drbvac

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... otohosting Why would there be a section of the blade near the hamachi that is filed down or never sharpened? This has a nice shape although not that old, the mounts seem pretty good as well.

May hold an edge and will be fun cuttin weeds if you let them grow a bit. I have a real nihonto wak so rusty that even I polishing it was some fun and I prune trees with it to the neighbours delight. I may wear my kabuto and really ferak them out!

I have one of his as well, for those of you who may remember it is the one with the horimono, and I really like the blade, He must have made quite a few!

Very interesting discussion gentlemen and it is odd that my introduction to Nihonto followed many years collecting bayonets and military swords, mostly british and commonwealth blades. After 250 bayonets and 150 swords, I will admit the aquisition was the deal as with any collection but the history of the swords themselves and the military useage was a great introduction to edged weapons and it was only natural to finally get into the ultimate edged weapon of all time the Japanese sword. SO rather than an immediate respect for the art I was properly impressed and studied the usage of all Japanese edged weapons for the reason they were made - as weapons through history and how they evolved to suit the warriors that had to use them in battle. How they were created to hold an edge like a razor and yet be strong and flexible to last. I guess it is like any other utilitarian object that once efficient in design and manufacture for its intended use - one can actually appreciate the art that goes into them. The designs on the hamon and the activity that you see were added by the smiths and I see them like the engraving on a silver plated colt revolver. Plain or majestic, both pistols will shoot and kill. So I am sure that the beauty of the blades was long admired and as with presentation pistols one would not necessarily take them out to war in the mud. Equally effective but not as utilitarian. Now I can look at nihonto for the artistic, individualistic characteristics added by smiths to make them unique, always well aware of why they were made in the first place. Art does follow function.

Add Christies to the list of those you better be careful of :lol:

Would you think this would be worth a polish - All the e-bay warnings aside :lol: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3DWatching

Of course you're correct but it requires a lot of comparitive study to be able to see it. I guess its like any art appereciation, I look at it all in amazement as I can't paint a door let alone a portrait - so as "rough" as the less quality one is, I couldn't do it with a gun to my head! It tends to cloud ones judgement and I reiterate my comment about not having access other than through books and the internet to both information and swords for sale because of location makes it tough! Another 10 years or so it should start to make some sense- and I guess the better pieces I own are as much good luck as good management ! As always thanks for the learning experience - thats as much fun as the aquisition of blades

Not to question anyone - but here is a photo of a tanto horimono and when uploaded and magnified I would appreciate any comments as to the engraving. I can see the chisel marks around the circumference "I think" but it may be crooked pixels! ! As you can see if you look at the link after the picture you may be surprised as this is supposedly a $38,000.00 Tanto This is I believe a fairly reputable seller and so what is a dummy like I supposed to do?

Great story indeed and as I have well over 25 years in perhaps I will receive one even better on retirement!

I also thank everyone for their comments and the detail and information on the horimono is very good stuff to know and look out for. That said I have bought from FWIC 2803 and although much cheaper items - they were as stated and could it be a case where he is giving too much credence to the BNH Ninteisho papers, and not on his own knowledge? One would think a seller with that many positive comment would know late muromachi is 16th century. He has a couple of swords on with NBTHK papers and I would assume that these are not forged but ? As we all know buyer beware but is there not any trustworthy sellers on e-bay? IF not we should just stop looking at the items. I know there are some that are right off the deep end as fraudulent and crooks - but it does take some of the fun out of looking if NONE of them are trustworthy.

No arguments from me! Sometimes the "expert" is wrong but it still drives up the price. I wonder if sometimes the "seller" answers their own ad to bump up the price. In any event its still an extension of the "buyer beware" axiom and it is and always will be an auction so the bid goes where it goes and the highest one wins. No need of anyone not interested in buying giving any seller hints on the blade. As an aside what about new members here asking about attribution, mei and values and then selling them on e-bay? I guess we just have to be careful in sharing knowledge - or not - hows that for a strong position :?

I agree that the old methods are fine, however some of the new lubricants and anti rusting agents weren't available 1600 or even 30 years ago. Although this has been discussed ad nauseum I really believe that the uchiko powder (which is a very mild polishing agent) was used because it was the best way at the time to remove old oil. There is no doubt that over many years, removing oil residue with ukicho powder WILL polish and/or depending on the state of polish change the polished state from the time it was done initially. Considering the relative lack of humidity in modern homes, oiling is still a must as you surely don't want rust to start, but even though I dont use them, I am sure there are synthetic products that would work possibly better than choji and at the same time be able to be refreshed or removed without aqny abrasives being applied to your new polish. 2 cents

Well it was mumei, all scratched to hell, no polish, about 5 nicks on the edge and I got it for nothing so -- made a handle and cut weeds. The polish/sharpening to get it to be of any use really got into the core steel - so Its a great weed wacker and I can sneek up on them and swish -- up to 1/2 inch shrubs gone!

So not only Daimyo but gardeners but not flower arrangers - just joking! I guess in this case they are not nihonto although I have a rough wakizashi that I polished - again roughly- that although not artistic - with a homemade wooden tsuka- is great for cutting tall weeds and small bushes as it is VERY sharp - So I guess I have a gardeners NIhonto and it sure is fun wacking weeds with a blade.

As long as they were flower arrangers I guess it was OK to have one. :lol:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-SHAPE-WWII-JAP ... dZViewItem This must be a cut down sword, but from the color of the nakago, I would think early shinto?

Probably, beautiful hamon and polish, would rather have the Ayasugi hada however, but if anyone wnat to buy this and send it over - I'll sign for it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Old-Unusual-Sh ... dZViewItem Never seen one with the reverse sori with other than a mm or 2 curve. I take it this is either unique or gimei? - Maybe both!

Looking at the size of the cord around the armour at waist level I wouldnt be surprised if the whole thing were about 12 inches high. The shipping is 90 US while for most armours from Japan it is 3 or 400 because of the size and weight! Nuts - some poor soul will buy it - I have a 70 dollar Tsuba from China I will sell for 10 and 60 dollars shipping.

Well if you remember it was on sale two months ago from the US and on a lark I bought it for a laugh and now see I could have had it for much less. I know it is a joke but I could have had the same laugh for 1/8 of the cost!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3DWatching Annoyed now that I see someone copied the original I paid 70 bucks for last month asn now thye will be all over the world - still a conversation piece and we now know if you wait long enough the price will come down for the really good pieces.

Well let the newbies have a go! NOT? Stephen : As a suggestion, why not give - 2 or 3 days to answer first part and 2 or 3 for the next part.

I sent a blade by Fed ex, overnight and it was 60 bucks with 500 dollars insurance and I prayed for it all the way there. It only went a 2 hour plane trip from home! It would have been 275 with 5 grand insurance and even that wasn't enough so you take the chance it will get there or pay through the nose. Purolater isn't much better and UPS is no good at all. The Canada Post courier may be a bit quicker but it surely isn't inexpensive, That said if you want to insure the heck out of it and don't care how long it takes I am sure there are cheaper alternatives - combination of speed and insurance is what drives up the cost. I figure the longer in the system and more people handle it the more chance of loss or damage - good luck!

Louis Skebo is still at it - he is a couple of months behind on full polishes as he does a lot of initial prep work for Japanese customers! He is also working on some Jumonji Yari which take a LONG time. Nice guy to work with.

La Grenouille C'est bonne , n'est pas? A manger quand meme !