Jean

This method described by Ford has been used for centuries in different civilisations and i had the occasion of seeing some good examples in Africa. We called it in French "la méthode de la cire perdue" = Method of waste wax.

I am fed up with superlative, I shall only say , never mind the space used....

George my friend you are totally mistaken. You'll never find (unless mentionned) a polish nakago on a commercial website. A cleaned nakago is white and that is what you must avoid, Do not mistake clean and cleaned

Perhaps Kanetsugu but very unclear

Doomed

must be a canon, where is the good ol'one '45

In fact, the question is always the same, what are we collecting and why. I have heard that people on the Board have bought more than 50 to 100 swords (and believe me, I am not exagerating, I know one of them), some began their collection 30/40 years ago. Owning for owning, buying for buying, some used there swords to upgrade their collection in getting a good profit ... some keep them in bulk, unpolished, rusted. I had at most ten blades, then I decided - years ago to sell eveything in order to get only 5 katanas representing more or less the gokkaden. Then I have changed my mind, I am selling all my swords but one which is Juyo level and with that money I shall buy a Juyo one and I shall stop. Two swords are enough. I shall keep nevertheless my Kanetomo tanto which is very good and has a splendid polish. I already sold my Tsunahiro hitatsura katana. People are driven by different motives. I agree wholeheartidely which what has been said by Rich and Barry, whatever your wealth, by waiting you can get a lot of fine piece of arts even if tiny. Only the craft matter, not the mei (even if it is a plus). To educate yourself, you need to see hundreds of fine peice of arts, try to analyze them, then you won't have to ask to anyone, when you buy something is it good or not, you will know for sure. Barry, Curran, Rich, Giuseppe, Ford, Paul , Eric ...and a lot of seasonned collectors never asked : is it good or not. Rule of thumb : 1st, be able to distinguish what is craftsmanship (good of course :D :D ), that is what collecting art is all about ...

Don't know anything about mei but take the mei Ford is wondering about : the third kanji starting from the top (the middle one if we count the Kao) the left part of the kanji has two horizontal strokes月. In all other provided mei the lowest one is going upward fstarting from the left .

You know you are cute Piers :lol:

Shame on me Brian, I had perfectly understood, I was just joking about the "balls" ...

What do you mean by this Ford?

Steve, That is a very god summary

Peter is right; if someone is interested in Militaria, go and see the Army Museum, Musée de l'Armée, you will find there fabulous things

I am away on holidays or you whould have got a free drink. Should any of you pass through Paris (after July, 14th please advertise for a free ) BTW, if the weather is good, there are 1000 things more intresting to see/visit. (and I am not talking of Pigalles, Guido, you naughty boy ) For the ones who are not aware Guido can quote in French "ménage à trois" but

Paris, Musée Guimet - close on Tuesday - day off for French Museum in general -but check on Google because France is full of exceptions, we have a saying : "Exceptions confirm rules" (BTW, SH under Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's pen is contesting this saying )

http://www.sho-shin.com/morimit.html

Reinhard Ask the Rabbit but be carefull :lol:

You've got Ian B. and Clive S. in England (members of the board) and a lot of others that I am not forgetting

Thanks Reinhard for this interesting post

Nothing I can say, I am not at all familiarized with this kind of sword, but from the pictures It seems that there is no yokote, I don't see any hada ,the hamon is indistinct, the nakago jiri has been grinded but perhaps it is the norm on this kind of blade but is it a traditionnal one??? I am a newbie in this field

Or a global picture is needed, too distorted, too partial.

If it's a nakago picture, I agree with Jacques, it is not Japanese, vertical yasurime???

This one is for my friend Paul Bowman : http://tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/a00120.html

Darcy's one John?

Steve, NEVER CONFESS ON THE BOARD YOU HAVE NO BOOKS. BEST WAY TO GET KILLED