Jock

....sorry for the mei - pic - it was the right way when I uploaded it - let's blame the computer.... )

next.....the boshi is buddha stile - couldn't get it on a pic based on the polish...

next....my internet explorer freezes and shuts down after every pic I upload....anybody else with the same problem?

next

Hi Folks, I'm back with some more pics of the same blade.....when I received it I thought first that it is a different blade.....the mune looked nothing like on the pics (see pic below) and a few other details... Without a doubt somebody did a bad polishing job on it - the kissaki and yokote aren't exactly spot-on... Please let me know your most appreciated opinion! Thank you very much! Jock

Thanks folks, .....just along the line of what I thought.....the main point that basseled me was why somebody would put a fake temperline over a real one.....well given the real one is barely 2mm and at some places even less.....it makes sense (from a doggy seller's point of view!) Regards, Jock Erare humanum est!

pic

Hi Folks, I came across a blade and the present owner claims that the etched temperline is done over a real soguha temperline ??? Decoration? Is this possible? Was that a common practise? And an additional statement is what he says about brass.....? He also claimed that I quote: "I USE THE Japanese METHOD OF PULLING BRASS ACROSS THE SHARP EDGE, WHEN IT BITES, IT HAS TEMPER, CANT GET GOOD PHOTO OF BOSHI, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT BENEATH THE WAVY LAID OVER ETCHED WAVY TEMPER, THE REAL IS SUGUHA, THE TIP BITES, I LEARNED THIS FROM A OLD SWORD COLLECTOR Japanese MAN !" As I'm in the novice state of knowledge - I'd like to not give my personal opinion (that would be unfounded in the best) but await your appreciated comments....... Thank you for the lesson! Regards, Jock

ebay has done the minimum (wonder if they do something against the thief......?): ------------------------------------------------- Dear, The following listing that you were bidding on has been removed by eBay: 260226258683 - Exceptional JAPANASE SWORD ~DAISHO YOSHITAKE~NO RESERVE Because the listing was removed, your bid has been canceled. To protect the privacy of all eBay members, we can't discuss the details of the listing removal. We hope this assures you that your account information will also remain private. If the seller relists the item, you are welcome to bid on it again. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, eBay Trust & Safety

Hi folks, Just came across another ebay fraud. Item number: 260226258683 item sold for US $ 3000 I was interested in it myself as the bitting was US $ 100 when I came across it - but I saw that it is the same item/items that was on sale/was sold at http://www.samuraisword.com - Tim of samuraisword.com has informed me that he knows the original buyer and is in contact with him. He then confirmed me that the item is still in possession of the person who originally bought the swords and he has no intention to sell these. Please compare the ebay posting with Tim's website pics etc http://www.samuraisword.com/nihontodisp ... index.html Tim and I have both independently contacted the buyer and ebay and created the awareness of a fraudulant buyer trying to steal money via ebay. I believe that Tim/www.samuraisword.com have deserved a positive mentioning for his honesty/helpful attitude and customer support. He wrote a message to ebay and the buyer providing sufficient evidence. Tim has gone more than an extra mile (without any gain for himself) to help a collector from having stolen his money. Well done Tim/www.samuraisword.com - will be happy to buy of this guy in the future. Regards, Jock

Hi, I actually contacted the seller when it was around $400 - I thought it might be worth while cutting it down....the seller told me that the two hagire are just one inch behind the yokote - well that wouldn't work then anyway.... Please ignore my lack of knowledge but what can one do with a sword that has such fatal flaws right at the yokote (not somewhere close to the habaki) - the bits are close to $1200 now? Regards, Jock

Reinhard, Enlighten me, please - share your knowledge... As far as I can read in your lines (2nd half) you claim that a badly polished sword can't be classified as a nihonto.....my limited knowledge (obtained by visiting this website and humbly studying / listening to people who's knowlegde has been obtain in years of studying....) told me that an old sword out of polish as well as a sword wrongly polished by an amateur is still a nihonto as long as it was produced in a certain way - and can be restored if the rust/damaging polish/destruction hasn't been to radical. I understood that a destroyed sword, based on the way how it was produced is still a nihonto - but of no value...and a badly polished sword can change into a valuable one in the hands of an artistic polisher. When I see statements made by Stephen, Brian, Darcy etc etc then I prefer to listen and to learn and maybe in a number of years might have knowledge and experience enough to make "confident statements" - ...... ) no offence meant! Humbly ever learning...my 2 pence Jock

Hi Folks, Surfing through ebay I came across the following: "1800s ORIGINAL SIGNED Japanese KATANA SWORD" by now: US $949 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %26ps%3D42 As I have spent my available budget....maybe one of you is interested....(I'm not the seller - neither do I know him/her - so please don't ask me any questions about it...) Regards, Jock

Hi Folks, My apology for having stirred up your anger......my limited understanding of fellow humans thinking might keep me from understanding "why?"..... Nevertheless my apology for whatever you feel I did wrong. To clarify things: I bought this sword - didn't get it with the bitting, but sent the seller an offer and he accepted it - as the offer wasn't accepted at the time when I researched the mei I deceided to keep it for myself that it was on ebay - just wasn't sure about the whole signature thing. For pics please visit: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=012 I will post more detailed pics and details when I receive it! By the way: I really appreciate all the help and knowledge that I have gained on this website over the last year - no offence meant! Regards, Jock PS: Thank you Stephen for leading me further down the path as in how to investigate signatures!

Hi Stephen, Thanks for your hint! How about : shige tsugu ? and were does the nobu fit in?? If this isn't correct - show mercy and let me know the right one. Regards, Jock

Brian, I think that there is a lot of room for improvement on my side.....the following is what I came up with: Naga Shige, Nobu æ°¸ Naga é‡ Shige, Nobu appreciate any constructive critisim... Thanks, folks. Regards, Jock

Hi folks, May I ask for your valuable help? Who can tell me anything concerning the signature/smith/history below? Thank you very much for your kind help. Regards, Jock

Dear knowledgable folk, I came across this blade on ebay and couldn't but wonder about the temperline appearance....any thoughts on this one? almost forgot to post the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... otohosting Regards, Jock

......................help! H E L PPPPP! .......anybody?

... the last one.....I'm not soo sure if I copied the last 2 kangi correctly.....difficult; a lot of rust... Jock

artists impression.....hope I got it alright.... Jock

Hi folks, Please help me with the following inscripiton......any information concerning the smith/year/background is appreciated... Thank you very much for your help! Regards, Jock

Hi Folks, Katana on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=008 Regards, Jock

Hi Gentlemen, Who can tell me something about the smith (any information is appreciated) and who can translate the surrender tag for me...? Thank you very much for your help! Regards, Jock

the seller of this blade provided the following information at the time when I bought it...: name of article: KO-TO KAMAKURA Age URUSHI MEI "NORINAGA" KATANA & KOSHIRAE original/repro: Original age:Late KAMAKURA period, (1322-51) size: Total length 36"3/4(93.3cm), Blade length 24"3/4 (62.8cm),Width 1"1/8(3cm),Tip width 11/16"(1.8cm) SORI 3/8"(1.0cm) Cutting Edge 1"1/8 (3cm)inch Weight 1150gr, condition: KATANA,There are no flaws and some thin rusts. In the Edo period judge as YAMATO NORINAGA at . This sword is very beautiful the skin, and has the feature of NORINAGA. HAMON: SUGU-HA KO-NIE deki HADA: ITAME Hada ni MASA ni nagareru Polish: Old polish Tsuba: Exellent condition,singend "KUNIHIRO" TOSHO TSUBA(It is TUBA that the swordsmith made) is made of iron . Menuki: Menuki of a couple are dragon design. Fuchi Kashira:Exellent condition, SHAKUDO NANAKOJI SAYA:There is small damage(KOIGUCNI). HABAKI:TO-KIN(plated gold)HABAKI