drbvac

Where is this area on the blade - any chance it is a welded area?

May be presumptive but I have paid more for unpapered Naginata that is longer than this but it is still pretty impressive. Picture this on a 6 foot pole and it would be a scary weapon - even if usually used by females on the walls. Have gotten a number of items from Nick and although I don't know the actual calculation he use he is never doubling or tripling what he paid. He travels himself to Japan and picks up items he himself appreciates and if not papered he pays for that as well. When you consider the cost of papering in addition to the cost of the item - fair pricing - good quality items. May not be really high end smiths but then again - it wasn't 10 grand either.

Read earlier today and wanted to congratulate FORD HALLAM He has taken a 'Tokusho', or Special Prize at the annual NBSK Craftsmen's Awards. He has won the Sakaki-cho Kyoikuinkai Kyoiku-Cho Sho (The Head of the Sakaki Village (Nagano Pref.) Department of Education's Award. Well earned I am sure and more recognition of his superb work.

You are mean -- how about a call to the IRS complaining that he won't give out receipts when he sells stuff for cash on-line ?? They are probably worse than NSA in terms of wearing someone out - may not put him in jail but with interstate trade will put him out of business.

My earlier reference to him ripping off the wrong people and ending up in the Pacific was not related to the justice system - which is an oxymoron in itself. There are some very seriously bad people who have an interest and a love for sharp things and also ride motorcycles or distribute illicit substances unlike the true Nehontophiles. They may not know what they have but they will at some point either figure out or be told they got ripped off - not the type of folks that appreciated themselves being ripped off. As sad as it may be what comes around etc, and a very annoyed purchaser could test the sharpness of the puchase on the seller

Thanks very much for the history Richard. Your work and that of all the others is greatly appreciated by us all.

I do wonder why the maker would extend the inlay over the edge where it would be subject to more wear and tear >?

Don't be surprised - they may think its a terrorist plot and sending stuff to Canada - I use UPS or Fed Ex - and knock on my head - so far so good .

All great advice and perfect reasons for what you should do - the bottom line is as one said - for re-sale or enjoyment - I did the same thing with the Kanemitsumoto Tachi that was shown as at 1/2 the price and not papered and no koshirae - I traded and hopefully worked out at a no loss to buyer and seller :::: HOWEVER - I bought it originally nearly 20 years ago - no koshirae as I already had several with - unpapered - as at the time none of them were. Investment - no - it was truly something to behold in hand and very impressive weapon from the 1300's. Sold it for roughly half so surely not an investment and at the time - not worth the cost or trouble to paper . I do not care - I held and looked at it for 20 year and evert time I picked it up being as old as it was - wondering what havoc it caused on the battlefield because first and foremost that is what it was made for and I had it in my possession - priceless. Buy what you like and don't even think of what it will be worth - I may pass away and without some pre-arranged pricing and purchase agreement my kids may just give them away - it is a collection - like cars in a way - only worth what you are willing to pay

http://www.scholarsresource.com/browse/ ... 17?page=14 scroll to bottom and next several - very nice browsing.

Thanks John: Much Appreciated and maybe by going over a lot of pictures I will be able to at least tell what the thing is made of That said , any then someone says what are the odds-on this on Fleabay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Very-RARE-Japan ... 2eca6a73b0

ANy pictures ""?? Do you have any idea of its attribution

WOuld the Tsuba possibly be IRON NAGA MARU-GATA TSUBA 19th Century OR possibly Ko-Nara ??

Yes the waterwheel is lovely as well - would be at the end of the river in the village on FK

Knowing less about these items than I know of quantum mechanics I am on this side of the board to seek the assistance of the experts in this area. The tsuba is iron, fairly plain background with a border that seems like it is supposed to appear twisted and the only thing on it which I must admit looks a little incongruous is a Nata or Japanese hatchet/machete that seem to be gold an shibuichi and not a bad rendering if I say so myself. A little odd decoration on an otherwise seemingly plain iron tsuba that makes it probably younger than older. Any thoughts on era or what style or school being copied would be much appreciated. I do feel it was fitted to this blade very recently as the inside of the nakago-ana looks like it was filed to fit ! The fuchi/kashirae seem to be a village scene but again -thats all i see - no signatures anywhere but it does seem to be well done. Finally is a small Kogai which I do not recall seeing mounted on a Katana saya all that often ? Any comments, opinions of a positive nature gladly accepted - if you happen to not like these objects you can keep that to yourself

WELL NOW - hadn't thought of that but once upon a time I bought a print by Salvador dali that ended up being a fake even though the frame was worth more than I paid on E-bay. THE US POSTAL SERVICE went nuts based on the fact the item was sent across state and international borders and outside the country and sent me a letter requesting all the details of the purchase and he was charged with cross border delivery of something and in a lot of s**t. Federal Government is a useless outfit unless they are after - you - Internal Revenue , Customs and Immigration - a whole bunch o them can send a whole lot of hurt on to anyone they choose - Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

One day he may end up floating in the Pacific - this type of activity will often go on for a long time until you rip off the wrong people

Speaking of experimenting with steel that was sort of the consensus on this blade:

Kanemitsu or Kanemoto for sure :D :D :D :D :D :D :lol: :lol:

It is hard to tell but from the coloration bluish greenish on the second picture I would think it is artificially placed rather than due to the polishing stones

I can not believe that the spots were placed all over the place - on the edges - spatter - and nothing on the other. What would they be made of ? Paint I would believe that as a credible explanation without having the item in hand.

Do you have any pictures of the entire nakago and the hamachi and any signature that is on the blade as well ;? The Tsuba is interesting and the hamon is sugata and with the look of the nakago it could a fairly old blade,

May be a treasure indeed so it would be great to discover if it is and where and by whom it was made - the hamachi is worn down pretty well from polishes as well as the shortening of the blade but it is still an old blade worthy of further study and research.

Nice indeed - income tax time gotta sent the 15 G to the fu(*-04e Government so = Pass