TheGermanBastard

I really have no knowledge but think it is late Edo Shoami work. Very nice.

Hello Bob, I have deep respect now for you because judging from your thumb you must be a giant! ... either that Tsuba is smaller than I thought or you have huge hands! Anyway, this is a very nice Tsuba on its own. Lovely!

Hello Jeremy, this is sure possible. We see many blade that have haded Bohi cut at a later point in their life for one or another reason. There is one Japanese trained polisher in Australia who might be able to do it. You have to ask. There are people specialized in Horimiono work only in Japan. I knew a cratfman in Japan but he has passed on. The cutting is not that expensive bit your sword may require a (partial) re-polishing afterwards.

Hello Ray, yes you are right that it is a tough call being Suriage / Muromachi. But I believe it has a basic chance given there are no other issues with the blade and that the workmanship keps up to the expectatiomns assoicated with this smith. I would have no doubt it will pass TBH. Chances of failing Juyo are most probably higher than making it but I would like to think it has some chances - again given it is a competive Shinsa and we don't know what elese is in the competition. I did not come in anywhere close with my bidding to win that blade. If I had deeper pockets I would have loved to take a shot. The Kodugu on its own seemed marvelous. Bob, would you ind sharing some images with us please? I notice the Fuchi had been signed. Was the Tsuba also signed? I believed it to be made ensuite by one maker I am happy to see it has been bought by a member as I was just very curious about it. I wish you all the best with it Bob. A blade I wished would be mine.

Bob, either send it in for Hozon and try to go up to Juyo ... or keep it as it is. That thing is the real deal. There is little question this is Saemonojo Nobukuni. A great sword. Also teh mounts are most excellent. Congrats

No worries James.Give him some time. Respsonding to a potential sales request is both more pleasent and less demandig than to respond to a complain.For example offering a partial refund just takes some thought / consideration jeme zo,e and he may have to talk to someone else first prior to getting back to you. E.g the sword may have been a conseignment. While this was not the best expiriemce I would have no doubt that he will do his best to solve this and is a trustworthy dealer.

Exactly! THE DUDE!

Absolutely. My personal luck has not blessed me with a honest Shinkei. I have had some pretty well done Gimei Shinkei and a Hankei. Hankei is fewer. Gimei Shinkei are rather numberous.

Yes But literally speaking the later one would be the consequenze Back to the auction: Did the Lot with the Kinko Tsuba not get sold? I thought the Tsuba tio be fairly priced.

Hello Jean, thank you. I see. This is what I had anticipated ... but I was unsure if it was refering to a certain type of armor construction instead Are later armors in general less thought after? I nly have one rather late Edo periode Sendai Armor in my collection that has been an excellent dust catcher ...

Hello Michael, sorry if my question is dumb. Can you please explain more what is meant by composite armor (in oppsoite to?) Thank you

Was a nice piece!

I won't counter as I consider Bob Benson to be a Japanese trained polisher and maybe the most knowledgeable round eye on Nihonto in the world (not sure but I think he completed a full traning in Japan?)... while I don't think that you need to be necessarily Italian trained to do good Pizza and I have unfortunately had poor Pizza in Italy on some occasions ... I only reserve the right that German cars are of course the best and cleanest in the world.If you read any different and that we lost world war II that's likely fake news! I got you anyway, So end of the subject on my part, too.

Just one general question: When is someone an amateur and when a professional in the Nihonto field of craftmanship as per (your) definition? What sets them apart? - Just so that I will not violate your policy e.g. by recomending someone not considered a professional.

Very well said Jean! In the end people should admire what they have. So if the buyer can admire the Kinmichi despite this flaw he will be a happy owner. If he can't he should be enabled to return it. Currently it has become very hard to achieve TBH level with Gendai blades. However they may be just true masterpieces of art will a beatn up old Kamakura thing may make it easily to TBH. https://www.ebay.com/itm/NAGINATA-sword-w-NBTHK-TOKUBETSU-HOZON-HOUJYU-KAMAKURA-36-4-24-2/292250439869?hash=item440b7bd0bd:g:gbEAAOSwinVZt2TX But still of someone likes this Naginata he is fine. There is no reson for falling in love with someone but love on its own

I don't want to hijack the topic but thought Armor prices not to be that high on some occasions: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/armure-de-samourai-de-type-tosei-gusoku-japon-x-54-c-85b4d0781a => Unsold https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-Japanese-sixty-two-plate-kabuto-the-sixty-two-232-c-1ae4485b7b => Cheap considering it is a 62 plates piece However please correct me as I am a nob on armor and eager to learn. The prices achieved in the Dolphin auction looked high too me.

Again sorry for my big mouth. I will try to sperate THE DUDE from some dude next time

Yes, you are of course right John, My suggestion is to only get hardcore where you have nothing to start from We must be aware that yo fotehn find the bottom line of blades in these Koshirae. But still this sword might be flashy ... My suggestion in the first place was to not tamper with it but just keep it as it is. But if the buyer from Argentina wants to find out more he will better want to sit down and do some stuff from the Franknstein polisher lab rather to give the sword a roundtrip to the states ... most if not all polisher would turn down the blade for polishing anyway as you do not want to get a o suriage / mumei shinto daito polished.

Tahnk you for your thoughts. I am in no position to give a creditable oppinion on armor but think they went hogh considering what is freely available on the market. In general the armor prices seem to be considerablely low at the moment. The Miike blade looked nice to me. The only blade from the Dolphyn collection that I was seriously bididng on but too timid was the Tadayoshi. I think it was a good deal whoever bought it. Overall I think there were some pristine sets of Koshirae. Regards

No problem Guido! I have not heared a single negaive remark about Ted and know he has been around for a very long time. best regards

Now that the auction has passed I check the results and most things went at no bargain price. This is a double edged bladed. While I would have hoped for the buyer to strike bargain it is also nice to see that prices are not decreasing. I had asked about the Miike school sword and got a reply that my request was forwarded to the corespoding department and that's been the end of the inqiuiry. I wonder if the blade had any papers? Also may anybody shed some light on me please why the following Tanto sold rather high? https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/arts-samurai-dolphyn-collection/aikuchi-shinshinto-tanto-35/51117 Nice Koshirae but the blade did not thrill me.

This is like online dating! You are right of course. No pleasent surprises for most of the time. Well, I ocne found some old hair and skin in a Saya that wasn't mentioned in the description.

Too much fear my friend. The bad thing about Jagire is that they do not necessarily come with chips. There are chips that will be linked to a Hagire but I jhave had blades with several Hagire but not a single chip. What is more worriesome I think are the lamination issues as John pointed out. Overall the longer a sword the more likely the problens. Deep curvature will often also add to it since blades very deep sori are more diffuclt to forge thus things tend to go wrong.

John, I will have to look again at the images for the delaminations! Maybe you got me on this! You man those areas in the image attached? Could be possible. If yes I agree it is a bummer then. @ Christoph. You seem to have a crack addiction

It is a deep Ware