drbvac

Maybe the natural oil from your hands is sufficient! I use to rub the side of my nose to lubricate the ferrules on my fly rods - enough to allow easy dismantling, not so much they slip

Dana: I wouldn't be too afraid that someone would break into your house to steal them for re-sale. Maybe as a weapon, which is not good but until you can get the tsuka off the second one, I wouldn't bother increasing your insurance. Do you have any idea where and when they were collected?

All I can do is look at the photos but in themselves are quite impressive - thanks for the links Carlo!

yep! Considering it was up 3 times starting at a reserve of 3 grand and when removed sold for less than 1/2 that I was happy

This naginata is 93 cm long, 47 cm nakago, 3 mekugiana, 46 cm nagasa, signed Higo Dotanuki Matahachi which was discussed at lenght in a post where one was found in a castle gate in Korea! It is healthy, big and looks right but the mei shown on that post put me off a bit - but I am still happy with it :D Any comments, the price was right so - wth!

Also http://www.nihontoantiques.com/sageo_tying.htm

You know - this "debate" is very interesting and educational and no-one is getting annoyed which shows how civil we can be. I know less than nothing about Tosuga but in the pictures posted by Rheinhard, two things strike me, The mei are not exactly the same and the finish of even the nakago-ana on the original posting is not clearly cut out of the top of the kashira, Considering the makers attention to detail even little things like the openings are finished to the highest standards - IMHO. That said the posted ones are nice - just "not as nice" 2 cents on observations

Classic silk purse out of a pigs hind end

Quite nice and IMHO not to hide any imperfections considering the position and the rest of the blade.

Mike: I hope as I was that you were/are joking. The sword sold for 57.00 which is probably 55 more than its worth!

I see yellow text on dark grey and light grey links to photos in between. The mounts don't look fantastic but the blade could indeed be OK, although a little tired. Need better pics

This is a Japanese WW II Army officer`s sword in mountings. The blade is by gendai smith signed "Nidai Minamoto Yoshichika saku kore 二代源良近作之". Yoshichika made swords during The Taisho and early Showa periods, most of the swords carried by the Imperial Guards were made by Yoshichika and listed in John Slough`s book page 196, Rated 1.5 million Yen High-grade gendai-to smith. This is traditional hand forged, water tempered blade. The blade is in old polish, shows minor aged light surface scratches but in near mint condition. The temper line is gunome temper with choji ashi active pattern throughout the blade and has deep temper at the tips. The forging grain is tight itame-hada and no forging flaws. There is no bend, no nicks, no crack and cutting edge is razor sharp. The scabbard is glossy metal scabbard shows aged minor scratches, but no dent, no bend and in good condition. The handle is tight fit and tsuka-ito wrapping is in good condition. All the metal fittings are original, tsuba and seppa are matched number 77 stumped. It came with blue/brown company grade tassel in good condition. It is beefy, wide and healthy blade. The blade measures 26 1/4" cutting edge, 1 1/4" width, 1/4" thickness at the notch and 38 1/2" in the mountings. Shipping is $20 priority in U.S. Accept pay pal.

Thats the seven heavenly bodies mon, not sure what the other is but IMHO, the mons themselves are rough and the horimono is not particularly well done. May be gendaito but wouldn't bet on it.

I tried a hundred ways to clarify the marks and am not sure it is a shumei bit don't know what else it could be. Heres the pics I stared at!

Sounds great ! Too bad I am 4500 miles away and will be 5500 miles away in northern Quebec fishing - One has too many interests too little time and money!

Mine has worked well since I started BUT it is often just as easy to send an e-mail directly and identify yourself as ---- from the NMB and go from there. Often quicker and doesn't require the loggin on board to receive replies.

Jean: Votre anglais est tres meilleur que mon francais, c'est terrible!

I think Jean got the idea, the tsuba fits horizontally - the nakago-ana is not the correct size and it was the sekigane that I made out of melted copper wire. I just coudn't remember the name and wondered if they were often utilized, and how they made them? Thanks Franco - easier than wax Sorry to you other folks if I wasn't clear

On two separate occasions I had tsuba on a blade that were loose. On several others the tsuba had little copper pieces on the top and bottom that were inserted between the blade and the tsuba - so I made some for the ones I have which were loose. My question : Were these used a lot historically or were they added as I did and do they have a name? All i I did were make little wax models of the pieces and cast them into copper using copper wire, in the lost wax method we use for amking gold crowns for teeth. Once they are cast, you place them in the tsuba and burnish the flashing a bit so they stay where should be and slide them on the blade.

Thats great advice for almost any situation - known in dentistry "if it aint broke - don't fix it!"

I know Stephen , that said as I pmd to Guiseppe who PM'd me I wonder if that could account for the fresh appearance of some Shin-shinto blades? It would throw me off for sure if someone had actually kept tangs from aging as you would expect.

Maybe UJI here's another pic

In the hundreds of documents including one from NBTHK on care of swords many mention applying oil to the tang. Considering one thing often used to date swords we are holding for the present time is the level and color of rust on the nakago, how will that practice affect those caring for these a century from now? I would think if not stopping the rust it will certainly affect the rate at which the tang oxidizes so it could remove appearance as a criteria for dating and in fact may account for the appearance of newer swords that have been oiled in the last hundred years. Just wondering if others oil the nakago?

Good be! Mitsu for sure - could it be Kane?

OK - still a pain in the ass