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Grey Doffin

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Everything posted by Grey Doffin

  1. Grey Doffin
    The paper is from the NTHK, I believe, not the NBTHK. Grey
  2. Grey Doffin
    Evidence of retemper (most of which can be found on blades that haven't been retempered): dry, parched feeling nakago, exaggerated curvature, weak, inconsistent hamon, mune-yaki, open, exploded grain, mizu-kage, and a hamon that begins above the machi. With rare exceptions, retemper kills value. Grey
  3. Grey Doffin
    F&F payment sent. Grey
  4. Grey Doffin
    Nothing harsher than water and not much of it; nothing more abrasive than a soft cloth. Looks pretty good already. Grey
  5. Grey Doffin
    Hi Grant, A Hawley's number is the unique number given to a smith in one of Mr. Hawley's books. Masamune, for example, is MA 302 in the 1st edition blue books and MAS 590 in the later, expanded editions. The numbers serve only to keep track of the listings in Hawley's and tell you nothing about a smith. Knowing the number tells you where to look for the smith's listing in the book and nothing else. Grey
  6. Grey Doffin
    Hi Ed, Isn't the most likely option that this is just one more of the numerous gimei of Soshu Sadamune? Grey
  7. Grey Doffin
    I'm in. Grey
  8. Grey Doffin
    Hi Ben, I see some significant differences. This isn't saying that I think your sword is gimei; you need to compare yours with a variety of mei to get a better idea (you should be able to find many online and, of course, in books). How does the work compare with what Tadatsuna is known for? That should be the 1st test. Grey
  9. Grey Doffin
    Awadaguchi Fujiwara Tadatsuna. Pretty important Shinto smith if it's right. Grey
  10. Grey Doffin
    1st picture from the left: Mark Jones, Danny Massey, Wayne Bentley, Peter Bleed, David McDonald, me, Barry Hennick. 2nd: Mark's son Mark (M2), me, Bill Rannow, Peter Bleed. 3rd: Matt Brice and John Kurata. Thanks for the drink Brian. Grey
  11. Grey Doffin
    You can find oshigata in Fujishiro and Kanzan Shinto Oshigata Dictionary, if you have those references (if you don't you should). Sorry; it's too late for pictures tonight and I'm on the road very early tomorrow. Maybe someone else can post some for you. Cheers, Grey
  12. Grey Doffin
    Shinano no Kami Hirokane. Grey
  13. Grey Doffin
    Also, if the nakago corrodes after the habaki has been put in place it can become difficult to remove the habaki. Iron expands as it rusts. I'm still not 100% convinced there isn't a weld under the habaki; could we have a closeup of the area with the habaki pulled down as far as possible? Grey
  14. Grey Doffin
    But wouldn't you think, Kam, that if that's what has happened here, the misplaced mekugi-ana would have been plugged? Grey
  15. Grey Doffin
    Only reason I can come up with is a welded on nakago. Can we see a picture without habaki? Grey
  16. Grey Doffin
    Hi Ryan, The tsuba looks to be largely copper, mid to very late Edo, and somewhat generic soft metal tsuba (not easily attributable to any smith or school). It may have been improperly cleaned; the color looks off. But I'm sure someone else will know better. Grey
  17. Grey Doffin
    Hi Ryan, You have the date correct. Bring your sword and your questions to the show next weekend in Schaumberg (Chicago) and you'll learn so much. I'll be at the 1st table to the right; I'd be glad to take a look for you. Cheers, Grey
  18. Grey Doffin
    Tada something, dated Showa 18 (1943) (these pictures are upside down). Has an arsenal stamp (Showa stamp?) and is not traditionally made. Grey
  19. Grey Doffin
    I believe it is real, mediocre, and in poor condition. You can do much better. Grey
  20. Grey Doffin
    Don't get me wrong. I wasn't saying James shouldn't have bought the sword, just that he shouldn't spend money to have a polisher look at it. There is a tendency on NMB, for posters to suggest that blades need to be polished and I often think that would be a mistake. Grey
  21. Grey Doffin
    Sorry but it makes no sense to send this to a polisher. James would be out the cost of post both ways, the polisher certainly has better use of his time, and all that would be learned is what's been said here already: this is a ho-hum unsigned wakizashi with serious defects that isn't worth a polish. Swords like this get polished because beginners won't give up hope; old timers know better. Grey
  22. Grey Doffin
    I agree with the reading. Grey
  23. Grey Doffin
    Hi Mike, Earlier than 1940's; sometime in the 19th century. Signed Bizen no Kuni Osafune no JU Sukekane. Dated something 3 year a day in some month (we need a better picture of that side). Has to be worth at minimum $1,000, I would think. Here's a link to a care & etiquette website; make sure you read it carefully. http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm Grey
  24. Grey Doffin
    Hi guys, I've had spotty at best email access lately and I think I've missed some messages from customers. My ability to answer the ones I did receive hasn't been great either. If any of you tried contacting me through my site and didn't get an answer, please try again; I think the problem has been fixed. Thanks, Grey
  25. Grey Doffin
    Nakago looks pretty recent and the blade is too damaged/defected to have much value. Koshirae is likely worth more than the blade and that's not a lot. Grey
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