KizuKazu

Will try. It only took me six months to post these. Not much sori and the boshi is kaeri if I recall. It's packed away now so can't check without major unpacking. For such a short plade, it has a very nice feel to it. No rust or kizu but the polish is old and faded. Simon

Here are a couple of angles on the same shot - not much I'm afraid. Will try to do better. Simon

Yukimori is listed in Hawley YUK297 and YUK299 as the son of Yukimitsu. Like most else, the eBay mystery man probably got the date wrong. I have followed many erroneous half-truths to successful finds whilst other collectors passed off incomplete information. This is what sword hunting is all about. Some are dead ends, most of mine have not been. I've rattled off some names before. I don't believe I mentioned the Masamune tanto I found? Yukimori was a Bizen kaji but there was much exchange between Bizen and Soshu at this time. It could be another Yukimitsu but generally, if Hawley states a name when there are many, it's usually THE name. Yukimitsu was a student of Shintogo Kunimitsu, which would make him a contemporary of Masamune but Fred Weissberg goes as far to say that Yukimitsu was the father of Masamune. I always understood Shintogo Kunimitsu to be the adopted father of Masamune. The eBay guy knows nothing. He got the name from somewhere along with those false expectations. I'm more interested in the tanto. It could be anything but I like the look of it. I pulled a genuine Miyoshi Nagamichi katana off eBay a year ago based on the grace of the blade, as there was no close-up of the work and no shot of the nakago. $600 I think it was, as nobody else would take a chance. People tend to underestimate a graceful sugata, whereas I believe it is the first thing to look for and possibly one of the most difficult of tasks for a kaji. I've only recently turned to eBay for swords. Occasionally something good comes along but I have to use a different set of senses than previously without sword in hand. It's working. I have a number of fine blades using similar selection criteria. So no, I made nothing up but nothing is certain until sword is in hand and back from Shinsa. NBTHK Shinsa. I'm staying in contact with this man and he is expressing his gratitude for what I tried to do, which was out of genuine concern and no interest in the sword at that stage. Now we'll see, as I'm getting curious, more about the tanto. Until then, it's only pointless to state a position on relevance one way or another. I've followed longer shots than this to very successful outcomes. Remaining positive helps but then I'd have to get into the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Physics, which is not as OT as you may think.

There's that, there's always that, then there's the fact that America is in the worst economic shape it's been in since the 20's right now. Or so I read. I'm in Australia and things are OK here but I'm not so quick to judge desperate last stand life-rafts at the moment. Nobody's being forced to do anything. Nobody's going to pay $9k for such a sword, let alone $90k. It would be interesting to have a look, were it not a waste of time as there is no way he's going to let them go for their true value. I saw a picture of the tanto on another site where he has them also and; it's a could be. They are both worth a look; were they in reasonable hands. The guy could be a 35 y/o car salesman for all I know but as I said (but has been deleted), I'd rather waste a hour to give a person the benefit of doubt than turn my back on someone in need. Despite all the BS, perhaps he is about to loose his house. That would get me thinking creatively; a lot more creatively void of deceipt admitedly but being creative has been my career. A lot of people have to think creatively for the first time at the moment. That must be scary if you've worked on a production line all your life. This was all just intended as bottom-line humanity. At the end of the day, he's going to have to come to terms with the fact that they just won't sell. If he wants to sell them, needs any money at all, he's going to have to come to terms with the their true value and a son/student of Yukimitsu does sound exciting, if it really is. The tanto is anybody's guess. I'm going to try to get over to the US on a sword hunt this year so I'm going to keep touch with this guy. Showing him humanity was genuine but it may just pay off in the end. I doubt it but there are swords I have chased for 20 years. Simon Binks

Just to qualify, I have Hawley, Fujishiro and a couple of others. When I refer to my books, I am refering to a library, cartons upon cartons of books going back hundreds of years from my family collection to the thousands I have purchased, including an extensive collection on Japanese swords, cartons of those alone, mostly in Japanese. Likening this to a laptop is akin to associating a stereo to my recording studio > 2 tracks vs infinite. All this pales into insignficance compared to the purpose of the original post - to try to help an elderly man about to loose his home in this economic crisis whilst we sit in luxury with money to throw away on expendables like Japanese swords. Simon Binks.

I don't need an excuse for my books and most of my belongings to be in storage and have no plans on getting them out in the foreseeable future for other reasons I don't need to explain to a Japanese sword forum. I'm just trying to help an old man who is about to loose his house. I have searched the Web extensively. I'm pretty sure that the simple answer is that the apple fell far from the tree in Yukimori's circumstance. It happens. Why is the most simple, well-meaning jesture met wth such hostility. Every time I come here it results in a hostile result. This posting couldn't have been more selfless yet still I have to justify myself. I'm sure everybody saw this sword. Who else cared to do something, let the guy down from his impossible expectations? Even if this Yukimori is more valued than Hawley rates him, there is no way this poor old guy is going to get 1/10th way to $90k. I just wanted 1/ Others to write to him as well so he has realistic exectations, as I don't expect him to just take my word for it or 2/Get as much as I could for him. I don't want anything out of this. I'm not bidding on the blade or trying to get a free kantei for my benefit. I'm just trying to help an old man about to loose his house. I don't need my books for that. Simon Binks

Some turkey has convinced an elderly man that he has a Yukimori wakizashi worth $90,000. eBay: SMALL Japanese SWORD MADE BY YUKIMORI 1536/SMALL BLADE /W SHEIF Item Id: 120848322092 I've written to the guy, firstly asking politely how he came to expect that value. He replied that someone whose name he won't reveal had told him that was the value of the sword. How many times have I heard that. This poor old guy is about to loose his house and he's hanging on this absurd valuation as his saviour. I'm guessing that his advisor is referring to the son of Yukimitsu. We all know Hawley's rating system is merely a rough guide that is sometimes way off but I can't find any information on this Yukimori - other than he being the son of Yukimitsu. If this is THE Yukimitsu, as in student of Shintogo Kunimitsu/contemporary of Masamune, one would think his son a kaji of higher value but I can find no reference to support this. Then again, all my books are packed in boxes. If I'm wrong and this is a sword of much higher value, this is best-case-scenario for this poor old guy. How about it guys. Here is an old guy (80's I think he said) about to loose his house. The photos are distant and show nothing. There is also a tanto that accompanies the wakizashi. Who knows what that may be? If this Yukimori is the son of a kaji who worked alongside Masamune - IF - surely it would be a case of an other error in the Hawley rating system - YUK297 & YUK299(?) - 20 points. I know he'd be lucky to get $90k for a Masamune right now (? I have no idea) but just throwing this up there to either get some help to let this guy down in his expectations, or maybe I'm wrong and he's sitting on something that may not be worth $90k but maybe enough to get him out of trouble. Over to you guys: Simon Binks

I think it's been pretty well-covered but swords come straight to my front door in Australia. I am in the state of Victoria which has the most strict arms/weapons laws. Swords arrive from Japan or the US and I don't have to pay or do a thing. Not a problem. Simon

John, Australia and Indonesia? I have spent a lot of time in Indonesia but was never able to turn up a sword. Saw a good Gendai when I was in Bali December '94/Jan '95, but preoccupied and had a number of very good blades with me. Dang, I should have got it. Where are you John? I left some good swords in Perth. I have a black mask, grappling hook, glass cutters, gloves, thought we could catch up next time I am cleaning somebody's chandeliers. Simon

Has anybody heard anything about Jon Bowhay lately? He really looked after me in Japan once and I have heard that he is unwell. I've sent him a message via his Website but no reply. This is not like Jon. He was always very communicative. Would appreciate any news. I believe I have a good NBTHK papered sword in koshirae coming. Don't know the details yet but will advise. Simon

Dear John, Thank you for your thoughts, but I am in Australia and these guys look to be in the USA. Then again, you look to be somewhere between Australia and Indonesia?? Whatever your location, thanks for the thought. Simon

Just noticed this. Here is my third attempt to join and I am taking Brian's advise and introducing myself. My name is Simon Binks and I have been a collector for about thirty years. I have joined this board as simonjbinks, Marked Hamon and KizuKazu to try to keep harmony but I don't want to bring this up again, as though I'm sure members are sick of the melodrama, none more than I. I just want to talk swords. I don't think I'm anybody special, in fact, when I think of the swords I've let go, I think I'm a bloody idiot. I was a rock musician in the 80's. Who wasn't? The touring provided the swords. I have had three collections, my first a collection of quantity occasioning quality. My first sword was purchased in Bali. I looked in the local trading paper where I had seen Japanese Swords Wanted advertisements and contacted that person. We met at his work and I was disappointed to discover than my Bali find was a jeep spring. That person was Barry Thomas who has been a constant friend and mentor for all of those thirty years. I purchased my copy of Hawley off Willis himself, in his grand Hollywood mansion. He casually pointed to a Chinese wall panel that he said was worth more than his house. I'm sure others here have seen his house. That must have been one Chinese wall panel. We all know of flaws in his work but considering when and how it was done, a remarkable effort by a wonderful genteel man. I very much liked Willis Hawley. That first collection went in Japan, where I was mutton to the wolves. I figuered it the right, moral thing to do. It was not the right financial thing to do. I had to finance time living in the US trying to restart my career as a musician on a grander level that in a country of a mere 18m (I think Australia was at the time). But first, I lived in Japan twice for about 18 months a piece. I met Nobuo Ogasawara, who took me into the catacombs of the National Museum and showed me pieces that don't usually go on display. I was also taken to Jon Bowhay's Sensei, who just happened to be polishing a superb Masamune katana. They were both impressed when I shrugged a quick kantei of the sword as being Soshu Den. I didn't let on that I had seen a glimpse of the sayagaki. I almost dropped it when it was pronounced to be a Masamune. My second collection began with a superb Soshu piece that came from my Aikido class. It was in good polish, no flaws and Handachi mounts, with a superb deep red ishime urushi saya. I collected a few more, including a Gendai piece by one of the top Gendai masters but this was when one did not collect Gendai pieces. Or so I thought. A less than honest collector relieved me of that under conditions that caveat emptor does not really cover. A near fatal car accident forced the sale of that collection. I am now on my third collection. I have tended to be lucky with swords, but I also get somewhat obsessive-compulsive about the search. I do romanticise. I make no apologies for it. It's my choice so please allow me to be an excitable young man. I may not be so young anymore but I'm always looking over my shoulder for adults. I've picked up a thing or two over thirty years, living in Australia, LA (after driving from NY with an actress — don't EVER do it — and picking up two swords and three guitars on the way). I've also lived in Singapore and Jakarta and swords have never been far away. I have had a lot of swords, must be somewhere around 150, some very good, some average early on in the learning curve and some extremely good but it's an addiction that never ends. And Barry, DID you sell that mere Nihonto to buy your beloved daughter (Allison?) a car? Simon Binks

Alan, This is so much more complex than it was wth the Kotetsu, which was sold by the way in 1985. The Kotetsu was obviously chromed. I knew that when I bought it off a guy who found it as the sole item in a destered shack in the middle of the Australian desert. Go figure. Because of the thin nature and cracking appearence of the hada on this sword, it didn't click that it was chromed. It looked completely different than the Kotetsu. As stated, it looks more like spider rust and the blade does not have the extra niku of a proper chrome plating. I'm hoping it was done half-assed. I'm going to take it down to a panel shop and talk - only talk at first. Thanks for your help. Simon

Barry is an old friend and my mentor. He is the most knowledgable collector in Australia and one of the finest people I have ever met. We have known each other for about 30 years now - all my life as a collector.

Raymond, Yes, this does answer some questions/conundrums, but opens more. Losing 9 cm will take the machi below all mekugi ana. The top mekugi ana - the one closest to the blade, is the oldest on the sword. The Gunto tsuka uses the one below it, closer to the nakago-jiri. I know this is reverse to the norm but nothing seems to make sense on this blade. Taking 9 cm off will put the Bonji in place but the nakago tapers in width dramatically. This means that if it were shortened in the 18th century, then the nakago must (might?) have been narrowed down at the same time. In that case, the patina should not be so dark. This still doesn't explain the great wear over centuries to reduce the nakago by constant kneading to make the kanji starting and ending with Ichi to be as worn as it is. Then there is all that messy bonji/kanji??? It's a riddle that doesn't translate well in short bursts of text. You really need to see the sword. I will take it to Barry Thomas and see what he has to say. Simon