consensus. Best Regards, Bob

I think they already have, which swords are you picking out for me at RIAC Stephen?

Might be of interest for someone? Surely very unusual. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Samurai-Battle-of-Kawanakajima-/192117839355?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

Beat me to the punch Bruce! We must have been typing at the same time!

Hi Gert, I believe you have a very nice old sword in Navy fittings. The tsuka looks like the faux samegawa that some koshirae outfitters used. Maybe the officer requested the faux samegawa or maybe the real skin was not available. Rayskin saya was a upgrade too, probably cost quite a bit more than the lacquered wood at the local Navy sword shop during WW2. Best Regards, Bob

Dealing in antiques part time, all the time, for a long time. It is interesting living thru the changes of the collecting culture. I wonder like Jean every weekend in regards to furniture. Victorian dark furniture is next to worthless now while when I was a young antique buyer circa 1980 it was quite expensive. However you will pay thru the roof for 60's and 70's furniture and objects from that era that were thrown away in the past i.e. Lava lamps and velvet paintings esp. semi nude women and who wouldn't like one of those, or a classic velvet Elvis! Things change when people of a certain generation die off and their collective interests lose much of their popularity. Shirley Temple, stamps, Lionel Trains for example. However new subject matter do move to the forefront, mid cent items, starwars, video game related gear and even old computers I think. Military related items will always be there ebbing back and forth in popularity with anniversary's, movies and a major current conflict moving the needle. Is anyone a fan of the "Forged in Fire" show on history channel? That show is a real boon for our hobby as I have enjoyed every episode over the last few years. It must be doing all right in viewership as it has run multiple seasons. I also agree that a blockbuster movie would be a great thing to drive 20 year olds to search out the hobby. Maybe a remake of Shogun would be a easy thing for Hollywood to produce. One last thing, as far as Shinsa goes; I ponder the idea of having U.S. based professionals offering a alternative summery paper at the U.S. shows that don't have Shinsa? In lieu of getting a Japanese based group at a show you could have a panel of our U.S. based professionals render valuable information on a submitted sword and sign off on it for a lower fee. I know I'd like to have assumptions on my favorite blades verified or disputed by a group of pros at a reasonable cost with paperwork to back it up. Best Regards, Bob

Nice work on the Tsuka Sal, your skills are top shelf.

WOW!

It looks like the artist took some initiative to make a distinctive mark. I was thinking it may be a bat but that does not fit. Not screwed with by a novice that is for sure. I was surprised Lev typed out a couple of forging points as I didn't see them the other day. I need glasses bad.

A nice blade for the caped crusader's utility belt! Vintage Batman gear is a very hot market. Anybody know Adam West's email? Best Regards, Bob

Josh, Always good to have some spares around in case something is needed in the future. Does not look like anything special but if it is cheap enough I'd get it. Cheap enough for me would be > $100

Damn, he's got it cheaper on Ebay!

Jean, I was thinking that too; that it should have melted. I'll take a pass on it (unless he can get it for $50 off the flea market table)!

Ok, not a beauty queen but wanted to make sure as I never think the Kaneiye and Nobuie pieces look special and they are considered the best. Do you guys think it was in a fire and that is the cause of the rough look to the metal? Thanks again for your opinions! Bob

Gentlemen, A friend of mine is offering this tsuba to me for $150 hard earned bucks. I am far from being tsuba expert but I like the look of it; but not sure of the rough look of the metal and if that is the way it is suppose to look. Buy or Pass? Best Regards, Bob