Alex A

Hi Cris, im guessing that if he will attempt to cut a breeze block with his sword then he is not too woried about scratches from the dust. If i where him id be ever so slightly concerned about catching something in the eye, an health and safety no no. He didnt cut the block, he cracked it, as you said.. Alex.

Cheers Jean, ceder oil is something i would have never thought of using (not clued up in the polishing department), usually just use furniture polish and to be honest that really doesnt make much difference, just looked dull and flat, not glossy like this, wish id took a before picture now. Felt like bit of a nutter posting this, but glad i did now, cheers. Alex.

The misses for some unknown reason turned up with a bottle of Pledge ceder oil, whilst admiring her handy work i thought id try it on a oldish worn kake that i have. I have to say, im chuffed with the result, looks new again, and doesnt feel greasy, well, not after a short while anyway. The usual wax cleaners dont come close, sorry to sound so domesticated :D Ps, obviously i wouldnt try this on any laquerwork or expensive kake, unless you know better, that is. Alex

Thats interesting Brian, who would have thought!.. Alex

Hi Tobias, im no expert either. You can see the hamon running up to the point on the kissaki, from the picture it looks like it narrows towards the point. At the top of the kissaki is a small tempered area that hangs down, as though its part of a turnback that as now been removed. I could be wrong of coarse. Alex.

I see what you mean Peter, it does look like it could have been reshaped. Alex.

Hi again Grey, and thanks for the reply!. As you say, it comes down to personal taste. The cost doesnt worry me too much, theres a few guys over that do good work for a fair price, the waiting time between passing on the work helps to spread the cost. I did one last year and really enjoyed doing it, enjoyed looking for all the pieces (western style, as you said) and it was great to see it all come together, i was more than happy with the result. I would say its given the sword increased value, whether that outways the money spent is another story. With all hobbys, i suppose money is wasted at one point or another. Alex

This is the 2nd time i have considered buying fittings for a sword. I dont mind shirasaya, i just prefer koshirae. The last time i did this i got the impression from some folk that it was an unnecessary expense and that most older swords are kept in shirasaya. To be honest, i agree, but just prefer a sword in koshirae. When the idea about refitting this sword came about i automatically thought "correct period fittings", its a late muromachi katana and it needs late muromachi fittings. Whilst browsing the net for fuchi, tsuba etc yesterday i was reminded that most koto blades in koshirae have been fitted with shinto/shinshinto fittings anyway, so am i worrying too much?. Im not looking for extravagant fittings, just original, simple iron fittings of that era, but from the few ive looked at so far, the later fittings are in better condition. Does anyone have any views on this?, im open to suggestions and any opinions. Alex.

Hi Peter, i read the Tadayoshi forge was in what was once Nagasa-mura (Takasa-Mura today), a small village on the Nagasaki highway. As for the rest, not sure, the book "the school of hizen tadayoshi", may help, as mentioned below. Alex.

Hi Grev, i understand your point. A valuation and estimation paper is what i had in mind, not a purchase from the dealer. Alex.

Hi Paul. sorry if you think my post was aimed at you or anyone else in this thread, it surely was not. If i was to sell this sword on here i would have got an independent valuation first. To ask for a valuation on this site is in no doubt going to lead to numerous opinions, all different, and more than likely offence. Allthough people are honest on here, sometimes the way they word there opinions can offend, obviously non intentional, but true. I wasnt talking about any opinions above, just opinions that are likely to appear. Alex.

Hi Grev, i would take the sword to a dealer for a valuation, unless your after a quick sale, most dealers would need to see the sword in hand anyway to be more accurate. Collecting tsuba, im sure you must know of a few, if not i can recommend one or two in the uk. Asking potential customers on here for a valuation is a bit like walking through a wolf infested forest banging a dinner gong . I like the look of the blade, allthough a tired nikago, as stated. Alex.

Hi Peter ,funnily enough, i met steve for the first time in liverpool over the christmas period, nice guy, gave me some good advice. Didnt know he wrote books, il look into that. Alex.

Haha, come on Jean, it does look like a rat, well, maybe in my opinion. :D A bear maybe? mongoose? merecat? :lol: Alex

Hi Mike, it must be a tiger, since looking at images of rat menuki ive come round to the idea it must be a tiger, allthough not the most obvious tiger ive seen. Alex.

More like a rat than a tiger, admittedly, an aggressive looking rat, if its a tiger then it could have been done better. Now ive got a guy at the side of me in work telling me its a monkey :D , i give up... Alex

Or maybe the dragons tail turns into the rat ,i think it as someting to do with the tails, sorry im not helping with your bet, but i am curious... Alex

Hi Mike, ive read of koi turning into dragons, could this be a rat turning into a dragon?, think it as something to do with the rats tail, from what ive read. Not sure if thats correct, just a guess. Alex.

Cheers Adam/Chris, appreciated. Alex.

Hi Hoanh, that had crossed my mind too, i was unsure though..cheers Forgot to say, its about 2 inches from the habaki. Alex

I have a wakizashi dated to around 1670, the blade is in excellent condition apart from this gouge type of mark on the mune. Maybe someone with more experience as seen something similar. Could it be the result of a skirmish, careless handling or something else? ,it is small, about 7mm approx.

Interesting that Henry, i bought 2 bronze dragons several years ago, i read they where lucky. At the time i wondered what the difference was between chinese and Japanese dragons. Alex

I have stated in a recent post that i think the saya is to blame for tiny bent tip on the end of one of my blades. Expert jobs should be left to the experts. Alex

Ebay, for experienced collectors only............. Alex.

Let me clear a few things up. 1) Adrian, i am not interested in stealing your job. Knowing the business i find it hard sitting here without trying to help, my company does not need the work, there are not enough hrs in the day as it is. We specialize in high quality full colour books, university prospectus, brochures, folders etc etc. We do work for british aerospace, most universities, aston martin and so on. We do the kind of work no one else wants to do because its difficult and demanding, thats how we make are money in what seems to be a digital world, all though we also do digital. 2) Do we do this kind of work you require?, yes sometimes, it isnt a big deal, we may shy away from it because its overseas though. I did say at the beginning of the thread that i would get it printed in Marcus's home country, basically to avoid import duty on any that are left over for return to Marcus, aswell as a hefty postal delivery . 250 of each book is not a big job quantity wise and the price should be more than acceptable. What if theres a lot left over?, does it matter?, if the price is right for the number of books that are initially required. 3) Would i do it it for nothing, no, i find it difficult to believe anyone would do this for nothing... 4) Do i want to bicker on line and be quoted all the time? No. 5) Do i want the work, no,not at all!, but as i said, i would have been happy to give you a price for comparison only,to help you see where you stand, i am now finished on this subject. I genuinely hope this works, i need more books at a reasonable cost Alex