Alex A

Lol, you getting you pennys worth, reminded of the never ending story Only one i found is Koto, check out the dates on the link for Uda I would advise you to stop and learn a bit first You may end up buying something you dont understand or can appreciate As we have all done Look for Hozen, if your unsure cheers

Find these threads a bit pointless without reasons why. Out of curiosity. Asked a well known Japanese dealer this question. I wanted to get an answer from someone that has had thousands of blades in hand and had time enough to study them. From Chu-jo to top notch If he takes the time to answer il let you know.

1457 to 1460 Chu-jo rated Suguha hamon Only one Uda Kunimori in the Index and that's as much as you will learn from that source. An obscure one, usually find them easily on this page http://www.sho-shin.com/hoku15.htm

Looked for a fuchi some time ago, that needed to be 41mm but that was a very wide katana. Most i saw were around 38mm

Long sword around 38mm length. a rough guide That size may also suit a wak with a wide blade. Generally though, waks a little smaller.

My advice would be look to swords entered into Japan's Shinsakuto competition. Just acquired one. its flawless. Smith gave 100% effort, and it shows. He previously had 4 results, two 2nds and two 3rds. The sword is as made, perfection , does not have centuries of polish.

Will have to think on this but for now will just make a point. For me, you don't really know a sword unless you owned it for a while and studied it under different lighting etc. Looked at a Juyo sword a while ago and remember thinking to myself be good if i could have it for a week. So in respect of "in hand", depends. Other factors as mentioned.

I'm confused, read all of this twice and don't see any bullying. Just concerned folks hoping that folks that don't know what they are doing would just stop. Before anything else gets ruined. Forums about preservation, not DIY.

What i like about modern swords. Don't get me wrong, like all swords but there is something special about such swords. The fact there is s much information available, a real connection that you never get looking at older swords. No condition issues, you see them as they are and not a polished down remnant of what they once were. The more i know about a sword/swordsmith the better, makes an object real, without that its just an object. If you know what i mean.

Colin, Not to take this interesting thread in the wrong direction but all i will say is that i was talking to antique gun dealer not so long ago. His advice was stick to Flintlocks. and avoid Pinfire like the plague. Sold the last of my Colt percussions at the weekend and a few other percussion went off to Dom Vincent on commission. I think percussion will be ok but cant be doing with the worry. The vid wont download for me, but this laptop been playing up lately. Back to the topic.

Well done Stephen, must be good having it back in a better polish. We had some fun sending stuff abroad, remember the tsuka guy over in Japan I guess the less said, the better. Never again.

Been a while but solely to help anyone that may be importing in the future. I don't be wanting shipping to be the death of the hobby, so here goes. Modern Long sword from Australia to UK. (shinsakuto) Customs tariff number 9705.00.00.90 (different for antiques, see Darcy's write-up) Description... TRADITIONALLY MADE Japanese CULTURAL ARTWORK Darcy's write-up..........https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/1860-importingexporting-and-customs-queries-and-advice/#comment-14557 Shipped with DHL, who were brilliant. Posted on Friday using DHL EXPRESS, the delivery date was the Monday after but had to move that back a few days as no one in to sign. I received the import customs charge before the sword even left Australia, they charged 5%. Seems they have their own agents to sort the fees. Tracking was accurate and even got text and email on the morning of delivery with a 2 hour slot.. No problems whatsoever. Paperwork was meticulous, thanks to Mal. Anyways, may help some folks in the future. My advice, make sure the paperwork is honest and idiot proof.

Shame about the shipping, actually find it astonishing there is no shipper that will take that package. Australian dollar being weak compared to £ etc, there will be many outside of Australia thinking, if only......... Hope you sell it soon,

Unless there is a piece of another blade embedded or some kind of provenance (even that has issues), then you will really never know unless you knew who owned the sword and you had a time machine to go ask. They can make a really bland blade that bit more interesting, for some folks. (not talking about this blade) Lets face it, not very hard to create. The apprentice at work lost his rag one day with a steel ruler and attacked a machine lol. Every time i see the marks he created it reminds me of Kiri Komi, maybe this is why I'm so sceptical about them. Just marks, don't know what all the fuss is about.

Very sad to hear. Seemed a real nice guy. Will miss the always friendly and enthusiastic approach that he always seemed to have.

No Piers, gone off on a bit of a tangent. Just interesting that all the trees mentioned have also been favourites with Bonsai practitioners for centuries. Due to their flowers.

Just a thought Adam, always sceptical.

That's another used in Bonsai, cheers.

I didn't mean necessarily in the case with the sword above. What i meant is, if someone was to discover an hagire after a polish, making it unsaleable. Then rather the crack, an unscrupulous seller could relace the crack with what appears to be a cut. Using an hardened chisel or what ever means someone in the know could come up with. To appeal to those that find "battle scars" so appealing. As noticed there does seem to be a following and such blades usually sell, a lot faster than those with Hagire. I have a suspicious mind, that comes with what ive learned about buying antiques over the years. Folks find ways to fool folks. Ps, Hagire in that area of the blade are quite common, hence why you see so many waks made from Katana.

Popular for Bonsai.

I know Jean

Maybe, Jacques.

Cheers Brian, didn't realise Darcy covered Shinsakuto in that write-up Brilliant, thanks

Been reading over the gov website and nothing stands out as an obvious choice Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques - UK Integrated Online Tariff - GOV.UK (trade-tariff.service.gov.uk) Going along with the description of Japanese ARTWORK BY ETC As you will see, no obvious choices. There's a few ways this could be played, honest way best. Thinking 9701000000 Off the internet, title the only fit but....... UK Hs Code - 9701 : WORKS OF ART, COLLECTORS' PIECES AND ANTIQUES 9701000000Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading 4906 and other than hand-painted or hand-decorated manufactured articles; collages and similar decorative plaques 9701100000Paintings, drawings and pastels 9701900000Other 9702000000Original engravings, prints and lithographs 9703000000Original sculptures and statuary, in any material 9704000000Postage or revenue stamps, stamp-postmarks, first-day covers, postal stationery (stamped paper), and the like, used or unused, other than those of heading 4907

Stumble across this "daisho" (lets not go down that road again) Anyways, bit of a story from the seller and thought if there was some provenance along with the blades, i could accept the condition and be an happy owner. For someone that wants a cheap display set and is not concerned about faults etc, at this price it could be perfect, doubt you will find anything cheaper. https://www.nipponto...swords9/KT338101.htm