Barrett Hiebert

Yurie-San, Thank you so much ma’am! I’m sure everything shall be fine. I look forward immensely to reading your book! I will definitely let you know when I receive it. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Brian, She has already messaged me. Thanks buds both! B.

Thomas, Thank you so much for taking the time to redirect me. Blessings be upon you.

Forumites, I apologize if this is in the wrong sub forum… I bought Study of Japanese Swords by Yurie Endo Halchak from Alpha Publishings website directly and have yet to receive any reply from them as to the order. Does anyone know what is going on with them? Thanks. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Love the koshi-zori on this one…all his Kamakura to Nambokucho blades on his website I’d buy if I could. https://www.Japanese....de/en/katana-ko-aoe

Robert, Thanks for chiming in. I mistakenly told Boston Iaido that it didn’t look like your sword…I guess the concussion from getting hit by the car fudged me up…sorry. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Jake, Did Tsuruta-San previously have this on his website a while back? Looks familiar. I got hit by a car in May and literally can’t remember exactly hence why I’m asking. Glad you sold that Nanbokucho warsword! Was a beast. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Thanks Jussi Ekholm for the assistance. Glad you sold that tachi you had.

Forumites, https://emuseum.nich...1&langId=en&webView= Anyone have better pictures and/or dimensions? Thanks

This is a lovely tsuba. I have seen it in person. Florian is also excellent to deal with.

Friends, Ask and ye shall recieve. Thanks for the kind words Brian, Drew and Charles. I would of replied earlier though I have been recovering from sickness and from blowing out my pelvic floor while moving. Of course these are the blade with the two part gold foil habaki. I had it switched out for a warriors copper single part one though am still waiting on a picture with such, though these pictures show the blades metallurgical profile enough. Enjoy. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Forumites, Just posting pictures here for your viewing pleasure of my new koshirae of antique fittings I got for Mukansa Minamoto Moriyoshi done up by Robert Hughes and his craftsman. All the credit goes to him for coordinating and his craftsman for putting it all together. I'll add a picture of the bare blade with the warrior copper habaki and new tsuka separate from its saya when it's done. Enjoy. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Mark, Understood. As for myself my fitness is still top notch, even with my injury. I just have trouble finding a JSA class here since there are barely any. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Thanks all for your input. I wasn’t arguing with anyone Mark. I merely misinterpreted Jimmy’s comment. Thanks for the clarification Jimmy. I’ve emailed the only JSA Iaido class in my town of residence though haven’t gotten a reply. From when I talked to them last they weren’t allowing anyone to attend who had not gotten their vaccines. With the Restrictions Exemption Program in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada suspended I may be able to attend now. I’m waiting for a reply. While Noble House Kenjutsu was in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the school just isn’t around anymore sadly, it seems. Or else I haven’t been able to relocate them since going to class last a long time ago. I’ve heard that their style Shinkage Ryu wasn’t legitimate or they are actually “Royal”, (as in teaching and lineage descends from the aristocracy, nobility of Japan), though haven’t been able to independently verify that. Though a friend who was career ex-police local told me they were legitimate. Still dubious to myself. So I’m doing the best I can do, asking as I’m able with doing what I can have with what I have available until other avenues become available. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Thank you for your replies Mark, Michael and Thomas. I will work on it and ask for that book on that forum when I have other things sorted. My Mukansa Minamoto Moriyoshi is 75.6 cm length with 2.0 cm sori. Nakago has the blade coming out to 99.1 cm's if I remember correctly. Though I do have a disfigured right arm after it healed incorrectly after a dislocation, and while I still can train with it, it will never be the same. So, sometimes I think even after training a sword such as this shape would be better suited due to my injury. For longevitys sake. https://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords4/NT328637.htm Though maybe a little smaller like this for size comparison, or made slimmer though still with an extended okissaki. https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-katana-attributed-to-araki-kiyoshigenbthk-hozon-certificate/ Though it's all conjecture at this point. 895 grams being the weight of the sword plus weight of fittings, I know I could move fine with two hands for some time, though wouldn't have long of muscular endurance with one that is for certain. Have a dropped right shoulder. But then mass distribution is different per every single blade so hard to tell if I don't have a blade in my hand. Though I would say after studying as much as I can online and knowing my proclivities I'd go for extended o-kissaki with shallow sori, easier for measuring distance, control. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

It was a legitimate question. I don't need a larger sword to compensate for my less than average height. Please if anyone could provide a serious answer without the sarcasm I'd appreciate it. Have refound this link...from masT40. http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Dtimes/Pages/articleh.htm Though I'm still curious as to others input. Barrett

Forumites, If I'm only 167 cm's, what should be the ideal katana length for myself, nakago and nagasa? Thanks. B.

Yes you are correct Michael (Katsujinken). Wouldn’t be the end of the world if those could not be found.

Jussi, Thanks for the dimensions of the Dew on Grass Sword. As for the Hoke Kaneyasu it was snagged up. Congrats to its new owner. I'm wondering if the blade dimensions that are available would be enough to make a modern copy. Thanks.

Gakusee, Thanks for the pictures bud. That is my favourite blade off of his whole website. Gosh if only I could get it reproduced. Closest I could find to it…shape wise with fuller… https://sword-auction.com/en/product/13320/as22208-刀：無銘法華兼安（特別保存刀剣）/

Thanks for the information David Flynn. Interesting. Also do any of you remember what year this katana is? Sometime in the 16th century?

Do you guys have the measurements that Darcy had for that blade at all? Also thanks for the information Baka Gaijin. Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Thanks FZI and Toryu2020. That was it. A beauty.

Good day forumites, I remember this blade Morning Dew being on Darcy Brockbanks website. Any kindness from the forum that could help me get reacquainted with such pictures? Best regards, Barrett Hiebert

Celt72, If I learnt how to properly hold a bokken my first kenjutsu class I most certainly can hold a sharp katana. Cultural differences within your training methodologies is really what it comes down to, and the expectations thereof for progression. I know you are concerned about my safety, though come on, being told incessantly, oh you need to have all these points down and so long of a training time. It's just redundant. Please. Bio-mechanics don't change between weaponry. It's just in the Kenjutsu schools they have a certain program, way of doing things which is sacrosanct. And you know they sure as heck love to push those points and harp on it on to anyone who interjects. And of course they think you are incapable if you don't follow their methodology verbatim. I went to the only available kenjutsu class before joining the reserves at 17, to which I was expedited to reserve officer when I transferred to the regular force at 19. You guys aren't speaking to the 17 year old who joined. I'm 32. I can hold a katana properly. I was shown already. Regardless I know you are just trying to be helpful. So thanks. Barrett