Grey Doffin

Hi George, The 1st picture tells you all you need to know, even without the Marto logo on the tsuka and habaki. The habaki is narrower that the blade and this never happens on a real Nihonto. You would be doing yourself a huge favor if you took some time in study before throwing money at the unknown. Grey

Hi Hylke, You might try: clamp the lower nakago in a wooden jaw vise, with the blade vertical. Place a small hardwood block along side the the blade and on top of the habaki, and gently tap on the block with a small hammer. Move the block from front to back and side to side and eventually the habaki might work loose. Any one have a better idea? Grey

How to properly care for your sword: https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/ Grey

Sageo. Your sword in koshirae is slid behind your obi on your left hip and the sageo goes in front of the obi and is then tied around the saya below the obi. When you draw your sword the saya stays behind. Grey

Thank you Ray, Grey

Hi guys, These have me stumped. If any of you can read the mei on the fuchi and menuki (which will be for sale) I'd be appreciative. Thanks, Grey

Hi Tim, Here is a care and handling brochure: https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/ We will be able to see more detail in the blade and fittings if you take your pictures on a dark background. At 1st glance it looks nice. Grey

Hi Steven, Here you will find a care and handling brochure: https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/ You should read it. The sword doesn't require restoration; it is fine as is for now. If you get serious about Nihonto and learn a lot more than you know now you can then decide to have the sword polished (or maybe not). Big, important decisions like restoration, if made with little or no knowledge, often go astray. Cheers, Grey

Hi Jared, Here you will find a care and handling brochure: https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/ You'd be doing yourself and the sword a favor if you read it at least once. Resist all urges to fix anything. Repair should be left to those with proper training; well meaning amateurs often do damage. The kogai and kotsuka (scabbard implements) look to be quite nice; they speak well of the sword. Welcome to Nihonto. Grey

HI guys, Just took in a copy in English of Dmitry Pechalov's great book and I can save a US customer about $40 on post. Normally the books are shipped from Europe and that costs $60 to The States; I can ship this one for $20. It is in near new condition, no problems and it is inscribed by Mr. Pechalov to someone who has than signed it over to someone else. Here is the book on my site: https://www.Japanese...rpieces-by-pechalov/ If you are interested please send an email: gdoffin at gmail.com Many great books listed recently, including Tanobe's Meihin Katanaezu Shusei, and many more to come in the next few days. Thanks, Grey

Is that hada or some sort of damascus process? Grey

I wouldn't recommend linseed oil; it can gum up and leave a mess. Try light machine (sewing machine) oil instead. Grey

Hi Ron, Comes across strongly as a Chinese fake. Poor quality hori-mono slops over onto what must be a cosmetic hamon (real ones don't have carving on them). The ornaments on the saya and tsuka scream fake. Grey

Hi Robert, Donating your swords to a museum that has little or no interest in Nihonto is a great way to destroy them. Unless the museum has a department that is likely to put them on display, odds are good the swords will sit in a drawer in the basement and slowly rust away to nothing. Please reconsider; your sword are much safer with a knowledgeable collector. Grey

Hi guys, In the last couple weeks I have listed a small but nice collection of kinko tsuba on my site and just today I started listing a library of 100 titles. Please have a peek, if you are interested. Thanks, Grey

Hi Ozdamri, I spoke too soon. These are real and the quality appears to be better than my rushed judgement in my 1st post implies. Sorry aboy=ut that. Grey

All looks real, not fake. Not necessarily real good quality, though. You could aim for better. Grey

Mr. Ito has given this one to Kanshiro Nishigaki III. Grey

I am the guilty party; Mark Jones and I bought this tsuba off Brian's table in San Francisco. I've just listed it on my website; you'll find it here: https://www.Japanese...by-akasaka-tadatoki/ Cheers, Grey

Hi Ben, There are no Tokubetsu Hozon katana for less than 5 or $6,000, unless something serious happened to the sword after the paper was issued. You are taking a big risk by throwing money at swords on ebay with little knowledge. You would be doing yourself a big favor if you held off on purchases until you know a lot more. Grey

Hi Chris, Doubtless members will write in to suggest you have the sword polished but that is expensive if done right and foolish if you have the work done by someone without the proper training. What's more, it isn't necessarily a good idea for rank beginners at Nihonto to have their swords polished; lack of knowledge leads to mistakes. The light coat of oil you've placed on the blade will suffice to keep the sword from deteriorating. Take some time to learn a lot more before you make any large decisions. If you'd like to have a dozen questions answered at once feel free to call sometime. I'm not an authority but I have been at it for 40 years and will help if I can. Grey 218-340-1001 central time

Hi David, Here you will find Care and Handling for your sword: https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/ Cheers, Grey

Hi Andrew, Don't know what you consider reasonable for a drive but there is the show in Las Vegas next January. There you can get opinions on your sword. Grey

Hi Andrew, Here you will find care and cleaning, how to keep the sword safe: https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/ The sword needs its shirasaya to be put back together. Don't put any glue on it. I have a method that is 100% easy, reliable, safe, reversible, won't do any damage to anything, won't cost more than a few cents, and won't leave a trace. I don't have the time or energy now to type out instructions but I've done it before here and maybe someone can find the post for you. Otherwise, if you'd like to call sometime I'll gladly talk you through the process. Best, Grey 218-340-1001 US central time

Ron, Take your pictures against a dark background; they'll be better. Grey