Alex A

Nice tsuba, at that price surprised no one has snapped it up.

Was speaking with a Japanese dealer just this week about a koshirae with similar issues. Said over time the Same shrinks and cracks. Personally, like stuff being left alone as much as possible, i think the tsuka above should be preserved the best you can. I kind of get a bit obsessed with koshirae/tsuka being original from the Edo period, a sword hanging on to its history. As the dealer pointed out, that was 150 years ago, so even if you come across one that appears a little tired and has some age about it, there is still no guarantee it hadn't been rewrapped since. Maybe, maybe not. I dont mind new Ito if necessary, what i cant stand is new whiteish same on an old sword. Saw a sword in koshirae for sale the other day at Aoi, liked the sword but could not live with the koshirae, just on that note. A bad rewrap and then it needs to be done again.

Hello Edward, a few observations that you need to check as your pics are not great. It does not appear to be Mokume hada, as you point out. To me it looks like kind of an Itame mixed with masame (see it near the mune) with the odd burl that is probably making you think its mokume. Also see masame near the hamon in one pic. A good read KANTEI 2 – JIGANE & JIHADA #2 | Markus Sesko KANTEI 2 – JIGANE & JIHADA #1 | Markus Sesko You state the boshi is "Ko-maru". It may be the images but im struggling see the turn back, is it not Yakizumi (no turn back)? Common Styles of Boshi If tired and still has a thickness of 7mm, it was an hefty blade. Hope that helps, always willing to make a fool of myself in the hope it can help someone., in one way or another.

I bought this book not so long ago from Malcolm, he is great to deal with. Been after it for a long time and had never been able to get it, so get it whilst you can. Lots of info, actually found out more about about a Mino tanto i own, which was good. A signed copy too, so will thank Brian for that idea.

I do actually own a "Ninja sword" (obviously not a ninja sword). owned it since i was a kid. Inspired by movies. Looks like i will have to take a grinder to the blade, ww2 chop style. Will keep it though, as a keepsake Colin is correct, Britain is an embarrassment, to say the least. Ran by morons. If you want to find out more about what a shambles we are, watch Dominic Cummings spill the beans in his latest talk via the power of youtube.

Delete what i said if comes across as disrespectful, no probs Something Brano said touched a nerve, there are dealers willing to rip folks off on a daily basis, just wanted make that clear. Its not a rarity. Again, it had nothing do with the firm mentioned at the start. Jacques is right, blades ideally should be seen in hand, but that's not always possible, for many reasons.

Im not talking about the dealer mentioned here. There are dealers that specifically target wealthy individuals that lack the necessary knowledge, in fact do very well from it. You could say the same about many antiquity dealers of all kinds of antiques. Those that know what I'm referring to will know the dealer/dealers in question. Just a point that i felt needed a mention.

Interesting site, shame i see "price on request", a real off put, sadly.

At last, a plus about leaving the EU, sad to say. Hoping we don't adopt it, bad news.

Reminded of the saying “mutton dressed as lamb”

Ps, Back on track, Gerry, dont buy that sword.

Ok, maybe i got the wrong end of the stick with the Back to business as usual.

Good to see Jacques having fun, keep it up.

Thats one hell of an hamachi.

I get it, Though if folks pay god knows how many thousands for swords, then £300 is peanuts on top (insured with dealer) Low value swords, then definitely no. Though that's just my point of view.

Il be honest Lewis, i think thats ok. When i used to send sword via Parcelfarce abroad. When folks wanted it insuring it was roughly same price, £280 back then. Think i paid £260 for a sword a few years back, with insurance. Im glad they are trying. Think maybe the other dealer i was talking to quit before any effort, understandable if dont want hassle. Ps, would imagine a shipping agent being more expensive, never used one.

Its back on!! Had an email from AOI ART, see response below. Seems there is another courier. Anyways, its all hanging on by threads so if you plan on buying from Japan and not paying an hell of a lot to get it here, would try now. Shipping by UPS is "sometimes "available. We say "sometimes" because it takes more than 2 months to arrive or fail to arrive. But sometimes it works. It depends on each shipment. So we use OCS as the alternative shipping company. But the shipping fee would be 60,000 JPY + 5% of its price as the insurance fee.

The reason i brought it up is because i came across an O-suriage Koto sword in koshirae. The blade was cut to a length of 55cm, the nakago left long enough to just about make it useable for two hands. Its an old Nanbokucho sword, not late Muromachi single handed machi-okuri Uchigatana that are often of the size mentioned. Dont ask me why, just find that size of blade/koshirae interesting as they are a bit out of the norm and to be bluntly honest, cheaper than katana. Joking aside, i do actually like the that particular size for collecting. My thoughts now, ruling out anything Koto and sticking with EDO UBU swords. Off the top of my head, cant remember seeing anything UBU of that size with a nakago long enough for two hands. Might be having a mind blank moment here and probably seen dozens i cant remember seeing, dunno, will have a search when i get time. Ps, not trying to link the longer nakago with the term "Chiisagatana", its just me being curious about a particular size of Edo sword.

This is crazy. Parcelforce refuses to take antiques as imports but this company (just as one example) that sells repros lists parcelfarce as its main service within UKsending to anyone over 18 International Orders

I get that, and can only imagine the buzz you get when you pull it off. It would work for me a lot of the time, if only if what i see i know about. Much of the time its swords without papers with issues such as dodgy polish or tsuka falling bits. From time to time you see some good swords by well known smiths but without the study time i talked about there is a good chance your buying a gimei, not a cheap gimei either. There was a Shinshinto katana at the last fair in koshirae, unsigned, old polish with scratches on the blade. Looked ok but when the guy said £2k, i just thought about what's available from Japan or elsewhere for that kind of money. Was only thinking earlier about how often you see old swords in the UK, with koshirae but parts of the koshirae look modern, as in tsuba or menuki. Its like someone buys a sword in koshirae with missing parts and botches it back together with ebay modern stuff, seems pretty common. Anyways, hoping the Birmingham arms fair will be better. Though would expect high prices and lack of choice compared with simply shopping online. On a side note, as anyone seen the prices at Lanes Armoury lately?. Kind of watch their prices just to see how things are going in the UK sword market. They appear to be very high lately (higher than usual), maybe due to hassles with shipping, maybe realised folks cant import them and see an opportunity.

Might have to be the arms fair in future, trouble is, im not an on the spot purchase kind of dude. Personally, like to see something, study exactly what it is for a few days, then pull the trigger. The last time i saw something on the spot at a fair was the matchlock the other week when i was on to you guys Don't know how many papered swords one comes across at the Birmingham arms fair?, that would help. Its choice though, limited.

Agree, definitely conned.

Colin, anyone, who in the UK has any stuff they are selling? Yokoyama, Tadahiro?, Hizen, in polish?????????lol If only i could have bought your matchlock when you had it, Colin Timing, wasn't meant to be. More motorbikes it is, maybe.

I have contacted a few people but to be honest, not too sure i want the hassle now. The UK is an hard place to live at the moment, though sure there are worse places. The dealer suggested find a new hobby. Already have a few but this was the main interest. Perhaps higher end tsuba, dunno. Though saw a thread where folks were even concerned with those and descriptions for customs. FFS, what a world.

Eventually, it will be a bigger issue for everyone, the way things are going.