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Lee Bray

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Posts posted by Lee Bray

  1. Hi Graig,

     

    I take back what I said about the fuchi/kashira. I have a zinc alloy wakizashi with fittings that look very like yours which have the cast shitodome but, of course, I'll trust your word and if your shitodome are removeable, then the set is likely genuine. The visible seam in the new picture backs that up. The triangle and two square stamp makes me wonder at their age, though, and they could be modern but made 'traditionally'. I've never seen that stamp though, so it is mere speculation on my part.

     

    The casting flashes on the new pictures of the tsuba are very visible now so I'll stand by my cast call on that.

    Obviously, your call on what you do with it but I'll post these pictures of mine that show the problems with cast tsuba.

     

    This one was an obvious cast that I broke with a single, light hit with a hammer.

    post-419-14196940931957_thumb.jpg

     

    This one was part of a daisho set that a friend bought on ebay. In the pictures, they looked good.

    In hand, I thought them cast but they were finished very well with no casting flashes anywhere. I was asked to add sekigane to them so I warned him that they might not survive. One survived, one burst apart when I started to peen the copper sekigane into place. As you can see, the grain size in the broken piece is very large, hence very brittle.

    The 'survivor' -

    post-419-14196940935675_thumb.jpg

     

    The 'splitter'(for Monty Python fans) -

    post-419-14196940941493_thumb.jpg

    post-419-14196940945391_thumb.jpg

     

    That said, I have a modern cast tsuba that withstood some serious abuse with a hammer and is solid.

    Modern cast steel will take the punishment needed to be a useable tsuba.

    Telling the difference without a destructive hammer test?

    That's the question...

  2. The tsuba looks cast. Look at that central ridge on the mimi.

    Same for the fuchi and kashira. Kashira has those 'cast in place' shitodome.

    If the sword is real, it has been cobbled together with some pieces from a zinc alloy replica sword.

  3. Duct tape.

    Apply a length of it up to the sabigiwa; use the pointy end of your mekugi nuki to work it into the nooks and crannies and peel it off. Takes more than one application to make a difference. Doesn't harm the patina at all.

    It's been a while since I've done it but seem to recall no issue with adhesive residue afterwards. If there is any, a careful clean with isopropyl alcohol would work.

    Transformed a very flaky(rust) Shinshinto katana nakago that I thought had been through saiha into a very reasonable nakago that papered afterwards.

    I was 'taught' this by a respected Japanese dealer and had good results from it but duct tape comes in various forms and qualities so 'use at your own risk'.

  4. I cannot imagine a soldier who relied on edged steel weaponry did not carry a whetstone in his pack or on his belt.

    I've seen antique viking whetstones with a hole to attach a lanyard as a necklace or to a belt.

    As a chap who carries a machete often to clear trails and who does a lot of camping, I think it is unthinkable to leave without a small stone or two to maintain my knife/machete edge.

    It would be like carrying a gun with one bullet.

    We're not talking a standard bench stone but something around 4" long, 1" wide and 1/2" thick is easy to use and weighs very little. It's used in hand and on top of the blade as opposed to clamped to something and the blade taken to the stone.

     

    Does that discount the wall sharpening theory? Given that stones are brittle and people lose things, it's not impossible.

    I've seen one of my crew 'sharpen' a machete on the flat concrete of a drainage ditch over here.

  5. You have to know your buyer/seller, there are good of both in HK and Singapore.

     

    Thank you, Stephen.

    Nice to see someone doesn't think we are all thieves in this undeveloped country of ours.

     

    Though I have my doubts about the two chaps in the ebay ads...

    :badgrin:

    I've asked them if I can view the tsuba in person before making an offer.

    Holding my breath from now...

  6. I've done it twice and you can take a maximum of three swords.

    As you mention Aoi, I assume you're taking them there. Best to get some documentation from them stating that you are taking the swords to them for restoration, preferably in Japanese or bilingual. Both times for me, the police official could not speak much English and my Japanese is non existent, so the documentation helps a lot.

     

    NBTHK museum is just round the corner from Aoi, and I know the little shop you mean, but its name escapes me.

  7. Chris. You're a well respected member and this hound dogging of another well respected member will do you no favours.

    I say this with respect for you and in the knowledge that I just shot myself in the foot...

     

    Debate, discussion, and the sharing of opinions- that is what a forum is for, isn't it? I'm not looking for favours, frankly, I am more interested in truth. I have stated my opinion, Darcy has stated his. I don't see the problem but I thank you for your concern.

     

    Debating the mindset of the forger from possibly centuries ago is a great pastime but not for me.

  8. Daikon are also used almost exclusively for cleaning soft metals prior to patination.

    Perhaps this theme is the artists way of saying thank you to the humble radish for doing such a sterling job in the workshop.

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