Jean

No need to panic, I have been through this 13 years ago and even worse and I am still here pesting you all and have replaced water by wine and :lol: :lol: I remember my frst visit to the surgeon after leaving the hospital. Upon reading my blood analysis, he told me I was drinking too much alcohol and me answering "Hi Doc, you told me to drink a lot but never precised it had to be water

Thanks for the input Ted.

Are you really sure Jacques about kitae ware and fukure being fatal I wrote . I have never seen a fukure in the hamon, perhaps have you some example to show us Concerning kitae ware and yaki ire - I am quoting Usagiya website : and here is a link to Dr Stein website : http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kizu.htm It seems that : Neither of them have seen a fukure in the hamon (they must have seen/held some blades in their Nihonto life.) Kitae ware though unpleasant to the eyes seem not fatal as some yaki ire. But it is a very good remark Jacques and I woul like Ted/Guido/Eric/Reinhard to tell us if they have ever seen a fukure in the hamon

Where Jacques?

Just to be brief, what is fatal flaw : it is a flaw which puts in danger the very existence of the blade, meaning by this, a flaw which could lead to the breaking of the blade, or of a part of it. They concern the hamon. Kitae ware, fukure, bent ... don't affect a blade viability but its artistic value

Forget this insignificant ware, what I was talking about is this, which could be an underlying fukure

From your picture, it looks like a potential new fukure

It is not flows but Artic crevices (taken through magnifying lens) :D . It is called Fukure. Carbon air pocket which opened upon for example in the polishing process.

John, I have given up diet coke with whisky, you should do thes same :D

In fact, I don't care mei or mumei for swords but as I know even less in Tosogu, I did not even think about the tsuba I had. What is the probability of having a F/K and a tsuba by a small tosogu artist? I must have about twelve tsuba and 3 F/K. Karma ... So I have some excuse ....

It is not worth having a Koshirae made. Think that at the end of the day, the Koshirae cost can equal the blade's one....

Thanks a lot Milt. What a coincidence to have a tsuba and a F/K by the same maker. My friend Marc Broquin told me there was thin chance to have a Gimei because of the artist rating, 2 lines in the Haynes. BTW, are you part of a MASH

Too much whisky I meant Fuchi instead of kozuka, the Lord forgives me (must be that bl....y "diet coke")

Mei comparison between tsuba and kozuka

I was just listing the Hiromasa mentioned on Sho Shin site, just to show there were several with same signature (and probably more if you take the Hawley... Never try to interpret a frog mind Guido, you'll be alwways wrong

Because, you cannot afford it :D :D

HIROMASA 1st EN-BUN 1356 SAGAMI 532 HIR 269 JO-SAKU 550 t HIROMITSU HIROMASA 2nd EI-WA 1375 SAGAMI 532 HIR 270 JO-SAKU 500 f MASAHIRO HIROMASA 3rd O-EI 1394 SAGAMI K 509 HIR 271 JO-SAKU 500 HIROMITSU HIROMASA 4th BUN-AN 1444 SAGAMI 532 K 510 HIR 272 JO-SAKU 450 HIROMASA 5th MEI-O 1492 SAGAMI 532 HIR 273 JO-SAKU 400

I agree with Guido. The 2 horimono don't match.

Uniform becomes you, Milt, I shall send your picture to your fan club (Carla/Eva)

And you beter use it befot I launch NATO forces on your heels

Thanks Brian for expressing my/our concern.

I should remeber it as I own the tsuba, thanks my silent Bungo Ronin, whereever you are. I'll check this afternoon for the kao

Agreed with James, but pink colour does not become Nihonto, it is a queer/strange colour.

Most soldier were foot soldiers, shot sword and spears were their favourite weapons. I have seen on Kurt Holtz, years ago, a Tadamitsu about this length. Nothng to worry about.

NO, he is totally mistaking and he mixes a lot of different undigested information. I let you tell me why, that's part of education.