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Peter Bleed

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Everything posted by Peter Bleed

  1. "could someone please let me know what is the correct name for this type of Hamon?" The answer to this question is, "Crap we shouldn't be discussing here." These are obviously not Japanese blades. The way to learn how to recognize r4eal Japanese swords is to look at real Japanese swords. Books, even a bunch of them, are not enough. Go to sword shows. Visit shops were real swords are sold. Find other collectors with whom you can get "face time." Peter
  2. Well, gee. I think Grey is right that this is "nothing special", but I would speculate that the blade might be a bit older than Meiji times. There seems to have been a market for odd-shaped shoto in earlier Shinto times, kata-kiriba and this kind of big unokubi-zukuri. These things are often unsigned, too. The edge may be a bit doughy, but I would put this blade through a shinsa. And actually, I think this may have been a rather nice looking rig. Peter
  3. David, Let's cut to the chase. 1. You have an interesting sword, but 2. It has lost a great deal of it's latest history, BUT 3. Its latest history wasn't all that important. By 1700 this was being treated as "an old sword." 4. If you like Jakushi tsuba, keep the guard. If not, sell it. (go to #5) 5. Dump the fittings. Somebody may be able to use them. Buy lunch at a sword show. (Actually, I like the habaki) 6. Make the blade as clean as you can and submit it to shinsa. Ron Hartmann gave you a great kantei - this looks like a Nambokucho weapon that earned its wound badge. This is a 'samurai sword." 7. If you get positive kantei, (no saiha, no hagiri) have this blade polished. 8. Enjoy the blade. So there Peter
  4. Peter Bleed

    nanban

    Please allow me to mention as a part of this thread that I just published an article in the summer 2012 issue of "Man At Arms" on biloded or auriculate Namban tsuba. It is entitled "Small-swords in Japan?" Man at Arms may not be on the radar of most Japanese collectors, but I wanted to discuss the relationship between European small-swords and Namban guards because I think we should encourage broad interest. In my opinion, "Namban" is a mish-mash of exotic objects and motifs 1) that some 18th century Japanese sword wearers found interestingly decorative, and 2) that fittings makers could add to their merchandise. Peter
  5. Please let me know what you think of this, as it seems pretty plain. I think this is a solid $35 guard. I also think that you should not waste your time on things like this. Demand more. Keep looking. When you find something "good" you will recognize it. Peter
  6. I am in Kennewick Wa. It is in the southeast corner of Washington state. Well, that explains it. I'll bet this was bought to the New World and lost by Kennewick Man. Peter Bleed
  7. Friends, Again, I turn to the forum with a question. I have heard that togi were able and willing to polish blades but then dull the edge. I had never seen one until yesterday when I realized that a nicely mounted blade I recently acquired fits this description. After I cleaned the blade it turned out to be in good polish with an edge that is well-formed, but it is not cutting sharp. The obvious question is why was this done? Is there a name for it. And, ahemm, , , what does it do to value Peter
  8. Eric, You have presented an interesting issue - as well as images of a very interesting armor. It is truly amazing that anyone would break up such as obvious matched and mated unit. Still, I feel the need to point out that many of the "suits" we encounter, as well as many swords, koshirae, and other 'kits', have obviously been wed in the past. The challenge is knowing what must be preserved, what doesn't belong with the rest, which elements are beyond hope, and what might best be appreciated alone. Peter
  9. Ian, Thank you for your wonderful comments. I have a few responses. But before I get to them, I would like to point out that the forum really and truly is wonderful. The forum provides us with an opportunity to pose questions – even naïve ones – and quickly get the expert opinions from people like Ian Bottomley and John Lissenden. This ain’t bad, friends! Okay, back to the dou. Your suggestion that Sendai yukinoshita dou were systematically tarted up in Meiji times is most interesting. I am a great fan of Sendai Shinto blades. I love Kunikane style masame, but one of the banes of collecting Sendai Shinto is so-called “ato-mei”. There were 14 generations of the line, but they fell on hard times at number 4 so later generations made lots of mumei blades that went right into the Date arsenal. The story I heard was that in Meiji times, the unsigned blades of the later generations were sold and ‘signed’ with names of one of the first three generations. If blades were being embellished, one has to suppose that it might also have happened armor. Certainly, Sendai kanagu-ya had the ability to do this work. Think of all those Sendai tansu! All this to say, 1) thank you, and 2) very interesting ‘theory.’ Peter
  10. Brian, Thank you for your help! This is a big picture! Let me add that there is uchi-dashi embellishment on ALL sides, including both of the overlapping right side panels. Peter
  11. The annual meeting of the NBTHK was held in Sapporo in 1974 or 1975. For that event a volume on swords in Hokkaido was published. It had great information including information on the Horii smiths, Ainu cutlery, and - don't forget - Masao. Copies should be available. Peter
  12. John, Thanks for the comment. The sword I am looking at could be Meiji-era, but there are elements that make me want to believe that it could be late Edo. Is electro-plating the only/best way of creating a "silver" finish? Furthermore, the fittings of this tachi are also smooth, no nanako, no karakusa, not even ishimei. Where shiny kodogu "right" for tachi - - - before tourists were buying them in Yokohama? Since I am writing, let me also mention that my piece of Namban tsuba - with sincere expressions of gratitude to you - is due to appear in Man At Arms later this summer. Peter
  13. Dear Friends, When did Japanese kinko begin coating brass with "white" metal? I am looking at a tachi tsuba of brass with "silver" dai-seppa. These -below the grunge and tarnish - are high gloss, but they show a couple of abrasions that reveal a brass core? When did such plating begin? Thank you in advance! Peter
  14. Ian, I attach an image of the armor that is current absorbing my interest. It is a 4 hinge, 5 plate dou, but it is built of multiple panels. I have never owned a yukinoshita armor (tho, with my interest in Sendai, I would love to have one). My expectation is that yukinoshita dou tend to be sleek, almost like corsets. And weren't they typically made with single, large plate? The armor I'm looking at is built of several plates and it has a barrel shape. It also is not a Sendai armor since the kote have the mitsubshi crest! So, please share your reactions and tell us your "theory about these." Peter
  15. Ian, Thanks for the advice. The forum worked, in that I got truly expert advice quickly, . . but I think the reality must be that this do is not signed. I looked where you suggested - and everywhere else - and found nothing. Peter
  16. Dear Friends, I beg the assembled wisdom of the Forum. I am looking at an uchi-dashi do with a nice dragon, and a russet/blue finish. The associated kabuto has a late Edo era Myochin signature. But I am not seeing a signature on the do. Any suggestions where a signature might be lurking? Peter
  17. Well, Jeff, again, I thank you for an interesting thread. I think what the forum is telling you is that this is a SWORD. It is handsome, historic, and worthy. I think the forum is also asking you to consider change and growth. If I had this sword - and wanted to sell it (!) - I'd take a K. The fact that eBay experts figure it has a fair asking price indicates that nobody is trying to cheat you. It also suggests that if you buy this sword, you had better plan on staying close to eBay and hope that there is a continuing crop of horny, naive new guys. That's who buys swords like this. The fact that this sword is for sale for the price you quote suggests that somebody sold it for about a grand - after getting it polished and papered. If you buy this sword, your babies won't starve. But in a relatively short time you will ask: Why did I buy this sword? Why was this era/school interesting to me? You mean that's all you want for THAT sword? Please come to a sword show. Meet dealers and collectors. Buy books. Find a community. Again thanks! Peter
  18. Gee Gang, The list has been on fire recently and this has been a fun thread. I will only add to the discussion that a galvanic response requires three things: an anode, a diode, AND an electrolyte, you need need a plus, a minus, and something to carry a current. Water will do it, but air ain't so good and neither is choji. So an oiled or dry blade shouldn't enter into active galvanic activity - especially it the habaki is doing its job. The main thing that this thread is demonstrating is that WE probably to know more about galvanic responses than did Edo period sword workers! Peter
  19. Hefe, This has been a fun and worthwhile thread. Thanks for getting it started. I have to agree with Grey. This looks like a nice sword. It can absorb lots of inspections and study. It is a real samurai sword. That said, and based on lots of looking, I think that this sword is worth a thousand dollars, BUT with a grand in your pocket you can and will be tempted by the lots of other blades that may have better "legs", blades that will take you farther and teach you more. Is this a great hobby or what?
  20. Ron, You have set off a wonderful thread which I have followed with naive interest. I am glad the the possibility of retemper has surfaced. My first reaction was a Bizen koto that passed a repair phase during which a mei was removed. It's swords like this that make me glad to be collector of Shinto. Peter
  21. Forgive me for presenting old news. I missed Mike's posting, but thought this issue deserved attention because there seemed to be more than a bit of suspicious joy being spread around this news when it broke. Sword appreciation seems to be as political as any other aspect of the human condition. That will certainly continue, but I saw this as a story about museums. My experience with museums suggest that they ALL have stuff in the back room that is uncertainly cataloged, researched, or titled. This is in the nature of maintaining big old collections. We can be glad that the NBTHK puts emphasis on outreach and exhibition. Peter
  22. Friends, A couple of months back there was notice on this forum of allegations that the NBTHK and two of its former directors were in possession of unregistered swords. The last issue of Token Bijutsu had a note - in English, thank you - saying that this issue had been resolved without an indictment. Paul Davidson, President of the NBTHK American branch, sent us a message today presenting the same news. Keep movin' folks. Nothin' to see here. Peter
  23. Ian, David and Friends! I launched this thread because my attempts to climb the Chinese armor learning curve were proving unproductive. I appreciate your advice, but I think the effort so far has demonstrated that - at least in the West - we don’t have very good information on Chinese armor. Ian, I acquired a copy of H. R. Robinson’s book some time ago after years of looking. It is hard to find, but presents a good introductory survey. For a collector suddenly asked to assess a specific item, however, it isn’t much help. It seems that a fair number of Chinese armors were acquired by Western Museums in the early years of the Chinese Republic so there are some useful museum catalogs that describe individual armors. One of the very best of these is a 1914 publication of the Field Museum entitles “Chinese Clay Figures Part I Prolegoma on the History of Defensive Armor” by Berthold Laufer. Laufer is one of my heroes. He appears to never have gotten around to publishing Part II, but the volume that did get published describes a number of very elaborate military outfits in some detail. It is hardly enough to guide a collectors suddenly asked to evaluate a specific rig, but it is worth having is a library on East Asian arms. For the serious collector, I agree with Ian that the next stop beyond these two volumes is the Mikado And David I bet you are correct in saying that Francis Boyd would be a font of useful lore. Again, thanks for the suggestions. Now we can get back to Japanese swords! Peter
  24. Friends, I really should proof read my messages. Forgive my ham-handed typing. Here's my basic question. Are there collectors and dealers who focus on Chinese arms and armor? Are there web sites, organizations, events? Or is this stuff so rare that a collectors' community has not developed? Given the difficulty I have typing in English, I hope no one will suggest that I learn Chinese! Peter
  25. Dear Friends, Please let me ask for advice that may stress the limits of this forum. I need some advice on Chinese armor. I have several "basic" sources, but specific information is tough. I have also had a hard time finding collector interest in Chinese arms and armor. Where should like look? Peter
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