Goldy

Yeah, it doesn't look good. In all of the texts on Hizen smiths I have, I haven't seen such hesitant and sloppy chiselling. Even for a gimei it is pretty poor. Just out of curiosity, could you also post some pics of the blade showing hamon, hada, sori etc? Even though I'm almost 100% sure its a fake signature, it always helps to take into account the rest of the blade. Cheers,

Fairly new at this this but I'll have a go. I'd also go with the Hizen deductions so far and hopefully narrow it down. The kaeri dipping slightly towards the edge in the middle (which another generation also did sometimes), the kengata nakago, yasurime migi aragikiri - I'd point to: Cheers, Craig

Hi and thanks Richard. I had Toshow already but haven't set it up, thanks again for the link. Kindest Regards,

HI all, Would anybody be able to post or pm me the index of smiths from this book? Many thanks for time and effort spent. Kindest regards,

Thanks Richard, I hadn't forgotten your excellent site and visit often. I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that the international nihonto community would be much poorer without it and your efforts. Does anyone have any info on the liaison idea? Might be a good business opportunity for someone with good connections and fluent in Japanese and other languages (particularly english). I'm not trying to barge into any tight nihonto collector circles, just looking for a way to purchase blades without misunderstandings or causing offence. Cheers all,

G'day all, I've noticed a few online nihonto shop site links posted recently that don't appear in the NMB links. Does anyone have a comprehensive list of Japanese online sales sites handy? Secondly, does anyone know of a reputable party that may be able to liaise with those sellers who advertise entirely in Japanese? Although I can decipher most of the googlese translations its no help when it comes to actually liaising with the sellers. My thanks for any help. Cheers,

I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here Ford... http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/search.php?keywords=shinkendo&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Thanks Thierry.

Hi all, Does any one have any pics of the wood-burl or other pattern mentioned in the other thread? I've only ever seen the straight 'bar-code' examples. Cheers,

Thank you Koichi-san and Jean, without knowing the correct term it would have taken quite some time to find that post. Very interesting about the polisher mei, I didn't know that. You learn something everyday... Thanks again,

G'day all, Can anyone tell me if there is a technical term for the polish feature that sits between the mune-machi and the yasurime (on the shinogi-ji)? My own resources don't mention it and I'm unable to find the term on the net. I always assumed it was just an attractive way of finishing the burnishing on the shinogi-ji - is this correct? Thanks all.

Man that bo-hi sure looks wide to me... Is that what you would call an O-bo-hi? Gee, I sound like a poet, And I didn't even know it, Surely in my place, someone will put me... Sorry. Couldn't resist.

G'day all, I'm after opinions on the (hopefully Tadayoshi ) mei shown in the links below. Yeah, I know, I know - squillions of them out there and 99.9% gimei, but what the hey. I haven't had this blade for long (about 6-8 months, no its not going on sale) and in the meantime have bought all the Hizen material I could get my hands on for study. I also sent pics to the ever helpful Mr Robertshaw (as well as buying his material), he made some comments but I'll keep those till later so as not to bias anyone's opinion. Personally - I can't call it one way or the other , but I'm only the earliest of beginners. I've played around with some of the images to help make the strokes stand out a little more (please also comment on whether you like the way the pics show the details or not). The links only are posted in order to save the NMB bandwidth. http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=origkj7.jpg http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pic1in5.jpg http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meihihn5.png http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meizendp9.png http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meikuniyd3.png http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meitadaed6.png http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=meiyoshigp6.png http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=boshi1ke3.jpg http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=activity1kn0.jpg http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sidea1qo8.jpg http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=96903894ph4.jpg http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=38912042bw3.jpg Thanks to all for your comments. I look forward to them. Best regards,

Thanks Adrian, it was me who emailed you the other day - with almost 12 months to go I hope I don't get accused of not being prepared!! Both of the smiths who created my swords have passed away (Kobayashi Yasuhiro passed away in 1989 and Tadayoshi...well I'm just hoping its a real Tadayoshi, 1st gen will do... ) so I guess that means it's worth bringing both along. Thanks for the info. Let me know if you need any help with organisation side of things - though I don't know what I can do from Coffs Hbr.... Hi Stephen, check out Adrian's post for the link to the website, that's all the info available at the moment. Not sure about the unpolished query - I'm guessing that it would have to be in a fair polish state in order to inspect it properly, others may be able to inform you better. Good to hear from some fellow Aussies on the board! Cheers..

Thanks Reinhard. Should have mentioned that I'm after info specific to the NTHK. They are visiting Australia next year. I have two swords, one a shinto katana and the other a wakizashi made in 1979. I'm wondering if I should bother to take the wak. Cheers,

G'day all, Perhaps these questions have been asked before but I was unable to search them out. Is there a general rule on how old a sword should be before being submitted for Shinsa or can any period sword be submitted? And, can anyone tell me the sequence of events on the actual day? Cheers,

Yep, the neurotic do-gooders here in Oz will be banning steps and low hanging clothes lines any day now when they should be banning kitchen knives and those little spikey things you are supposed to use to hold corn cobs when eating... Just before hell freezes there will be a day when authorities will listen to hands-on experts, the bleeding heart society will choke on their own words and a politician will do whats right...Don't hold your breath.

I learned my lesson at the airport - travelling with a wooden bokken. When asked what it was I replied "A bokken, its a wooden sword", what an idiot. The check in guy eventually let it go with the checked bags after his inspection (and consultations with about three levels of management). Its a wonder I made my flight. On the way home when asked, I called it "a piece of polished red wood". "No worries, have a nice flight sir".

Thanks to all for your help. I've just learned that the NTHK will be in Sydney March 2009. Looking forward to their visit and meeting some people from the Aussie Nihonto community. Thanks again,

G'day all, I hope I'm not asking the obvious, if so then please forgive such a newbie question. Can anyone tell me if the learned teams from the NBTHK and NTHK travel outside Japan to inspect and attribute/paper swords? If so, are they usually sponsored by an organisation or if an area/country shows enough interest will they attend? Thanks for your help and comments

G'day Guys, Seeing you talk about tsuba construction has made me curious. Is there a beginners book/source of info on tsuba construction or something similar you may be able to point me to? This is getting more interesting by the minute for me, I might have to start paying more attention to tsuba etc as well as blades... Cheers,

Thanks for the info Ford, very much appreciated. If I may pick your brains a little more. Knowing the do's and don't with swords and cleaning etc, what if anything should I do to help preserve this tsuba? My first gues would be a very light oiling and leave it be (I'm very wary about trying to clean stuff). It is normally kept mounted with the rest of the koshirae (mounted on a tsunagi and not the sword), in a locked Pelican case. When I finish my home made katanakake it will go on display. On Mr. Turner's advice I'll be posting some pics etc on the Tosogu blog page if anyone wants to follow what else may be said. Thanks all for your help, looking forward to anyone's advice on preservation. Cheers,

Hi Ford, The pics are below. It looks to me like two pieces of metal sandwiched together, I'm assuming forge welded. Some rusting has occured and it looks a little messy but the join is still visible. Also found this link to one very similar (but in better nick): http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords_tsuba/tsubapage10.htm Cheers,

Hi again, I'm picking up a new macro lens for my camera today, first thing I'll do is get some close up shots. Its definitely iron and heavy as hell. Jez, thanks for the link, yes - very similar and the dimensions too. Mine is 78mm (height and width) and 5mm thick at the rim. The period would suit the sword it came with. I'll get back to y'all a little later with some close ups. Cheers and thanks,

Thanks Richard, I'll need to do some homework on the period and province to find a decent match. I was starting to wonder if the engraving ie; circles, could possibly done by hand but then I look at some tsuba and marvel at the workmanship. It is definitely made of two pieces as I can see the join when looking inside the nakago-ana. Thanks again for any help,