Jean

And to conclude, the best in show ......and the winner is : :lol:

remember I am not the buyer : - You have to take into account that your blade must have the best polish (for reselling purpose) http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/0810_2035syousai.htm IMHO - Best choice for your purposel - Good polish and koshirae, spectacular hamon, deep nioiguchi - drawback : unsigned - attributed to .... If you can wait and spare : http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/07098.html the other one seems to have an hiraji ware Best would be of course to wait a little but I have seen worst for a first blade (taking into account the price)

Of course, Reinhard, (not to speak of Ginza Choshuya), but unfortunately, all is in Japanese and prices for High end juyo are not mentionned, most of us have a limited (if any) of Japanese. I already bought tsuba from Sekeido. Where does come Aoi Art success : Tsuruta san having average stuff has been clever enough to have his website in English/Japanese/Chinese idioma. Because of his selling price, due to medium class goods he has reached middle to low class market. Very good marketting, taking into account that 95% of Earth population must earn less than 1k$ per month. There are a lot more better shop sthan Aoi Art on Dr Stein website but to discuss these blades, one has to volunteer to provide translation. If I want a Juyo, I won't go to any of this websites, there are other channels to swords that will never reach the web ... But Reinhard, I to your analysis and I fully agree with you (even if don't do it - mixed of laziness/carelessness)

In Paris, today , rain+17 °C and we are still in spring. Concerning e-bay, no return policy no high resolution pictures, feedback section not to be trust, that is why I stay away from it, no guarantee. Other great commercial sites have a return policy. I have bought only once from e-bay because I knew the seller (NMB member) - difficult to have a good feedback as after all the deals were off e-bay. I'll never get a huge feedback this way.

Sorry Takakage to hear this. I bought 6 swords from him and never had any problem - even my last tanto unpapered got blessed by Tanobe sensei. I am surprised as generally with his high resolution picture, you can even spot hagire I hope you express him strongly your displeasure Unfortunately, it is the only site which has an exhaustive information in English. Other sites don't do it or care to do it but for Ginza Choshuya. If I had to advertise one site, it is this one. But how many NMB members have subscribed to this magazine. Seikeido is not bad too. Most NMB members speak English. How many speak or read Japanese? Oshigatas are not all...Jacques, You are welcome so anyone (our NMB Japanese residents) to provide other sources with translation

I fully support your point of view Brian. Unless dealing with a professional of course :D :D :D

That's reflected in the price, I buy a blade and not a smith (unless saijo and then taking into account the price, I can be difficult - but not in this range of price) I just notice it is the second time in this topic, you are questionning Tsuruta san judgment/statement. As far as I know, when there is any doubt on the mei or anything fishy, Tsruta san states "not reliable signature". To answer your question : Yes I think that the mei is shoshin for the reason you have just stated : This mei has no added value If you have any doubt Jacques, do not hesitate to ask Tsuruta san about both signatures, he will answer you straightforward or put in to shinsa if you request it (provided you pay for it ) :D :D

There is no section "help to newbies" apart General Nihonto Discussion as stated by Remy, I suggest Brian to open one or to add this section to e-bay section, only NMB members wanting to help newbies would visit it :D :D :D As usual, same question : what are NMB goals??

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/07098.html Good one / good size / good school Shoshin even if not papered - Guaranteed by Tsuruta san A bit more expensive but I like it

Bobby, Make up your mind!!! Tanto, waki or daito??? Koto, shinto, shinshinto??? Price range???? Then have a look on Dr Stein commercial sites, make your selection in each category and we will give an opinion/choice. Reminder : adviser is not the payer :D :D

Always the discussion between sunobi tanto and ko-wakizashi :D :D :D

Telegraphic transfer is an old term coming from the age when banks had key operators and Telegraph was the best mean to transfer money. It changes 30 years ago with the birth of X25 lines, (securised lines for data transfer). It is seldom used, only in some remote countries not benefitting from electronic technologies. Of course it is not the fastest way. In fact, the term is also used to describe other electronic funds transfer methods and, incorrectly, BACS (Bankers Automated Clearing Services) and AFTS (Automated Funds Transfer System) payments. The must common TT we can see nowadays is Westen Union, much more expensive than BATS ansd AFTS. Bankers are using now the web through securised networks

Well spotted Brian. It will paper Hozon without any difficulty. Tsuruta san will submit it to shinsa without any problem if asked. I prefer it to the Sukesada - great lineage

Bobby, You like it, you buy it. You have any doubt, don't buy it. That's all. For investment : - no suriage blade after Nambokucho - Avoid machi okuri blade with several Mekugi ana on and after sue Koto - Shinto/Shinshinto blades : pristine condition, no ware at all - Buy a representative blade of a school (signed and papered) This blade has a sanbonsugi hamon - atypical from the school. All depends on your available funds

I still find this expression on nowadays commercial contracts, This method was in use 50 years ago but the expression has survived (as crocodiles have survived)

No, it is not mine, it appears today on Aoi Art website and if you read the comments you will see that this sword was first kanteied to Magoroku Kanemoto then to another one. As I did not know this kanji "Moto" I was wondering who was this Kanemoto. PS: I will never buy it as it is sue Muromachi suriage.

BTW, for the bartender, last night ,I presume

Thanks a lot Piers, that is the first time I come across one of his swords

Nihonto zuikan extract about this smith, what are the comments about the smith?

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/katana/08182.html I have some difficulties with the Moto kanji...

James, I don't know which generation but it looks a kodai one, late generation, the mei and yasurime are outstanding/crisp, the sanbonsugi is very regular....

A variation of someyhong like this : http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/0710_3031syousai.htm

Dead on it Stephen, I cannot spot the site(s) hijacked, but a new seller (0%feedback) with - No descrption whatsoever of the item - only one picture of the item It screams : "SCAM"

Nico, You are now credited by 32 posts. You are not anymore a "rookie". I would like you to go each day of the week on Dr Stein's Commercial sites and study the blade pictures/description/measurements in each category - Katana/wakisashi/tanto .... It is (apart of reading books) the best way to educate yourself till you have the chance to see thousand of blades. Next time, don't ask what do the other NMB members think of an e-bay item but bring your input, you will learn a lot by doing this. More than 275 people have read your post. Only 3 of us have taken time to answer it - Please wonder why - probably because they thought it was not worth answering and that it was a loss of time. It takes time to learn and the most difficult thing is to share knowledge. Don't hesitate to PM some NMB Expert members if you have any doubt and questions, we have a lot of them on the board in each category (swords : Guido, Reinhard, Jacques D., Darcy/Tosogu : Rich T., Ford Hallam, Eric H., Docliss) and I am sure they be glad to help . But first, study ....

Hi Claig, It is supposed to be the polisher signature (mei), it is found generally on Hon-zukuri blade on the shinogi ji, you won't find it on Hira zukuri blades.