Mantis dude

Hi all, Haven't been online here in a while, been spending too much time with online dating, certain needs take precedent!! I just wanted to say thanks to all who have helped build my collection to date, I didn't become the mantis dude without all of your help. I have recently crossed the 50 piece tsuba mark and added tsuba #51 from Christian Chaffee and awaiting menuki# 24 from Cyrus Chan and fuchi/kashira #16 is on its way from Japan. 3 great presents for myself as I turn 40 on the 10th! If I can control my hormones, I promise to try and update my website, I have to add about 14 tsuba at least plus many others. Just wanted to post a big community Thank You! I started out only adding a piece on a holiday or around my bday a piece would appear, I have become more comfortable being broke spending money on pieces as they appear. So I as my bday approaches it has been about 10 or maybe even 11 years of collecting and I do reflect on how the community has helped me, especially as I have to buy another display case. It is nice when a mantis themed fitting appears for sale, I get emails letting me know. So nice when we are out to help each other!! Ok put away the tissues, really this is just cheap self promotion...lol. Thanks all!! Of course, I am still accepting presents. :D Hope all are well.

No no, mine is real - all of yours are fake- haha. Very interesting comparison and thank you for all the work in comparing the mei's. I never knew much about the teruhide and always had it on the to do list to look him up. So when I saw the post, I was quite interested. Since I don't know kanji very well, the comparison and evaluation are most informative. I also don't forget that the piece itself should dictate the maker and the mei is just added bonus to confirm. When I get the chance I will add this info to my site. I didn't buy it for the signature nor did I pay a price for a real teruhide, so it remains a decent mantis piece with a gimei sig. Thanks again for everyone's help and info. Ken

Was curious to get opinions on my Omori teruhide signature (I posted this on Rich t's board also). It nevers hurts to get as many opinions as possible. It is the fist f/K on this page http://www.freewebs.com/kamakiriken/fuc ... upload.htm Here is the sig pic All opinions are appreciated (good or bad). Thanks. Ken

I immediately thought of a needle type fish, it reminded me of a fish used for bait to catch marlin and other bigger game fish that I have used to troll with. Some nice finds. oh yeah, you would know if you had photoshop- it is a major program that most don't want to bother with, too many options and tools. Sad to miss another one and I would really love to be in one of these famous auctions that I have heard and read about for years (there are even mentions of them in old sets of JSS bullitens that I have). Thanks for sharing.

I believe I read or saw on a program once that the Manji symbol was used to ward off evil spirits. just kinda a fyi, cliff claven bit of info. Does anyone know if this is true? Thanks.

Its hard to tell a lot about a sword without seeing in hand. Showing overall shape can help, showing the tang can also. Seeing the grain (hada) which you described as mokume is important, there are many variations and often mokume may have itame in it, or a mixture of masame. There is also the size of the mokume. Same thing with hamon, the temperline can tell a lot, is it nie based, nioi based, are there other activities in there. Basically, to get pics to demonstrate everything going on is hard. Sometimes you can gleam some insight or there are some characteristics that point to a school or time period. I will be the first to admit I am not very good at this. I don't see a ton of detail from your pictures, so that is probably why you don't get a lot of responses. Taking photos that capture these details is hard, so don't be discouraged. This is a hard hobby, but that is part of the fun. In fact, the best thing is that you can meet up with people and have them help evaluate what you have. Hands on study will be a real must. Keep on reading "The Connoisseurs book", get familiar with the introduction chapters that cover details of the sword and keep on going back to your blade (get the book if you don't have it- it is very cheap relatively speaking to the knowledge contained within). There is a worksheet out there somewhere that can help you fill in your answers and is good for your records. I can't remember where I found it. (go to Rich Stein's website, it might be there). It is just a sheet for you to systematically fill in the descriptive attributes of the sword, so even if you don't find it, just go through each chapter describing the sword on each subject and write it down. Your new mate thinks it might be Mino, so read up on the school and see if there are characteristics that match your sword. There are generalizations like a certain grain with a hamon type equals a certain school, ie mokume with nioi based hamon points to Bizen. Just keep in mind these are not hard based facts. I have found getting pricing advice hard, how much is it worth? as much as someone is willing to pay for it, is the basic answer I have always gotten. That is where personal contacts really help. There are a lot of factors that go into that decision and I think it takes time to get that understanding, as well as, I think a lot of people don't have that knowledge. Getting an idea of what similar blades sold for takes time and you have to be careful of comparing apples to apples. With all the variations, it is easy to be comparing apples to oranges. I think with your blade, age will be a big factor, flaws/imperfections in a shinto sword are going to effect the price more than in a koto blade (as you alluded to). Go to Rich Stein's website, I think he has articles on the subject. The best though is to meet some of the "boys" and gain from their knowledge. Hope this gives you some understanding what you can expect in seeking answers over the internet. The reason you may not get answers is because they don't know themselves, hard to get those clues. Good luck.

Ford, et all, I am curious about the forging of this piece. It seems 2 pieces sandwiched together with a weld that didn't take very well. Not like the usual s shaped sandwich, the welds look like they go all the way around in a straight line. I am curious as to why this would be done this way. I don't think I ever saw anything like this. I have seen seams etc, on the side but not split open to this degree and I have seen seams and own a tsuba with a partial seam on the plate ie, part of the iron was folded back as in an s curve. Something to me just isn't adding up as to why it would be done this way? They wanted to make a thicker tsuba? The decoration is relatively simple so I don't see a need to save the plate. The iron, does look real but the seam still just doesn't seem to add up. I will go back and look at it some more, but I can't help but thinking it was cast, or perhaps a construction experiment. Any more comments. I might add, just because it's cast doesn't mean its not old. Casting is an old process. Just curious and can help but keep on asking the question "why was it done this way?" Given that the Japanese were usually very purposeful, it just isn't making sense to me yet, so maybe someone can?

Hey Andrew, I would say, there is no real value in the saya, the blade is what you purchased. Can't tell much, has a kanbun shinto shape circa 1680's I think. The nicks in the cutting edge, especially the one in the monouchi (top portion of the blade) is deep and would require a lot of steel to be removed. Still, it looks like you might have an okay blade to start with. there looks like it has activities, not much else to say. Enjoy, hopefully it will get your interest peaked and you will get into this obsession. All the best.

Hey guys been a while, not sure why I don't make it here enough. Anyway, Rich T is totally on the color, it is a true giveaway. Another thing to look at is crispness. If a punch is rounded as in the edges, start thinking casting. You would see sharper edges that would also have at least some unevenness about them. When you cast something you will lose the crispness of that stamp or even of any edge. IF the edges are perfectly round, imagine how hard that would be to do with raw iron. the casting on the other hand produces that even effect. Another thing to look at on real tsuba vs. repros. another thing I would recommend is visiting the repro sites every once in a while to know what they are doing. There is one site in particular that I post every once in a while. I think this guy has some hand finishing or something. http://home.a01.itscom.net/ryuken/main.html Some of these tsube always fool me at least on yahoo.jp. I look just to see what they are making. Some are easy and some are not. Kozuka are another area that is really hard to tell even in hand. I don't have any advice because I am not knowledgeable about them. And I heard there are a ton being made. And don't forget you had items made in the 1950's, etc that have some age or things like the gorum fork / knife sets which are made of some quality but not really samurai stuff. Fun isn't it!

the first thing that stood out to me was the tiger striping. As commented that is shakudo? That is extremely nice. I got lost in that and didn't even notice the well constructed face and fangs. Nice piece. Certainly I would never have the sig removed. It fits on the piece and I am a strong believer in leaving things alone! thanks for sharing. I have to visit more often, been away too long!

hi, I fortunately saw and got these! I moved and my internet connection isn't working right yet, the cable signal is too weak and has to be upgraded. After 3 hours of support, I got my cell phone to work as a modem, so at least I can get on. I have lots of catching up to do. Hope all are well. Thanks, Ken aka "the mantis dude"

There are definately carp themed fittings out there. I think I just saw one on Aoi in one of the fittings. The Goto school did some as well. It isn't extremely common, but I consider that good, part of the fun is the hunt, if it is too easy then there is no hunt. I have seen different ones from carp, but that may be a judgement call sometimes and then the koi dude may get upset-haha. I always thought about doing a fishing theme for mounting a sword (I like the mantis items displayed). Fishing is my favorite hobby or at least it was before I messed up my neck and back. Really miss fly fishing! If I find some, I will let you know. I remember fishing in one stream in Rochester. They hunted carp by bowhunting and then leaving the carcuses around. shame, was great stream/river fed into a great lake. Had trout, carp, large and small mouth bass, sunfish and salmon. I caught over 40 fish one day was fun! But those smelly carp carcuses. Anyway, go for it. See if you can find some legends with carp in them. All the best. :D

thanks Jean, I have been looking at that one for a long long time. Not sure about it. I was just reconsidering it this weekend. Not sure where the yen is at but things where getting a bit nicer against the dollar. What do you guys think about it? Perhaps, what has made me hesitant is the price or, I'm not in love with the piece (blasphamy -I know). Would be nice to hear what guys think about it. It is unique in the 2 sides being of 2 different metals? Maybe it is the mantis facing inwards, but to me that means it is most likely reminding the samurai to know his limitations. Thanks and keep them coming. Ken

Hi all, Been a while and I decided to update my site and share my newest pieces. Would appreciate comments, both + and -. Thanks ahead of the time. I always like to update data with others input (identies remain anom, you are cited, but it is my site so you are referred to as knowledgeable collector only-haha) Ken aka "The mantis dude" http://www.freewebs.com/kamakiriken/tsubaupload.htm

Personally, I think you are being misled a bit but it has been alluded to, don't get stuck in the name game. buy a sword which you like! If you aren't sure what attributes you are attracted to yet, then study more and handle some blades or if none available at least cruise sites/buy books that give you an idea of attributes are out there. In fact, I would much rather have a mumei blade that has all the attributes I like then a big name smith that doesn't have everything I want. There can be a discount on mumei blades or should I say you can get more sometimes with a mumei. And to boot, plenty of mumei have gone Juyo. Obviously you will have to make comprimises to your perfect blade, until winnning the lottery kicks in, but I personally want a sword that has as much of what I like in it as possible. I want a great hada with a subtle nioi based hamon but that subtlety actually contains lots of activities. Although the more I see ichimonji type hamon, I do enjoy them. Still I find it most interesting that a ko midare hamon or a hamon mainly based on suguha can actually have a lot going on and spending the time finding all that activity is part of the fun. One of the other things I love is to take my kashu kagemitsu circa 1390 and hold in the sunlight on a sunny day. The nie in the hada comes alive. I have only seen a few mihara blades, but I am enjoying them more and more. While a really good rai blade may not be in my range, a good mihara blade might come close plus I get the hamon I like more. Lets just say, I have a different approach to buying a sword but my finanaces are a very limiting factor as well. I don't even consider the name. Good luck with it all.

I have been searching this evening on hagi tsubas and it seems even most of them that are signed are signed "choshu hagi" .... I didn't even know that Choshu had so many schools, I thought it was just one didn't know there was like eleven or so branches. Most interesting. I have found that measuring chart to be very helpful and accurate in pointing to the correct school, although which sub-school is much harder. But it will help narrow the field.

Milt, I think more study on hagi is required, the little I have read is that it is one of the Choshu schools. I don't know enough to make a call. found this but I don't think it matches yours very well http://www.japancollection.com/uview_wo ... tsuba&y=1# Picture from link above

I thought it was brass, just making sure. I've found that less light actually gives you a better picture. Of course it is a balance, but what looks dark to the eye, usually comes out better on camera. Don't use your flash, get too much reflection when you do that. Just a few minor suggestions.

sorry didn't read right, what are dimensions of each? Bug has same feeling as mine at least somewhat Bug 2 seems more choshu? Bushu? My guesses so far

HArd bugs in general to decipher bug 1 - not sure if they had lady bugs? but could also be a beetle? Bug 2 beetle? or bug 1 or 2 could be bell insects http://www.freewebs.com/kamakiriken/kozukaupload.htm Not an entomologist, but a bell insect would be consistent with the autumn grass theme. Best guess. Hope that helps.

is that inlay brass? Hard to tell from pic? Thanks.

Hi Guys, Thanks for all your help. I was a little behind, but I finally was able to take pics of the tsuba. As you can see lots of insects depicted. I appreciate everyone's help and look forward to reading more about this group. Thanks. Backside of tsuba

Nobody thanks on the link, funny how many times I have been on his site and never saw this. I guess I never had need to research, testament to all the information on Rich Stein's website. Milt which issue? I can't wait to read about it. Thanks for yet more information. Ken

Thanks Guys. Can anyone tell me about Hagi? Is this an individual or a school? Never heard of him. Didn't find name in Haynes "Japanese names and associated metalworkers", maybe I missed him. Any help appreciated. Would love to learn more about guy. Also These being green are indicitive of being higher quality than normal? Thanks again in advance. All the best

Hi all, Picked up this nice tsuba and it comes with NBTHK papers which are green (I believe that is a good thing!). Very nice tsuba with multiple bugs including...you guessed it a Praying Mantis. I do much better with sword translations, but I can't translate any of this, if someone would be so kind as to do a full translation for me, I would be most appreciative. I can't even get the date, I believe it starts off showa? but then I am lost from there. Most importantly, it is an elegant tsuba and a unique addition to the collection. I have 2 other tsuba to add as well so this is #35. Thanks in advance for your help. Kamakiri Ken