drbvac

All his posts can do so and always make one think = that said he is still correct - a really good toshigi and make a mediocre blade look very good a poor polish can make a great blade look less than it should = lipstick on a pretty girl can be an improvement but not on a pig no matter how well applied @

I have a papered blade that was tested by the smith even though there is a "typo" in the inscription ! I guess there were some very special testers and in reality not many smiths who actually tested their own blades and in fact depending on the skill - a tester may have in fact done a better cut than the smith ! ??

True: I still think that supply and demand will drive up the prices of all the middle class blades whatever the cut-off. Those that are bought between 10 and 20 G now will move between collectors and as more people get into Nihonto there are only so many blades in existence. It is not like "original prints" where there are 300 copies of the same picture or Hummel figurines that are collectable and increase a little over the years but now too damn much. Only after hundreds of years when they get broken or lost and the numbers go down does the price go up. In a hundred years I have no doubt that all the prices of individual blades will go up way more than a lot of other things.

When I shipped blades I never leave the blade in the koshirae or saya. I apply a lot of oil, wrap the blade with saran wrap, use the mekugi ana to attach it to a board ( center it is all) and then wrap it with brown paper and zip tie it to the board or duct tape. Then wrap it in foam as well as the koshirae and put it in the box - nothing ever hurt = box beaten up but no damage = the blade can not move in the box so unless they run over it with the truck it will arrive as it left. Then they have to remove, clean off the excess oil and all is good.

Radiographic analysis would be of no use in determining depth of a crack as it would only be visible on the x-ray if completely through the blade and the radiographic beam passed through parallel to the side of the fracture. Same as on teeth - except since teeth are not metal the opposite sides of a fracture can both be seen and the break appears as a small elipse or a lighter area - only way to get a clear black line is parallel beam = rarely happens on teeth -= impossible on a hagire unless it is wide open .

I would let whomever you decide to do the polish advise as to the outcome as I am sure they would not put their best effort into any blade if they thought it would bring out faults and magnify them rather than improve it a great deal. Shinsa will settle the maker = the togishi will decide the outcome of the polish Great blade - congrats

Agreed - fake or very poor horimono carving - probably both

Carlo: Sorry to hear of your difficulties = hope you are on the mend and congratulations on a monumental work that is getting the recognition in Japan ! Hope working on your passion is therapeutic for you and again = best wishes - have missed your input. Brian

Well = maybe some of the better middle level blades will see depressed prices and that is a good thing because as with all things in demand that there are not a lot of = at some point in time = they will go up and end up being high end There are some beautiful swords= papered and in great mounts for 5-10G right now and considering the cost of getting the papers = pretty good deal and not the risk of an unpapered low level sword

Kind of sad isn't it and = in my limited experience happens more than one would like to believe

Buy the one that you like = don't worry about the rating by either but that said a Tokubetsu Hozon origami, & Jo-saku rating make it probably a nice sword - but = you still have to like it yourself.

Canada is a "little" different as handguns are not an option - my only hope would be to grab one of my blades before the intruder. Do have a general home security system with motion and break-in sensors. Targeted break ins are not a concern although there are probably other things in the house easier to sell and carry out than the blades. I really don't ever think about it but in terms of insurance if you do not have evaluations, descriptions etc on record with any insurance carrier the chances of them paying on a theft are minimal. They either need a separate rider on the policy with all listed and some sort of credible value by a recognized expert that they will accept along with photos - same as jewellery and fine art. Be sure to check this all out with your agent and that they are listed on your policy BEFORE you are trying to make a claim. MAY NEED A LETTER FROM YOUR TOGISHEE.

Yeah or one of them too

It is pretty interesting and maybe a really good sign that Dr. Salvemini is holding 3 Tsuba in her picture on that site @@@. She has already used it for exactly our needs !!

Nice purchase - I am sure you will be more than pleased to have it in hand considering the pics

I am sure there are those out there that would spend the money on certain blades if it could be shown to be signed by a specific smith especially if the mei was obliterated over time by rust and wear rather than removed by a toshigi. Anyone have one of these pieces of apparatus want to make a cut ?

Anyone know of any other smiths or toshigi who emigrated and continued their craft in countries other than Brazil? I am sure some must have moved around the far east to Thailand or Korea ? Wonder if any properly trained and appreticed smiths DID move to China and continue ? Interesting thread and lots of questions raised.

You are gonna cause a divorce if you keep posting such quality papered blades that I can get with Canada Post and no worries with shipping from Japan. Prices are below what I can get some of these for at auction in Japan so I am still bewildered as to how you manage to do so but keep it up. For North American collectors that like papered pieces and no hassles with customs etc you are one of the best = thanks BB

I have a couple and they are invaluable - e-books are fine - they don't sit on a shelf and gather dust and its harder to write all over them - easy to read At these prices - bargains galore. Markus is known as one of the highest Nihonto experts in or out of Japan and especially as he puts it into print !

These are the best I have right now = they are omori waves and they are signed TSURIHIDE with kao and this is Kotani Tsurahide circa 1825. The tsuba is signed Kinai of Echizen The furniture is on a nice tsuka with Jabara Lacing and Shakudo dragon menuki - the saya is black with an inset kojiri and the mounts must have cost someone a fair bit a couple hundred years ago so they had to appreciate the blade

You will REALLY pay for the added insurance and "MAY" increase the chance someone noticing this will put it somewhere other than in the right bin to get to you ! Any additional insurance over a couple of thousand usually insures it WILL GET THERE, without costing you a fortune. I have taken a chance with 3 or 4 well over 10 g insured for 3 or 4 but then again - not sure what I would have done if that is all they paid when it was 'LOST" Mark is correct. Registered for sure

ありがとうございました Kunitaro san.

We shall see Stephen - it will be worth what she can get for it

There is masame in the shinogi , the hada is a bit rough itame/mokume blend. No chikei, there is nie but it is sparsely formed in small and sporadic areas, which leads one to a yamato mino blend - thus the Akasaka Senguin. Nagasa is 72cm - sori 20 mm

Mumei blade - The pictures are not getting much better but with a description and not wanting to send the blade all over the planet and unable to get to a shinsa I have finally through dealing with some members on the board gotten a pretty good idea of the school of this blade. I originally was leaning towards Naoe Shizu but certain attributes led others to narrow it down to another - Mino / yamato and considering the mounts I guess it meant something to one of the owners as it is not a really well sought after group of makers. The blade and mounts have been on here before - Kinae Tsuba and great Omori waves Fuchi/Kashira so they themselves are of some value. I tried to "stitch some pics together and even that is poor but will post them as well. SO: Akasaka Senjuin - Mid Muromachi ! Any other opinions ? _ -- I know - send it to shinsa and get it papered