Peter Bleed

I agree with Piers. BUT I sort of suspicion that not all of this is "Japanese." Elsewhere in East Asia and colonial Japan?? How would we check? Peter

I just read - and enjoyed ! - this thread. Thank you all! I knew the answer right from the first image, but the discussion of worthy. And then we got to listen to Ford and see some stuff that was worth looking at. NMB at its best! We all have had the opportunity to look at/buy/swap Soten guards. This thread shows us that even if we don't like Soten stuff, those experiences are not be wasted! Peter

Simon, this is indeed an interesting presentation. Thank you. I am interested, but suspicious. The reality is that Japanese sword experts know little about swords from other regions. The threaded tang is certainly odd. This sword deserves to be studied in Europe or at least by European researchers. Again, thank you for this post! Peter

I'm sorry to say that I did not attend this Show. But my friend Doug Scott went to the big show to look at high-end frontier guns. I asked Doug to walk thru the Japanese section. He kindly called to tell me that the Japanese Sword section was by far the most active and apparently well-attended part of the the grand Las Vegas Show. The Nippon-to section had more people than did the "gun" sections. Doug also said that he was welcomed and greeted by Mark when he said hello. Peter

This looks to me like quite legitimate Edo period sword. I read it as a older - ie pre-1600 - sword that was cut down for subsequent wear. It is hard to assess quality since it is out of polish, but it looks okay to me - for what it is, a sword of sword worn for travel or interior wear. Peter

Please forgive my mis-typings in this message. I really have to proof read my messages! I was worried about posting the images and ignored the words! Peter

I have an wish to sell a Belgian pin fire pistols that wears an early Japanese registration in Okayama. I'd like $500, but... Peter

Once again - perhaps I should say - as usual, the NMB has been a useful resource. "Collecting" Japanese swords has been a part of my life for a long time and for the past several years, this has been a good place for me to enjoy the interest. I infer that the process of getting rid of collections is less well-explored than acquisitions and assessment. That probably makes sense since we acquire a lot more than we disperse. Colin provided very useful advice. And we all appreciate Brian's steady hand on the NMB helm. Thank you! Peter

Friends, I am requesting advice and guidance on how to get rid of collected swords. My hobby has been searching for, finding, and researching Japanese weapons. I have not kept everything, But I have a lot of stuff. Early in the winter I was contacted by an old friend -- about buying his collection. And just recently I got another call. And I might be getting ready to down-size. I cant hope that parting with stuff can be nearly as much fun as acquiring it was. But it is where I am... Let me ask for advice. Is there a good way to break up collections? Are there good strategies for getting fair value, finding good homes, or helping the hobby? Are there things to be avoided? Have people been happy with NMB as a market? Peter

Gene, I am jealous of your interest and curiosity. I wish you well. The reality is that there was great export of antique firearms from Japan to the US and the world beginning in the early 20th century. That dumped thousands of guns over here. There was another - smaller - wave after WWII. American collectors were attracted to Japanese hinawa-ju because they were cheap and fit the evolutionary thinking of the times. Everybody wanted to show the evolution of guns. But there was a return wave - back to Japan - starting in the 1980. Dealers bought those cheap Japanese guns and got them back to Japan. Once the guns sent BACK got to Japan, they were sorted, tricked out, and repaired - oh, and marked way UP. THAT'S what is in Japan now - nice, clean well assessed guns. There are still matchlocks available on this side of the pond - where they may be rather poorly maintained . They are not well-assessed, but they are priced at 40% to 50% the Japanese rate. Given where you are, I'd urge you to buy local, buy books, and develop skills of restoration and maintenance.

The export "process" might be interestingly explored. Maybe anthropologists or political scientist would find that interesting. But, from a collecting point of view, it seems worth asking what is in Japan that cannot be matched by pieces already here. What are you looking at? Peter

IMHO, the tool that got this thread started IS (!) a cartridge reloading device that was designed to re-set the primer in the base of a cartridge. It looks very 19th/20th century to me Peter

I agree with the "Mino" call, but it is not Showa - and if the nakago was cleaned ( as it looks to have been) I'd say it is late koto. Show usthe tsuka... Peter

I am interested in "collections and collecting" so I am finding this thread interesting. Thank you! Japanese sword collecting in the US was basically "treasure hunting" for a long while. I think that era is over and that the sword "market" has become "rational." At least the distribution of 'good' swords is being rationalized. Excellent stuff has gone to Japan where it is appreciated and rationally valued. If we want it, we have to pay for it at that level. Along with good stuff, a bunch of bad stuff also went to Japan where experts have seen and rejected it. There is not much of a market for 'bad' stuff in Japan so it is washing BACK on toward the US and world market. I think we have to assume that anything leaving Japan - without papers and at anything like a bargain price - has to be considered to be "bad." Peter

You're throwing money away. Find a local collector and go visit them. Be polite, bring the kid. Ask advice and look at what you are shown. Bring cookies and make an appointment for a follow-up visit. Be interested and nice... Peter

Thank you, thank you! Morita-san. I got the "yari" part but the rest was beyond me. We are truly lucky to have your expertise! Peter

Wow! Thanks very much Trystan! Swords like this used to be common, but I have not seen one in a while. I am impressed that this blade retains enough of its "old" polish to suggest that in addition to s seriously good hamon, it looks like laminated steel. I could easily be convinced that this sword was made before later 1941. Again, thanks! Peter

It is in the second image, the lower one, in the first message. It is quite faint. P

I have become the owner of what sure looks like a "nice" very early shingunto that is signed Ishihara Yoshisada with a faint Seki stamp. It retains its original polish (along with scratches and stains) so it looks like it was a well forged blade. But the smith ain't in Slough's list. This experience leads me to ask how "complete" our listings are?

Sword collectors love rules, categories, and lore. "Green Papers" were what was available for years and years. Then SOME were besmirched. That does not make them "worthless." It certainly doesn't mean that they are ALL wrong. Enjoy the sword! P

Moriyama-sama, you are a treasure! Thank you! Can you make anything of the saya-gaki on the other side? P

In getting ready to explore the sales potential of the NMB, I got out an old Kikuchi-yari that ended its career as a Yoroi-toshi. I bought is YEARS ago after it had lost it tsuka and retained only a saya with faint saya-gaki. As far as i could see, that gaki said something about Kikuchi yari and the Meiji era so I treated it like a solved problem -polished and new shirasaya. But as I got it out today, I recall that years ago, I happened to show this blade to my esteemed sensei, Serizawa Chosuke who cared nothing about swords (or my interest in them, thank you!). As he looked at this blade, tho, he said something about "It says it killed a ghost." So, take a look at these snapshots and the rather faint bit at the top of the saya-gaki. What am I missing? Peter

Carved bears are a common and popular souvenir from Hokkaido where they are generally considered to be "Ainu" art. Airports and train stations in southern Hokkaido are full of the. BUT, this one is wonderful. It really is better than the usual ones to be seen. I assume this one is "AINU" but it is outstanding! The "signature" is tough. I agree with Pietro that it looks like it says "GUTO", but I wonder if it might not be like a Yago which combines pictures with kana and kanji. In that case it could be a name or a shortened abbreviate like "Yama To." Peter

You guys are tough! Indeed I doubt that this image says much about Japanese blade in Western America, but this TOPIC seems to really grab at the hearts of the Western crowd. This image seems to be making a small buzz so we will hear more about it. I thought it was worth noting in this august forum! And, yes, several years back I did write a bit on the two best images of Nippon-to in the hands of Native Americans. “Indians and Japanese Swords on the North Plains Frontier,” Nebraska History 68 (1987): 112-115 P

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