Alex A

Seriously John, never going to happen but if NBTHK made ALL info regarding ALL Hozen mei available to the general public. Regarding all the well known smiths, I would assume it will blow anything we own out of the water and make those that think they have it sussed realise that they don't. Would bet even eyebrows get raised down there as to what got passed in the past. Though the ongoing nature of what they do puts them in charge and they get to see it in a perspective we will never likely see. Made the point, don't want to keep coming on here and upsetting folks. Will end on that, again lol. Bye.

Hi Thomas, not angry, just frustrated, with the hobby in general. Actually taking a break from the hobby but will come back just to clarify a little. I'm not pulling theories out of thin air by the way. We all look at things differently, some of us may have seen stuff out of the norm with blades we own and swords we see for sale online. Ive seen, own, blades by WELL KNOWN smiths (with HOZEN) where the mei has a discrepancy, an obvious discrepancy. You look in the books, usual Fujishiro or whatever and noted discrepancy is NOT in there, no record of it. Over the years, that FACT as got me wondering about NBTHK data. If said blades where the mei has a discrepancy (yes, using that word again) have HOZEN, then that means the NBTHK MUST have ACCESS to much more data than any of us here. Either that or they have no choice to give hozen as the rest of the blade speaks for itself and the mei is as they might think, close enough. I cant imagine the NBTHK not compiling info in the hope of pushing this hobby further. Anyone here can look at online stores, look at mei from well known smiths. At times it can be quite surprising and enlightening. When folks here state stuff like "I believe using the same references that the shinsa teams" then to me its not entirely true. As stated above, its a mistake to think any library we own can compete with the data/knowledge of NBTHK, folks that do this for a living. So when i see folks here debating a mei and coming to conclusions they think are FACT, without looking at the blade first, in polish, then it starts to niggle a little. As said, nothing wrong with opinions if they if's and maybe, see someone that knows better etc. Our opinions are formed by what we see and they are always changing as we see more, often contradicting what we think we know. We here toy with the hobby, we just don't see enough or know enough. In that respect, we are way behind and its wrong to state opinions as FACTS In me eyes a lot of it is still a mystery, the hobby is surrounded by BS and think we are still somewhat in the dark ages. For me, that's the issue with Japanese swords. It needs to advance, its too easy for us just to sit here and talk about stuff we think we know. Have been impressed with Jussi over recent years, its folks like him that are pushing this hobby further with compiling useful information and very kindly sharing it. I guess there is some light in that respect. Anyways, just making a point and thats all i want to say again on this subject, goodbye for now. Best Perplexed Al

I surely don't want to have to comment again in this thread but feel i would be doing anyone new to the hobby a real INJUSTICE if i don't make this point. On that basis I'm just going to state it and bail out of this nonsense for a while. ALWAYS assume gimei, especially when a lot of what we can see of this sword is an unpolished bar of steel.. Especially when there is a lack of detailed information such as dimensions and pictures of a certain standard. Cant judge blades in any way when the images look like they were taken in a dark broom cupboard with a camera phone from 2001. DO NOT make the mistake of judging a blade by what little can be seen here and DO NOT let your own bias get in the way. WITHOUT all the necessary information then i think its arrogant and ignorant to state whether a blade is factually gimei. That is up to someone that knows better with the blade in hand.. Folks here can have opinions and you know what, they could be right but that's not up to us as as we don't have all the relevant information at hand. Basing an opinion just on the mei, well, that's FUNDEMENTALLY WRONG. There's a THOUSAND reasons a mei might be off. We here do not have the database of seeing many many examples in hand and documenting them. Studying what you do see and maybe coming up with matches that are far beyond what went into old books many years ago, Modern tech is way past that. Its ignorant to think any library we have now is worthy of making such decisions. Bias can be a strong element in making decisions. Lets say i think the horimono is not up to the standard of the smith. If that's the case then i may posibly ignore the painfully obvious fact of the lack of information available. Again, we can look at the horimono and think it is not of the standard of the smith but should we base our decision on that fact?. As we don't have a time machine available then we do not know for sure who may have done the horimono. For all we know, it may have been an apprentice at the forge or even someone far later down the line, maybe even done during WW2. Who knows, we certainly don't The point to this ramble. Its ok to have opinions, just don't claim them as FACT without having all relevant information. Not commented on this sword for that reason Would be like watching experts on tv discussing a picture by Constable, only with a blanket thrown over it and just showing a signature and some of the painting. That's what i see happening here.

Agree John, they just come across as thick and trying their luck Though i bet they get lucky from time to time. The thing for me, hardly know Chris but getting an obvious made up sob story

FFS, when will folks learn that there are no rules in this game, chasing shadows. Spoke to someone today that makes everyone here sound like an amateur, including you Jacky boy Not everyone seeks attention or needs to be the "all seeing eye" in some online bull***** Nothing can be ascertained by what's available in these terrible images from the OP Some folks moan about judging swords from images yet still carry on Some swords with good images can be judged, easy ones, as mentioned in other threads. Some cant, simple as that. Cant even see the blade here!!!!!!!!!!!!.Talk about putting the cart before the horse!. What happened to judging the blade and then the mei?. What happened to that new rule about measurements and photos?, ,peeing in the wind If folks have something to say then stop talking in RIDDLES. like the RIDDLER, it just shows you know nothing and are pulling examples from books, otherwise you would just state FACTS Thing is, its ongoing accumulating history, what's proven FACTS? lol. Line up EVERY sword, until then, shut up with the (brackets), seems folks think that if they have SEVERAL or even a DOZEN examples of a smiths mei then that makes them an EXPERT know it all, even thought the smith/lineage might have made say a THOUSAND PLUS sword.s Id be bloody EMBARASSED to come on this site with a page from a book showing a mei and proclaiming it gospel, sadly, history dictates unknowable's, we will never know about. The exception to rule rule seems like all this hobby is about these days, like one big CONTRADICTION Again, about as authentic as an airhostess smile, its UNKNOWN history a lot of the time yet some folks talk like everything is FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Its BS a lot of the time.

I've put this here because don't know where else to put it Had weird email today, obviously fraud. Spoke to Steve at Token North and he has had the same mail Seems someone maybe using Chris email Anyways, email below. If you know Chris, please tell him............................................ I don't know Chris well enough to receive such an email "Glad to hear from you, I need you to get an Apple gift card for a friend's daughter who is down with cancer of the Liver, it's her birthday today and I promised to get it for her today, but I can't do this now because all my effort purchasing it online proved abortive. Can you get it from Amazon? I'll reimburse you back as soon as possible. Kindly let me know if you can handle it. Chris"

The darker colour does give it a more antique feel. I guess most antique gun/cannon stocks appear darkish in colour. Sometimes, really dark.

Only just seen this, nice sword. Have to say, Mal is top notch to deal with.

What Ed said As you describe it as a crack, then you get points of view regarding a crack. Hopefully as Brian points out. maybe something else.

Think we have all learned something here Piers, i had no clue they used Urushi on those cannons.

Hi Francis, sure someone will chime in with regards how stringent Shinsa is on such a crack As its in the mune and on the nakago then maybe you might get away with it, but i don't know. You would always have to disclose the flaw with regards selling in the future. In that case, is it a blade worth sending to Shinsa?

That's interesting Sam. Know of all the Katana that are now waks due to breaks but pretty sure that's the first time i have ever read of a definitive break at that point in a blade that actually happened to someone. Darcy once described it as a fulcrum point. Cheers.

Hello Obviously the sword will never be used in battle or for cutting but if it were, would you want to rely on it with a crack in that position? Swords are known for breaking at that point. That's my thought.

Think maybe best not showing stuff to your mentor in future As said, think it looks great. As time moves on and the finish becomes less new and shiny then as Jean said, folks will think it was made years ago. For me, its not about perfection, its about just owning something you made yourself, no matter what.

No, part of the forum rules. I wanted a sales advert removed on another forum after it sold. Got a straight NO, i should have read the rules closer. Sometimes folks want stuff like this removing to hide details. Say if someone wanted to sell as Shoshin in the future to some unsuspecting novice. Of which we know there are many.

If that's how you feel then i wont comment on any more of your content and no longer quote you You be a gent and do the same with me, then we will get on fine.

What Jean said. Not even a clear pic of the nakago

Aye, i would have said the horimono would not taper off so much down the nakago on an Ubu sword. Used to own such a sword with Bo-hi running the full length of the nakago, used to think of it as quite rare as didn't seem to see so many about.

Well, i used to think that too, but depends. The wonderful world of where the hamon ends - Nihonto - Nihonto Message Board (militaria.co.za)

Looks fantastic.

Piers, no expert Though you can buy coloured dyes/pigment that you add to a finish. I bought some and they mixed really well with linseed oil. Used them on my cannon, tested on some old pine first. You could match to your existing cannon I think your doing a great job.

To me its nothing, If it were mine you not be getting that kind of price drop Surprising what you can find if you look hard enough, even when you think a sword is perfect, one of your own. Handmade after all.

Glad you like it Adam

Always find their prices ok Chandler. For the money the tanto seems fair This aint a sales pitch though, just like what i see We all have different tastes and budgets. For someone wanting a bang for their buck, for me this would be it. Yet some would rather spend their money on some unsigned koto pure foggy hamon tanto Perhaps someone looking to buy a Shinshinto Sukekane, Sukenaga or whatever may see this as a plausible and acceptable alternative, i would Horses for courses.

On a side note, a blade in choji was sold here some time ago by a modern smith and i was like WOW. Its a case of the blade being intact without many polishes compared to older blades. Its a compromise.