Jean

I love the : "BOHI OF THE KISSAKI TYPE" Next time, in the next description I am expecting : "MEKUGI ANA OF THE HAMON HATARAKI TYPE" :lol: :lol:

Brian, It shows that on a very narrow field of interest (huge for us, I must confess), the NMB has an international success and this is due to you Brian/Rich and all active members. I raise my hat to all of you mates!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks a lot forthe info, especially for Ken. In fact, I need furher simple explanation, I have got a thickhead (I am not that bright :lol: :lol: ) Humidity makes the wood swells : am I right in this assumption? Considering the Tsuka : If it swells it should swell both ways outward the tsuka and inward the tsuka, so it should tighten on the nakago .... UNLESS THE TSUKA WAS MADE UNDER A MAXIMUM HUMIDITY .... Am I still mistaking???? In fact, my only conclusion is to have, if possible, the same level of humidity throughout the year. Generally, Shirasaya are quite airtight - Do anyone in the board (tricky question from a warped mornin brain) has any idea of the best % of humidity taking into account wood/steel?????

Hi Jeremy, It is a very interesting topic. I have never experienced this problem living in Paris, but I would like NM members opinion : - Humidity/Dampness makes wood swell, I remember that wooden barrels were filled with water till wood will swell and the barrels watertight - Dryness ===> wood shrinks Too much humidity : difficulty to withdraw the tsuka beware of rust Too dry : be carefuul because the blade is loose in the tsuka. I would advise a dampness regulator machine (I dont know if it exists) Here in Paris, we have (generally) a very dry atmosphere in our flats, it has adnatages and drawbacks : - Advantages : I never oil my blades - Drawbacks : I have to put some bowls of water because of my 19th century mahogany furniture which has a tendancy to crack ....

Hi to All, I love Milt Humor, I love Brian wiseness, I love Rich when he becomes serious and gives freely away his knowledge (even if I had to push him once or twice to get an answer and get a piece or even a lecture on fittings - Thanks mate), I won't talk about Darcy whose knowledge and kindness are acknowledged by all NMB Members (I hope). I have not mentioned our Japanese resident friends and Koichi who does not leave anything to others .. From time to time I like to go wild, it is a pleasure with Milt, I am 55 and life is too short to be taken seriously. I confess I can go off topic (mind you, not always) but I can be serious and matter of fact and share my ignorance (Damn it, I did it again :lol: :lol: ). The only thing I am sure and by which I stand is : - NO INFLATED EGO - LENIENCY - COURTESY : you shall never see me criticizing another one opinion, discussing it perhaps even if I am upset from time to time. - MODESTY : we are not at University, so we are not split in different levels, unless I am mistaking nobody in NMB has a Dan/degree in Nihonto (though no doubt some of you deserve - I am not including myself). and HUMOR :lol: :lol: :lol: I am part of NMB and out of it as I am free to leave (remember Darcy leaving some boards) but if I am a member, it is because of NMB members diversity and richness of opinion.

From France : Bienvenue Bill, I hope NMB will meet your expectation (in fact I am sure)

Milt, You are right, futhermore goose tong is even more meaty - splendid :lol: :lol:

Waynes, Unfortunately, NBTHK kanteisho are less precise than NTHK ones, they seldom give the generation or an era (nanki)

In order to answer your question Rich, I think that the best way to get the solution is : 1 - identify one 2 - kidnap him 3 - Hand him over to Milt (better knwown in some circles as the "Mad dentist" 4 - having him confess his reasons under threatening (something like : be a nice boy or Good Doctor Milt is goig to "bungo" - neologism - your teeth. Alternative, I could threaten him of over overfeeding with foie gras and Sauternes but if he is like Milt, I am sure he won't talk. I am thinking of using rather frog legs (with a lot of garlic) :lol: :lol: :lol:

W.Y. I am not sure at all that this tanto went to Juyo shinsa, anyway I am pretty sure there are probably people ready to put up that money (without Juyo papers) only on the name. If Kiyomaro is the equal of Masamune, it means owning a Da Vinci or a Rembrandt, or to be more in line with the 19th century a van Gogh or a Renoir

Obvious question : Do you know if it has been submitted to Juyo shinsa??

I totally agree with Guido, And it has not to be even Osuriage, slightly suriage is enough to prevent a Muromachi or later blade going Juyo. There are so many quality swords from these areas remaining ubu. Now concerning this tanto, has it only been submitted to Juyo shinsa? Remember, to have a blade papered you have to submit it to shinsa have seen fantastic Shinshinto blades only TH, too young my friend!!! But once again, shinsa has nothing to do with pricing.

Hi Milt, IMHO, I totally agree with YHO :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Eric, Many thanks for the input I did not even know what kind of blade it was

To answer Guido, I think that in Europe, there is only one Kiyomaro blade. I don't even know what it looks like ..... :lol:

Hi, What is Shinsa all about? An alternative : - either confirming a kantei or, - confirming the value of a blade Kantei as confirming the value of a blade, IMO, is reductive and false. True Nihonto students are able to determine a blade value without any paper. If you go to Aoi Art website, you shall see 2 TH papered katanas : One by by Tsunatoshi and one by Tsunanobu, look at the prices ... I remember on the same site an ubu signed ichimonji katana (hozon at most) which sold in a few minutes for 6 000 000 yens. A blade being Hozon, TH, Juyo ... only means that the blade has been submitted to the corresponding shinsa ...... Shinsa states quality and not price ..

Hi Waynes, Fine blade, I like the suguta : very elegant. It fits (from the picture) Yamato den so it could be Ko Naminohira. Kyushu Island, in Kamakura, was mainly influenced by Yamato/Yamashiro schools. Later on we find some Soshu influence. The kanteisho seems brand new Back to work

Hi Rich, A very fine blade, and above all congratulation for the pictures (you are too modest...)

I cannot agree with you Ken Have you ever tried to open a letter with a gimei Katana, holding it by the handle, not very handy unless being Darwin Missing Link or a Migou :lol:

Hi Max et All, Why is this a Kaga F/K and not a Higo one, what is the difference?

Andreas, Concerning the blade polish, ask directly Tsuruta san. The pictures are oustanding and give a clear picture of the polish : There are a few scratches (not many) at least one blemish on the Shinogi ji (perhaps oil stain). The kissaki has few scatches (often happen) and probably some rust at the tip.

Hi Wayne, Clumsy mei, the two kanji are not even in alignment. Very fresh nakago for a koto blade, fresh rust. Mei (there are always exception) are seldom chiselled right on the ridge line. Do not buy it

Hi James, Yes, you can find ashi on a suguha hamon, I have a Bizen Tadamitsu blade based on suguha with a lot of ashi

Hi Clay, From the Yakidashi and the hada (as shown on the pictures), I'll go for a shinto blade

Min Lee, I am returning to work and do not have availibiliy of my archives but if my old brain still works I remember of an Osafune Sukesada smith working at the end of Nambokucho around Mei Toku. Sukesada is as often used as name in Bizen province as "Smith" in England :lol: :lol: :lol: That's the best pun I could make today (not bad for a frog) and the last one for a fortnight as I am leaving for a 2 week holidays in South of France. So long mates, be back in July