Moley

Thank you.. I am corrected.. But Is there any difference in "Quality" ??? In the U.K. the Navy is the "Senior Service" .. So has more "snob value" ??? How about Japan? Moley

Please forgive me if this is taking the thread offline. But Looking at this wonderful exmple I have often wondered... Were Kai -gunto .. (Navy swords) "Superior" to Kuy Gunto (Army Swords) ? Please forgive me if I used the wrong terms. It just seems to me that the "Navy" swords have so much "better" koshirae?? Or... is this my interpretation? Any reason for me thinking this? Any difference in the actual blades? (I know some were stainless steel) But "Otherwise" ???? Gwyn

Yes - Thanks Pepe Photo 01 Tsukas placed where mekugiana's line up with ana on mei Photo 02 Tsukas placed where mekugiana's line up with ana nearest Hamachi.

Hi Martin, Thanks for this. So if this is correct, it means that the upper ana was even more redundant after the shortening? So why drill it? a puzzle ! Also there is no sign of another (original before the shortening) ana except the one used. (at 31 inch ( 79.cm) Nagasa 38 inch (97cm) overall it is quite a long blade)

Hi Everybody, Something's puzzling me. I have a Minamoto Teru Hisa blade in shirasaya which I think is ubu. It has two mekugi ana. Now the puzzling bit is that the hole used in the shirasaya fitting is the one nearest the back of the nakago. (as in photo 01). I have also put a spare Tsuka off something else near it for comparison. If it was suriage, then possibly this Mekugi hole would now be redundant. But it isn't. This would be the bet fit for seppa and Tsuba. The other hole seems far too near the habaki to fit seppa and a Tsuba? (photo 02) In fact it would bring the fuchi over the hamaki. Why drill this extra hole? Any ideas? Thanks Gwyn

LOL - So what's new ? I would sit in his shop, drink tea, chat. He'd ask what I was after, then all of a sudden he'd rush off upstairs and come down with some beauties that were not on show. Great fun.

Hi Peter, I dealt with Bill for years. Visited his shop. Spent hours drinking tea and chatting. My brother fortunately bought not one but TWO really lovely Koa Isshin from him. Unfortunately, Bill has now retired and the shop closed. His business is sort of continued on line by his son.

Hi everybody So Anything NICE for sale in UK then???

Hi Klaus, Thanks for the good wishes. I am already on Kevin's (Ryujin's) mailing list. Gwyn

Hi Ken, Thanks for the concern. No I don't intend to practice with it as I already have an Iaito. Anyway every course I attend say "No Shinken" Gwyn

Hi everybody, I am a collector and a iaijutsuka (MJER) I have a very BIG birthday coming up and want to treat myself after years and years of hard work and denying myself everything. My wish list as follows 1. Must be U.K.. (I couldn't stand the strain of worrying over delivery and customs) 2. 2.5 shaku /75.8cm / 29.8 inches (no less) 3. NO KIZU OR WARE AT ALL (Healthy blade) 4. Must have Bo-hi 5. Not tired. 6. Age, not so important. 7. Must be Nihonto 8. Chu Kissagi 9. Koshirae not so important. please P.M. me or post. Will negotiate price on request. Thanking you all in advance. Regards Gwyn

Fake Look at the ugly overstated grain in the blade etc

Arigato Morita San, Thanks for the links. Very interesting. Moley

Thanks ever so much you guy's. I have heard of Benkei the Yamabushi. What is he holding in the Kashira? Gwyn

Hi Everybody, This set came with a potential Koto Nanbokucho blade I recently purchased. I'm wondering if anyone can help me with what the theme of these Fuchi/Kashira are? Are they a set? What is the object that is below the chin in the Kashira? I think one side of the Fuchi is helmet? What is on the other side? Thanks for you help guys. Gwyn

Some of the first Tsuba I ever bought. Not "special" I know. Don't really know what they are.. ...But somehow I really like them. Any ideas?

# I beg to differ Sir, "Un wennol ni wna Wanwyn" !!! And has been since cynghannedd was invented. Sorry.

The whole set. (just to make Grev Happy)

The nicest thing I own. (I don't consider that I own my wife or dog, they are my friends)

Thanks Henry,(and John) That makes a lot of sense. I googled Daikon and the vegetable is very similar to the object on the bottom right. So it probably is a "jar of pickles" Very worn tsuba.Hard to make out shapes. Any idea of age or style?

Hi everybody, Just got this Tsuba on a sword I hope to use for Iai. Hoping anyone can help me with any information about it? It's kinda hard to make out, but I'm seeing some sort of container and one of those long handled bamboo cups? Any help or information about it would be very greatly appreciated. Regards Gwyn

African ?

Congratulations to an artisan. I don't know how you do it...BUT...it really gets me every time. Even non-nihonto people appreciate what you do. Mmmmm I wonder if your ever increasing success make my F.H. fittings appreciate in value ???? OOOOhhh :-)

Hi Guys, Still along this thread. It really annoys me when Arthur is portrayed as English with a cross hilted sword called Excaliber and with some first knight called Launcelot. To me, Arthur is Romano Briton with a Spatha/(maybe even an earlier incarnation with a leaf shaped sword called Caledfwlch) and the remnants of a heavy horse cavalry battling against the Angles and the Saxons who eventually were to become the English. For those of you familiar with the Jack Reacher books by Jim Grant aka Lee Childs. Jack Reacher is 6' 5", with a 50-inch chest and weighs in around 210 - 250 pounds and he was a military police Major, Hollywood casted Tom Cruise