drbvac

Mark: Do a search on the forum - this was a hot topic last year when certain carriers refused to take any "dangerous" implements on flights that were not direct to the country sending it to. I still think there are ways to do it but I can't recall all the ins and outs - many as you said were sent by ship or overland cause the airlines wouldn't accept them.

Grey: Thanks for the link - Pay Pal is great and I would not have just joined otherwise. As a comment: Some of my professional journals are actually cutting back on print and publishing on-line journals only - lot cheaper - more adverstising revenue - you just keep them on the site somewhere for members to access and any articles you want - you open and print. Big beauty of on-line journals is the :search" function to allow you to find what you may really want. In any event - one way or the other - looking forward to first newsletter BB

Love it - the thing with these is the image of them fully mounted and in use - some say they are "womens weapons" but I wouldn't want to come up against a samurai weilding one and me with a katana As Jean says - mine is balanced in lenght with the nakago and blade almost the same lenght

By a trained toshigi it certainly can but it is not quite as easy a process as one would think. As long as it is a bow in the blade rather than a bend that is a kink by the way.

Another point you may actually want to think about is the number of swords on the rack - I wouldnt want more than 3 and in a push 4 on an unattached rack - on the wall is fine but free standing when you reach for one it is really easy to tip the whole thing over and that can be not a pretty site !

I would bet unless that is a buy it now price it will not sell for $1500.00

Mark: You mention the trades people being bonded or certified but a couple of friends with the police state that in this day and age the number one way people get acquainted with your "stuff" and your house are friends of friends of your kids who have visited your home and seen whats there ! My den where the "stuff" was always stored is a locked room and the key is on my keychain - my kids were allowed friends in of course but certain areas were closed and kids with no supervision were not allowed. The police said in this day of drug addictions people would rob their grandparents to support their habit - so a parent of a friend - no brainer, Add to that the disaster that could happen with a drug addict in possession of a weapon that could cut a person in two = bad outcomes.

And as we all know 2 wrongs do not make a right :lol: :lol:

Same story on the East Coast = most one can get is additional coverage for "house contents" and even for furniture you at least should go around your house and film,video everything. IT is not just for evaluation but God forbid you end up with a pile of soaking wet ashes inside your foundation - you will never remember that little print on the wall in the den worth $1000.00. I have an alarm on the house but read this morning: Down South Security 1. Go to Goodwill and buy a pair of size 14-16 men's work boots. 2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine. 3. Put four giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines. 4. Leave a note on your door that reads ...... Bubba, Bertha, Duke, Slim, & I went for more ammo and beer. Be back in an hour. Don't mess with the pit bulls. They got the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don't think Killer took part, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. Anyway, I locked all four of 'em in the house. Better wait outside. Be right back. Cooter

I use it on my colt and remington revolvers and it is quite amazing at protecting and it is not sticky or shiny but - 600 yrs of using oil and cleaning must work fairly good as well. What I don't know is how hard the wax is to take off - I suppose some alcohol may take it right off - don't plan on "testing" it on a blade worth 10 times the guns !

Maybe it is actually a baseball field or cricket pitch :D :lol: It is very beautiful in any case Henry - the simplicity of form and pattern is lovely.

I just sent a package to a member in France and the tracking number went far enough to say it got out of customs and released to the French post - office, so I really hope it gets there safely. Not as if they ship it for nothing - spent nearly $80 to get it there with the tracking and signature Why do we all put up with such terrible service and the attitudes of these postal folks. Must be terribly stressful sorting and losing mail all day - thats why they go "postal" I guess - By the By - Stephen: Focus on getting better - get healthy and stay that way - alternatives suck !

On the other hand the piece that he sent me was as described and arrived looking the same as the pictures - study the pics carefully however as you should in any of these cases.

Adam: They are certainly object incorporated into the hamon but I believe most of them are repeated along the edge - Mt Fuji is the theme is repeated 4 or 5 times is it not. I was referring to something more in line with what Mr. Sinclaire was describing - one "picture" all along the edge. I dont recall but the more I look at the original post picture the more I can see what was described - could be tired eyes or imagination or Scotch. ? Thanks -

They are all beautiful - have no tosugu not mounted but have two blades mounted with all dragon themes. Kinai :

True enough - same with any bit of history that is questionable - they seem to want to fill it in and need be will make it up !! Very interesting thread but - I did respond in part to the original question by Mr Sinclaire regarding the appearance or seeming appearance in the hamon of dragon chasing a tama:: "In terms of the dragon abstract your interpretation is certainly plausible and of more credibility than mine - in fact a fairly astute observation that once stated tend to keep drawing your eyes. Like someone saying " I can see the water and mountains in that Picasso' as i nod my head and can not see anything." If in fact this was the intention I can't say other than repetition of a theme along the blade that there are many hamon that would be made to look like a specific single entity such as this. Does anyone else find themselves seeing things and trying to figure what it could be or is it once again imagination filling the void of facts. Anyone have any examples where this was done and noted what the figure was>?

Nakahara Nobuo and Martin's translation of the book Katana Kantei - Facts and Fundamental, maintain that some blades that were gimei and yet very close to the work of the smith whose name was forged would often have the mei removed - to hopefully be attributed through kantei to the same smith. The mei would not have to be a perfect forgery if the work were "close" enough. In terms of the dragon abstract your interpretation is certainly plausible and of more credibility than mine - in fact a fairly astute observation that once stated tend to keep drawing your eyes. Like someone saying " I can see the water and mountains in that Picasso' as i nod my head and can not see anything.

I look at these works and can't get my head around the process of carving the details into the steel - I only marvel at artists who can carve anything let alone these amazing works. http://world.choshuya.co.jp/engrave/index.htm there are quite a few on this site and I have no vested interest in showing this other than for interests sake And as I said - amazing technique

You got it right

Any chance it was modified to fit in a sabre grip from early 1900's

Well I mentioned that or Satsuma earlier and Chris stated it is probably not Satsuma so Echizen- I believe they are know for wider hamon and much activite and the boshi has long kaeri as does this. In any event it is a FOR sure gimei so lets leave it at that - thanks for all your help and comments

I used him several years ago and no too bad considering the cost of the item I finally received. Hard to get anything in the koto age for $1000.00 BUT as stated buyer beware and I just got ripped on another e-bay purchase nothing to do with nihonto but i guess a couple out of 400 transactions is a pretty good average. It is weird that some seem to go to the dark side over time so it is good to let others know of poor experiences as you have.

Adam: have no idea what the hell I was looking at until I did put the habaki back on and looked at the hamon disappear underneath it after where the hamachi should have been Chris thanks again - heres a pic of the hamon and the black specs are clearer - are they the nie sake ? Is any school known to have this type more than others?

The tsuka looks almost as if it were painted or stained red, the blade appears to have a nice hamon but could be anywhere from 70 - 250 years old = 700 - not.

I dont believe it was re-tempered - it looks OK near the nakago and mune 0 no whitish color there 0 The only picture I have of the hamon till I figure out a better technique is one of these - it is full of little black specs and nie.