Grey Doffin

If not you then your heirs and when the time comes to sell you will take a bath. Collectors looking to buy koshirae want antique and from Japan, not something put together yesterday in the west. Nothing wrong with doing it, even with papered pieces as long as you keep the papers with the koshirae; just so you understand what you're taking on. If you spend $1,000 for tsuba, fuchi/kashira, menuki, and what not, and then you pay craftsmen $2,000 to build the koshirae, when the time comes to sell you'll be lucky to get the $1,000 back. It makes better sense to buy the sword you want. If you want a sword in fine koshirae then look for one. If you buy smart, when the time comes to sell there will be no bath. Grey

Japanese sword shows in the US are cash economies; high 90 some % of business is folding money. Some dealers will take a card or paypal but I think they usually expect you to cover the fee. Grey

San Francisco August 4 to 6. http://www.ncjsc.org/SF_token_kai.htm Grey

Thank you Piers. It helps to know the hako-gaki matches the tsuba. Grey

Sorry Jay; I don't understand. Grey

Hi guys, I've just gotten in a signed Jakushi tsuba, which will be for sale, and with hako-gaki. Other than the date (July 1962) I can make no progress on the hako-gaki. If someone would be kind enough to tell me if the writing matches the tsuba (at least) or better yet what actually is said, I'd be most grateful Thank you, Grey

Just so I don't scare off any potential attendees, I'm not planning to do my complete beginner's care & etiquette lecture, the one I do at all the sword shows. Rather I'm thinking maybe 10 minutes, just to hit the high spots and try to make sure swords brought for show and tell don't get damaged. Grey

Hi Michaeir, if that's your name (if not please sign with it), Bishu Osafune something but probably doesn't matter. A 12 1/2" shinogi zukuri tanto is most likely the broken end of something longer with a gimei (forged signature). Real tanto are never this sugata (configuration: shinogi and yokote). Grey

Hi Dave, Very bad idea. Until you know a lot more about Nihonto than you currently do, refrain from any and all attempts to fix anything. Not saying that you in particular are unqualified to attempt repair; I would say that about any beginner. It is very easy to make seriously expensive mistakes with Japanese swords. Grey

Hi Troy, Dawson's book is Swords of Imperial Japan but there are 2 editions of the book and you want the 2nd: The Cyclopedia Edition. The best book on Japanese Military swords. Here it is on my site; you can see what it looks like. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b510-swords-imperial-Japan-1868-%E2%80%93-1945-cyclopedia-edition Grey

Care & etiquette, including taking apart and putting back together: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm Grey

Hello, name please, If you can get to a sword show, San Francisco in August is next up, you'll probably be able to find something. Keep looking at dealers' websites. Be patient, take some more time in study and learning what you want and why, and eventually you'll find what you're looking for. Grey

Ebay no longer owns paypal. Grey

Thank you Steve, I really appreciate the help. Grey

Hi guys, This sword is for sale on my site, if that makes a difference to you. A potential customer has asked if I have a translation of the saya-gaki and I don't. If any of you can help I'd be most appreciative. Thanks, Grey

Thanks Ken but I now have a lifetime supply. Typewriter paper is much too thick and stiff for oshigata. This tracing paper is very close to some full length that I once was given in Japan. I haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it will work well. Grey

Hi guys, City Hall has a dumpster in the garage where cardboard boxes are recycled; I have permission to raid it for boxes to ship my books. A couple weeks ago I found a complete roll of tracing paper, 36" by 50 yards (.92 x 46 meter) that would make excellent paper for full length oshigata. The label says, "Paper tracing white 100% rag, type 1, medium strength, 15-17#, Crossworld Company. I checked online and couldn't find the company but I bet other paper companies have similar products. If any of you find a source please post it here. Making a full length oshigata forces you to see all that a sword has to offer; it is a wonderful exercise. There was a thread on the subject here on NMB somewhere; check it out. Finding suitable paper was always the snag; not any longer. Grey

I'm staying in northern Minnesota; like it here. Grey

Thanks Ed, it does. I was there also but for whatever reason I don't remember much. Maybe it has something to do with the note I wrote on the cover of my copy of the book: "Grey Doffin is tired." Whoever heard of sleeping at a sword show? Grey

Hi guys, Recently I was given 2 copies of the large spiral bound handout from Mr. Tanobe's lecture at the Tampa show in 2003. The handout is page after page of oshigata with numbers and Xs & Os, but no text. Do you know, did anyone take notes during the lecture and if so are they available? The books are pretty close to useless without the text. Grey

Hi Stephan, It is in the works but I don't know when it will be available. Since I am the one who is proofing/editing I can tell you that the extended section on Choshu is complete and I have seen other material that follows but how much is left and when it will be ready for release, I don't know. Grey

Shipping within the US, best choice hands down, USPS registered mail. Every postal person who handles the package has to sign for it; it can't get lost. And never break the sword down to ship; best to leave the blade inside the koshirae. Grey

Stuart Broms' collection of tsuba was on display and it was a treat. Business was brisk, I think; at least I was kept hopping. This is a first class show and everyone should attend. Grey

In the 3rd picture the habaki is narrower than the blade; this can't be right. The purpose of a habaki is to seal the blade inside the saya and to suspend it in that space so, ideally, it is only the habaki that touches the saya. If the habaki has a dimension less than the blade it can't possibly do its job. Grey

The habaki is wrong; I doubt it is Japanese made. Chinese fake would be my guess. Grey