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Alex A

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Everything posted by Alex A

  1. Alex A
    All good straightforward advice Adrian, nothing gets candy coated on here, be glad folk have took the time to help you. Alex
  2. Alex A
    Adrian, so much good advice!.. as you can see, you have already started off on the right path. well done. Alex.
  3. Alex A
    Deal with reputable and honest dealers/sellers, avoid ebay like the plague and you should do ok. I say avoid ebay, because like me, your no expert and you dont need the hassles. From what ive seen in the way of blades on there, its too risky, even the write ups are vague and misleading. Alex.
  4. Alex A
    Adrian, i agree, you can only learn so much from books. In the short time i have been on here i have wondered where some of the guys get there knowledge from? (quick google, joking ). The only way i can see me gaining knowlege is an hands on approach. I keep saying il get down to the meetings at the token society but work gets in the way. Is there any arms fairs where you could go and take a look, thats about as hands on as i get. Alex
  5. Alex A
    What you need to remember is this, if you pay £10000 for a sword and want to sell it in 5 years time you will more than likely struggle to get anywhere near what you want for it simply because its an high value item and you dont have the reputation (or the customers) that the dealer had. If your lucky they will sell it on consignment for you and take a cut. It isnt a safer investment buying a more expensive sword :? These things can be very difficult to sell. Alex.
  6. Alex A
    Adrian, they dont make good investments. :? Alex.
  7. Alex A
    Ive seen signed blades in koshirae (with hozen papers) for £2400. Adrian you may want to up the budget(if possible),even at this price there not the best but its a good start. £1000 (1500$) is being optimistic.As a newbie i wouldnt buy a sword without papers. Alex.
  8. Alex A
    I like that take on it Adrian, hopefully you too have learned from my mistake! Alex.
  9. Alex A
    Yes Adrian, i would love to advertise my stupidity :D .. I paid £2420 for a koto blade with no grain and no papers, think it was signed kanekada (if i remember it rightly)..Funnily enough, the fittings where ok. If id have bothered reading a book before jumping in i wouldnt have bothered, so when someone says read a "few" books, they mean well. No pictures im afraid, didnt have it long enough for it to grow on me. Alex
  10. Alex A
    Well summed up Adam, wish someone had gave me that advice before i bought my first one. Hate to see people making the same mistake i did! Alex.
  11. Alex A
    Sorry, my misunderstanding, maybe someones selling something on here, hopefully. Alex
  12. Alex A
    Adrian, i wouldnt spend $1500 with someone who admits there a beginner. Dont rush in, take your time, read a good few books and have a think about exactly what you want. If you buy badly you will never see that money again. If theres no dealers in your country, look elsewhere,take a look through Aoi arts katana for sale just to give you an idea. Expect to pay more though. Alex.
  13. Alex A
    Cheers Peter. Alex
  14. Alex A
    I met Kelly on ebay sometime ago, since then i get weekly emails with auction listings for all kinds of Japanese antiques, i was wondering if anyone deals with him?. There are a few posts on here, but nothing to really go off. I was interested in a tsuba on his list a while ago, he wanted the money up front (i can understand why) but obviously i was reluctant. Alex
  15. Alex A

    Tight hada

    Alex A replied to paulb's topic in Nihonto

    Hi Paul, thanks for the tip, funnily enough i have been on the lookout for an old sword. Price range was a concern for a good piece. Buying on line can be risky as you all know, you dont know exactly what you have until you get it. This post as helped a lot, i have more of an idea of what to look for. Alex
  16. Alex A

    Tight hada

    Alex A replied to paulb's topic in Nihonto

    Does someone know why nashiji hada as never been matched, was Tadayoshi trying to match it exactly? If he was, but couldnt, is it simply down to a lack of knowlege or is there other factors as stated such as quality of iron. As any modern smith tried to match it, that would be interesting. Alex.
  17. Alex A

    Tight hada

    Alex A replied to paulb's topic in Nihonto

    Very impressed Paul, i want one. Alex.
  18. Alex A

    Seppa

    Alex A replied to Justin Grant's topic in Tosogu

    Glad i did it right Mike, seppa will fit fuchi perfectly. Alex.
  19. Alex A

    Seppa

    Alex A replied to Justin Grant's topic in Tosogu

    Ive just had new copper seppa made for a wakizashi, i didnt want any fit issues, there are old seppa on ebay but for me taking a risk buying a tsuba that doesnt fit is enough heart ache, without adding to the problem. I dont think i will bother to try and change the patina, looks fine and will age in time. Alex.
  20. Alex A
    Guys, i am unfamiliar with all these background things going on. If you read all these posts and see it from my point you should clearly understand why i came to this assumption. I apologise, simply got the wrong end of the stick! Please except my apology, i have ammended the posts.... ps, if the nthk or nbthk where not money making organisations, they would tell you who they thought made your blade, rarther than dismiss it.
  21. Alex A
    Ernst, i thought chris and keiths replys where A1 ammended. Alex
  22. Alex A
    Alex.
  23. Alex A
    Cheers Chris for such a lengthy reply,very informative, much appreciated indeed! Alex.
  24. Alex A
    Haha, keith, i know a sword is not made in a day , i was trying to see a swordsmith in a more human way, it all seems so idealistic. I take it they made money when they sold there swords, i can imagine a swordsmith being reluctant to throw one in the bin after 2 weeks work, as you say maybe sold unsigned, or if they thought the customer was clueless, sign it :lol: . Just the way i look at things i suppose, always looking for another take on things, knowing what i know about folk and there shananigans. Alex
  25. Alex A
    On the subject of blade style, maybe the smith decided to have a change, try something new, maybe he felt a bit exuberant that day and decided to copy a blade that he had seen for a change, on the subject of bad mei, perhaps he was an alcoholic and had hit the saki to hard before signing it , perhaps he was ill or simply he felt the blade wasnt upto standard and got his apprentice to sign it for him. We are only human, not robots, forgive my naiveness, and feel free to correct me? Alex.
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