gtstcactus

Yes Jean I spent $300 on a cactus this morning. I like everyone am entitled to my opinion, qualified or not. Carlo, there's always a chubby chaser in every group. What is that saying?? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

fair call Harry....

So these KOA ISSHIN MANTETSU swords aren't true nihonto..... what about the swords made with wootz steel mixed with tamahagane? I'm sure I've read somewhere of swords with tang stamped with something like made from "imported steel" not new swords either... http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cac ... sZ7pgO-hIA

yes your right.... base in uk and usa.... quite often has a few swords listed...

If YOU find one you really like buy it... As you've said before you buy things for "your pleasure" (as I do), so if something takes your fancy go for it... you are the one who gets to live with it, and have to look at it... Not the members here (well they may look if you post it here and tell you how nice it is) Jean, thats a nice, wakizashi but cheap???? Not my idea of cheap.... but I guess we all have different budgets...

http://myworld.ebay.com/bujin-antiques/ that's who i'm talking about. Often has quite a few Japanese antique items, swords included....

Hey, Has anyone had any dealings with bujin-antiques ebay seller based in the uk. Sells nihonto.... Just wondering if people had good or bad experiences?

Thank you Jean

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Book-Omamori-Katana-Tanto-Wakizashi-2-/360354202085?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item53e6c8c1e5#ht_10324wt_905 http://cgi.ebay.com/Edo-Japanese-Sword-Tanto-Koshirae-Tsuba-Menuki-Book-G-/360354478594?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item53e6ccfa02#ht_13512wt_905 Are these catalouges of blades for sale or reference books or what? There are a few Japanese Sword books in Japanese which seem to have heaps of photos etc I was just wondering if they were worth getting for a non-Japanese speaker / reader.... Given the lack of blades near me to look at books etc are about the only option aside from the internet.

Jean, Are you saying you think this blade is by the yoshimitsu you mentioned? or are you just mentioning that you had a yoshimitsu at one time?

No chance it says 1893? or a some other year? So does anyone have a definitive answer?

Thanks stephen, I thought you read Japanese top to bottom? not side to side???? So what I get from that is 3 3 6? I don't think I'm correct! I'm really not very gifted at reading Japanse

Finally some praise!!!!

I've tried to find these symbols, perhaps they are just some random marks.... Could anyone tell me what is said on the saya if anything!

Quite right!!!! Over time the art factor has become more and more important. Of course there have always been swords produced that are unquestionably pieces of art, but more often than not they are weapons, intended to kill. The fact that they can be appreciated is a bonus. I suppose it would depend on the state of the nation so to speak.... During the warring states periods many swords that I'm sure wouldn't be deemed worthy of study and preservation (as Brian put it in another thread) as art. They certainly were weapons tho.... During times of piece the "art sword" grew as smiths experimented with new techniques, tricks and methods etc.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=362496177 Sorry meant to put it in original post

Just seen a koto suriage wakizashi with partial mei supposedly yoshimitsu of bizen (one of them) The asking price is $8000-$9000NZD Isn't that a pretty big price without being papered? Or would papers with an attribution to Yoshimitsu send the price sky high? Seems to be in great condition...

Thanks so much guys.... could really have done without the hijacking!

I appreciate that and am grateful for it. I am not so grateful for those who feel the need to tell me what to do with my money. kusunokimasahige: Your picture isn't loading.

Why don't you change it to "Dedicated to the study and preservation of Japanese swords and fittings with $2000 polishes" or "Dedicated to the study and preservation of Japanese swords and fittings deemed worthy by the members"

I don't have a problem with what people have to say about the swords I post...... I simply hoped someone could based on what can be seen from the photos give any USEFUL informationas to an area where it may have been made. What I'm not interested in is people telling me what to spend my money on. I've been buying plenty of books for study and research, I am not going to dissapear now that I've got my "real samurai sword". Now who decides what is and isn't worthy of preservation? Surely thats up to the owners of swords and the people who do the restoration work.... Not a bunch of arm chair experts. Yes I know there are plenty of published authors here, but still that does not make them the judge and jury on what is worthy and what is not. I never asked for warm fuzzies, just facts, useful information. Not really so interested in personal opinions on my sword being average or not. The study of art is different for everyone.... What you like, I might not and vice versa. Brian, you mention the desire to do better.... I thought I had with this purchase..... So maybe I've gone from below average to just average now.... So what? big deal it's my money! The elitist/snob card has nothing to do with not getting the answers I want.... I'm glad to receive useful information... Keith has done nothing for this thread other than regurgitate what has been previously said, and be "intrigued" as to how and what I spend my money on. That is not keiths concern!

Moss, thanks for the helpful advice. Brian, I've responded to the advice in my wakizashi thread. Message received loud and clear.

Keith, Why are you so concerned with what and how I spend my money? You've been on at me since day 1 about how and what I spend my money on. The sword is for my pleasure, not yours. I never said I thought it was a national treasure, only an idiot would suggest it to be. I was primarily seeking some advice / and a hands on opinion / evaluation of my sword. However if I did want it polished, why would I want it polished? Well I would have thought that was pretty damn simple.... Don't most nihonto look nicer when given a polish by the right person, if the blade can take it? I'll bet it can take another polish comfortably. I'm not collecting things based on other peoples standards, I collect whatever the hell I want. So what if it's an average blade for an average price, that would make it a fair deal. Weren't more samurai than not of average status and wealth? Keith, you really seem to be snob. This board says dedicated to the study and preservation of Japanese swords and fittings. SO WHAT ABOUT THE PRESERVATION AND/OR STUDY OF THE AVERAGE Japanese SWORD???? I will be sending it to James Jordan (as recommended by fellow board members) and we will see what he has to say about it. Like he said, "....as you are correct, that photo's will not give the whole picture in evaluating a blade." Keith, please refrain from hijacking the thread. At no stage have I asked for your or anyone elses opinion on what to do with my money.

Keith, this thread was not to debate the ability or not of James Jordan to polish a sword or to lecture everyone about people not trained in Japan not being able to polish swords (regardless of you being right or wrong). So Mr Benson is good enough to polish a nihonto but not good enough to judge Mr Jordans ability to polish a nihonto Can someone lock this thread, I've been given the information I asked for.