Grey Doffin

Thanks guys, I never would have gotten that on my own. Grey

Hi guys, I can make out Higo and I'm sure I'll make a mess of the rest. Help please. Thank you, Grey

And you have made them; thank you. I'm going to bust a hernia (and I don't have one) lugging books to the post office tomorrow. Grey

I store my books vertical, in the slipcases, and with the spine of the book facing the wall (this keeps the spines from fading in sunlight). Some slipcases, however, are made of low grade paper and probably lead to foxing. The slipcases that come with Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten are a good example. They are poor quality, likely with acid content, and I use Fujishiro so often that I wouldn't want to bother with slipcases anyway. Grey

Hi Bob, I have finished with price lowering; almost all of my books, except for those that are consigned to the site, have had their prices reduced. If you open up a book's page you will find a note something like, Was $100, now $80, or Now $60. There isn't a special section for books with reduced prices but, as I said, most of them are reduced. And many of the books are now priced at less than I likely can replace them for and with many of these books I have only one copy. Word to the wise. Grey

Hi guys, I'm at it again, this time with book prices on my site. Over the next few days, when time away from the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tourney allows, I will be lowering prices on at least half the books. There will be bargains and on many of these titles I have only 1 copy. Thanks, Grey http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books

Hi, name please, 1st character is Kuni and the 2nd looks to be tsugu: Kunitsugu I think. If your photo wasn't so close it would be easier to read. Grey

Hi guys, In case any of you are interested, I have just lowered the prices of 5 swords on my website (including the Tokubetsu Hozon Hizen Masahiro wakizashi). You will find them on top of my sword list. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Swords Thanks, Grey

Luis, Never Dull will make a stained gunto nice and shiny; it will make an older blade look like a shiny gunto. I wouldn't use it. Grey

My copy of volume 2 arrived today. 685 pages beginning with Choshu and ending with Higo. Grey

I'd like to place a ten on Fujiwara Tadanori. Grey

Hi Luke, You are correct; both characters can be read Suke. Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke, with the other suke, is the famous smith you refer to. According to Hawley, there were 7 smiths working in Edo period who signed with these Kanji. As none of them have made it into any of the references in the Japanese Sword Literature Index, I am unable to guess which of the 7 this might be. Grey

Thank you Sebastien, I have a reference that says Eiju signed with Hidenaga, not Kiyonaga. Any idea what's up with this? Grey

Hi guys, A question has been asked about the mei on a tsuba that is for sale on my website (K141). It is written in grass script, which I can't read. I know the gold mei is Kiyonaga; can any of you read the other side? Thank you, Grey

I agree with Kanesada. The date is Showa ju Hachi Nen Ku gatsu (Sept. of 1943) Grey

I think fake and if there is a number on the habaki definite fake. Grey

I also suspect this is a war time blade, not older. I think it was shortened (crudely) to hide the flaw under the tsuka and habaki. Grey

Midway is a long way from the show; Uber could be expensive. If you aren't traveling with a lot of luggage you might look into public transit (train) from Midway to Ohare and Uber from there to the show. Grey

I think Showa Ni Ju Nen Ni gatsu. February of 1945. Grey

I believe this is the piece that belongs at the mouth of a kotsuka/kogatana pocket; not sure what the name is. Grey

Hi guys, Tosogu Classroom Is a 5 volume, over 2,000 page translation with pictures, by Markus Sesko, of 30 some years of monthly articles from "Token Bijutsu" (NBTHK) about current understanding of the history of tosogu (fittings) by Fukushi Shigeo. Volume 1 has been available for a year and volume 2 became available today. Members of the JSS/US and the American and European branches of the NBTHK can buy a set (1 of each volume) at cost; non members will pay 150% of cost. The cost for volumes 1 or 2 is $44 with postage each in the US and maybe the same everywhere else. I have read both the 1st 2 volumes (which cover iron kodogu) and I can tell you this is a no brainer; you want these books. To order either or both volumes, you have to send Markus an email (markus.sesko at gmail.com). Tell him your address and whether you belong to one of the organizations; he will tell you how much and how to pay. To join the JSS/US and save on the purchase price go to jssus.org. And to all of you who have told me you wished you could see a volume before ordering, really? a 500 page hardbound book in a language you can read on a subject you're interested in for $44? and you have to stop and think? Come on. Tell them guys; is this a deal or what? Thanks, Grey

Hi guys, The dates for the Minneapolis show this year are October 19 to 21. I don't have other details but I imagine Larry Klahn will be posting them here soon. Grey

The seller says hand forged gendaito in full polish and I see a tool steel blade without hamon in scratched war-time polish, which is what I expect from an NCO. But I know nothing about Gunto. Someone please tell me what I'm missing here. Grey

Hi guys, I have learned that no one is currently able to contact me through my website, which is a problem. I hope to have this cleared as soon as possible but my limited computer smarts aren't helping. If you have tried to contact me through the site and didn't get an answer, please send an email to gdoffin at gmail.com Thanks, Grey japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com

Gassan Sadaichi or Sadakazu. Grey