Johnno

Thanks Greg I managed to get a few more interesting pics yesterday - might try to post a few of them...

Thanks Paul I have a feeling I will not get bored with her very quickly If you take her out in the sunlight its amazing the amount of activity that is there to be seen in the hamon - sunagashi, kinsuji, the works... Wonderful stuff - and most of all, I *have* a sword again Once you have the bug you have it for life I'm afraid... lol There is no going back John.

(Of course - I'll *have* to be pleased for a while now - until I have more money - this one sword *is* my collection - for the moment at least - until I get a bit more money...)

Thanks Ruben I am very pleased - she is a magnificent blade I think John.

PS - once again, apologies for the photography - I only have a mobile phone camera and nowhere that is not at least a bit ''busy'' - so if there distracting bits and pieces in the background my apologies again

Hi all, Now that my ''Hizen Tadahiro'' has arrived - has been here for a few weeks now actually - I thought some of you may enjoy a few pics... Apologies in advance for the poor photography - I'm posting just some of the pics - the ones that I feel probably do her justice... What can I say? 77cm nagasa, beautiful steel, wonderful hamon and hataraki and hada, lovely sugata... I am far from an expert but for me at least she is right up there in quality with my tokubetsu hozon papered Yoshitake I owned years ago... I hope the pictures are good enough to give an idea of what she looks like ''in hand''... John.

I can't help thinking another good idea is to ONLY deal with reputable dealers for the first few purchases as well... Just a thought...

Namikawa are good - If they have a tool for the job I am sure it would work fine - I just scored a shipment of goodies from them to look after my new sword...

Yes - from the pictures *everything* looks wrong...

Thanks Greg The countdown has begun - hopefully she will be with me soon

Surfboard shaper ? lol Even I know SBS is Special Boat Service - and I'm a Brit who spent most of my life in Oz - the great down under land lol Seriously though SAS - many many thanks. Its amazing how no matter how old you are getting you still feel like a KID when you know that new sword is on her way to you (although in my case everything was closed down in Oz on Friday so sadly I have to wait till Monday for her to even begin the journey to me... Having said that - yes - cannot wait... The second I know she's on the way I'll be scoring some decent uchiko and choji oil and a few other bits from Heibei Namikawa as always and getting ready for some quality time with my new sword Its just not the same sitting down to watch your way through Sword of Doom or the full series of Lone Wolf and Cub or any of the real classics like 7 samurai without actually HAVING some decent Nihonto in the place...

Stephen, Kamata-san DOES get some lovely stuff My Kaga Yukimitsu katana from about 1527 I got from him - she was absolutely MAGNIFICENT and looking back on it I have *no idea* WHY THE HELL I sold her... She really was quite magnificent... Oh well...

Mmmh - if that is one of my old mate Kamata-san's swords I am *sure* it will be nice - going to have a look now...

Thanks for that Loiner I was starting to think that I was the only person who saw this - the beauty of this sword... Truly (and its not just because I am biased and the sword is now mine lol) to me this is a beautiful sword - and I know she is a sword I will spend many hours appreciating and getting to know better - and at the end of the day, THIS is what its all about isn't it ?

PS At this point in time the consensus from everyone seems to be that I should not submit the sword for shinsa and I am inclined to agree - I am taking the sword ''as is'' - to own, to study, to enjoy Well - okay - as we ALL know none of us ever ''owns'' a Japanese sword - we are simply its temporary guardian or custodian until the next chap comes along... To be honest right now the number one stress for me is not the mei - its the PAINFUL WAIT to get my new baby into my hands and to begin the process of really getting to know her...

Thanks for that Kronos - my feeling at the end of the day is that it is about the SWORD - the WHOLE sword - and the fact that this sword in particular spoke to me - that I felt a connection with this sword - which is why I did the deal and now - hopefully on MONDAY - she will be on her way to me - and maybe a week after that I will have her in my hot little hands and be able to start to REALLY get to know her and study her... John.

(Well - Tadayoshi/Tadahiro/etc.)

Someone on here mentioned having a bit of a ''database'' of Hizen Tadayoshi signatures ? I for one would very much like to have access to that and to be able to do some comparisons...

I can honestly say that I am now more confused than I was when I started Having said that though, I am hanging out to see my new sword and spend some time getting to know her... I guess for me at least - shinsa or no shinsa - THAT is what it all comes down to... If this sword is still a ''keeper'' in a few years from now and I have enjoyed her and learned from her in the process then I guess I will consider myself a ''winner'' - if not, then I will have at least (hopefully) learned something from the experience... Wishing you all a Happy New Year for 2016

Thanks Karl I'll be honest - its new year's even here soon - and I still have to work a very long shift and my head is now spinning - I think I'm going to make myself another long black coffee

Far out - this is way too embarrassing now - I thought I had replied to a private message there - bugger lol... As you can probably tell I don't spend a lot of time posting on public forums etc lol Bugger... Oh well - at least I don't think I said anything to disgusting or shocking so that is a relief... :)

Thanks for that Daniel... MOST interesting - and YES - I can *definitely* see some similarities... BTW - going to be here long term and have sent you a couple of private messages John.

Cool - this is the message I *thought* was private - but obviously wasn't lol - call it a ''blonde moment'' but now I am deleting it because its made me feel enough of a goose for one day

You sir are a genius - on a long customer call but back at you as soon as I get a breather... THANK YOU so much...

Hi Greg - yes I have dealt with John before - he's one of two dealers I consider to be 100% trustworthy and whom I would always deal with - John at Nihonto Australia and the other being Kamata-san at Tokka.biz... I am not saying there are not other good guys out there - I am just saying that they are the two main people I have dealt with in say the last 10 years and yes, feel totally comfortable dealing both Alex - um - I know what I want - I know I want that sword - but it doesn't mean I am sane of course - I am part Irish you know lol But what can I say - the sword DOES speak to me and I have to have her I was most interested today also when a friend of mine who is far more knowledgeable on Nihonto than I am suggested that the sword might well be Bungo... Just thought I would mention that here... At any rate - the sword will be on her way to me Thursday hopefully and I am hoping to have her in my hot little hands within a week of that - can't wait Once again, thanks to you all for your advice and input - there is some pretty amazing knowledge and expertise on this board - I'll definitely be hanging around - and I have a feeling that I'm well and truly *back* when it comes to Nihonto also - not that I believe its possible to ever ''lose'' the bug once you've got it lol