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Rich T

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Everything posted by Rich T

  1. Great article Baz, and always sad to see another gifted mind leave the planet. Thanks for posting that. RT
  2. Hi all, it's been a very VERY long time since I posted here, and I have not even looked to be honest for god knows how long. Sorry this will be such a short visit. This thread was bought to my attention because of a statement made by David Styles. I need to correct. I do so only because it is completely inaccurate. The state reads as follows and I quote This comment was pointed out to me by a fellow collector and friend as it is pretty common knowledge it was me who sold the tsuba to David (It was posted on my version of Kodogu no Sekai on Facebook prior to me selling it on Ebay). Now, I do not care one Iota if you like shinsa or not, agree with the process or not, that's your own outlook. But I would never ever state that any Hakogaki would be of such a high profile that it would outweigh a Shinsa. If I had said anything at all it would be something like Some people find that Hakogaki are enough for them. That would be all. I am not one of those people however. That is how I see things, simply becuase the Hakogaki is the opinion of one man, and Shinsa the result of a collective opinion. It's well noted that Sasano, Torigoye and my main man Wakayama changed their opinions on some of these works almost as often as we change our underpants. As a result of that point alone, it is possible all hakogai from the 50's - 70's are worthless. It is in fact, a fact that I told David on more than one occasion that I thought the Tsuba in question was far from Owari, and most likely Tosa Myochin, or late Akasaka. It's highly possible the Hakogaki is incorrect, or even that the tsuba was placed in another box. So, as I noted at the head of this waffle, I don't care one way or another what you think about Shinsa That is your own personal opinion. I do care when I am misquoted and in fact mentioned in an out right falsehood. Thus I am here only to clarify that point. And so ends my visit to NMB Ciao Rich
  3. Actually, the point I made on this tsuba was I thought it was repatinated, not cast. I am not sure what you are referring to here David. Not many of us are rich men mate, it does not mean we give up. You seem to (correct me if I am wrong) purchase about 5 or 6 tsuba a year ? maybe more. If you think these all cost about 300 - 500 each ? then that would be somewhere between $2500 - $3000. If you just stopped and took a breath, and bought one tsuba at that level, you would never look back. I have always collected by purchasing tsuba in the $500 - $1000 range, then after I have studied them, sell them off and buy one good item. Then I start again. It's the only way I can afford this. Don't give up is all I say. Rich
  4. I am pretty sure Chris has the correct answer, no harm in asking though. Al, your love is always appreciated. Christian, I have a tsuba in the book, I was curious if there was a translation. It is a 7 book set of the very highest level swords and fittings. I was quite pleased Mr Klein found one of my pieces in there Rich
  5. David, I doubt very much this is Yagyu, but it might be Norisuke work, the second perhaps. Rich
  6. Hi all, does anyone know of an English translation of the Nihonto Taikan Tsuba, Kodogu-hen ? Cheers Rich
  7. Just some late thoughts a) the symmetry of the design - both can be seen in Owari and Shoami b) the tekkotsu in the rim - both can be seen in Owari and Shoami c) the rim is squared and not round-faced - both can be seen in Owari and Shoami d) the dimensions: 8.3 x 8 x 0.5 cm - mute point e) the form of the seppa-dai - the only qualifier for me. The seppa dai of Shoami tsuba tend to be rounder and broader as a general rule, but this is not always the case. As Henry pointed out though the colour is very brown and while this can shout Shoami over Owari, it is also not the case. If yours is Owari, it's late, as in mid Edo I think. It is just as likely to be Shoami Just as an exampe as to how these tsuba can cross many paths, here is one of my better Ko Shoami tsuba that has a ko niku kaku mini, tekkotsu, is black in colour and has features of several groups. http://kodogunosekai.com/2010/05/02/ko- ... shi-tsuba-古正阿弥地透鍔/ The iron is Owari looking, the design is Shoami in style, it is published as a work of the Akasaka Nidai Tadamasa and papered to Ko Shoami by the NBTHK. I believe the NBTHK have it right. These tsuba can be hard to pick. I tend to just love them for what they are and not get so hung up on what I think it is. There is no way to prove it anyway. Rich
  8. Hi Christian, there are plenty of books on Goto out there you can buy.GOTO-KE JUSHICHIDAI NO TOSOGU is particularly good and you can get one of Yahoo Japan for about $50 I do not put my books in the scanner sorry so I can't help you there. Rich
  9. Rich T

    Iron Bones...

    you could do what most of us financially challenge people do. Sell most or all of them (keep your very best favorites) and buy one good tsuba. Then start all over again.
  10. Rich T

    Iron Bones...

    Heaven forbid David the NBTHK or either of the NTHK's would know what they are doing............. why do you bother with shinsa ? And I am having a hard time seeing the Wonderful bones you have indicated. It looks to my eye like a rust pitted mimi. Rich
  11. Rich T

    Ko Gatana

    Thank Chris and Jean. Jean I will go do a search. Hold Please...................................................................... Yes very cool, thanks mate..... Rich
  12. Rich T

    Ko Gatana

    Thanks Brian. I wonder why that is, that most are gimei ? or considered gimei I should say. I would assume that without the broad expances of a nakago, the smith might have a little more trouble cutting his mei with the same flair and style ? maybe these were made by and signed by apprentices or something ? just a musing or is that ammusing lol. It's hard to make out many of the characters underneath, but I would be curious to know myself. There is some nice activity in the hamon so I know it's not a clunker. I am just curious as I know zip about these little things. I'll be showing it to the local guys on Sunday including George Trotter so it will be fun to see what they have to say about it. Rich
  13. Rich T

    Ko Gatana

    I also found the following K10) Kinmichi, 10th generation, 1850, Yamashiro, (Kiku) Raijo Iga (no) Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi (菊紋) 雷除 伊賀守藤原金道. He's the nephew of the 8th generation Kinmichi, and received the "Iga (no) Kami" title on July 5th, 1844. His works are mostly ko-itame hada (almost mu-ji) with suguha in nioi. With mention of the Cheers to Danny for this info. Rich
  14. Rich T

    Ko Gatana

    Thanks David, yeah that looks close, I have no sword books anymore (no more room in my library, all Kodogu lol) so I will have to raid my mates library on Sunday. I have these extra images which are a little clearer. Cheers Rich
  15. Rich T

    Ko Gatana

    Hi all, I picked up a kozuka just recently which came with a ko gatana. I have attached a scan of both the whole blade plus a quick oshigata. The blade is in very good condition and in pretty good polish. It has a nijimei and kiku mon on it, then 2 strings of faded fine small text I cannot make out except for the odd kanji like Yama 山 and a few others still clearly seen. I will try later to photograph it in the sun and see ifg I can see any more. My main question is though, is this a Gendai piece ? The mei looks like a gendai cut mei to me, though I am just not experienced in these things. I have not yet translated the mei but I thought it might be Yoshi something ?. Any thoughts as the to mei and make/age appreciated. Cheers Rich P.S, not sure if this link will work, but it is to a slightly larger image. http://www.turnervfx.com.au/personal/kogatana.jpg
  16. for anyone who uses facebook, and hasn;t seen these links, there are some pages running that might be of interest. I have Kodogu no Sekai up and running where people can post items or comment on the blog postings. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kodôgu-no-Sekai-小道具の世界/266005023454853 Sorry, can't get that link to work, you'll have to cut and paste it all. (Edit Admin - Using TinyURL.. http://tinyurl.com/797c6fa or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kod%C3%B4 ... 5023454853 ) Paul Martin has The Japanese Sword http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Japan ... 0909808635 Yoichi Ueyama runs Katchu Japan http://www.facebook.com/pages/KATCHU-Japan/218917144536 and the interesting N-Dimensional Japan http://www.facebook.com/ndjumn?sk=wall which deals with all forms of Japanese culture. https://sites.google.com/site/ndjumn/home Just some interest and extra fun. Rich T
  17. Rich T

    Owari Tsuba

    Thanks Ford, I was going to suggest for a brief moment, Bat's in the Belfry lol It is indeed Geese, Ginger and Weights (not money) Now to the tsuba in question. As a suggestion to David (original poster) it is always useful to add both pics of the rim and the dimensions, (height, width and thickness, both centre and rim) as all these things offer clues to the tsuba's origins. I am not sure it is Owari, but then as I said, I am not sure It does not strike me as Owari sukashi. It looks to have had a hard life also, and maybe cleaned ? hard to tell from that pic. Kanayama motifs are obscure at best, though they are more defined when they use these types of characters. I'd be wondering if this might be awarded Den Kanayama at shinsa. It's a bit of a few things on first examination. Rich
  18. Just in late on this. I know through my dealings with the 3 major dealers I work with and the subsequent smaller dealers, that they ask specifically NOT to mail items to their business address as the Customs are watching and will target these sorts of stores. I have either a private address of one of these dealers or use a friends who is not attached to anything and can drop it into the store for me. Coming out never seems to be an issue. I have yet to have an issue though I know it exists. And I would argue that Hozon is VERY relevant to fittings. Just as it is to swords. Rich
  19. ahh thanks Pete, yeah it was 5am and I was trying to use my memory. Here is what Haynes says. Haynes 01894.0: NTS: all generations of this family used this name. Through succeding generations the rank of each family master remained the same. Even the branch families had very high standards in their work. They were retainers of the Tokugawa Shogunate and received their stipend directly from the Tokugawa Bakufu during the entire Edo period. The early generations of the family did not sign their work. The next generations signed only as Inabanosuke, with or without the family name Yoshioka. The geneology of the family is as follows: first Shigetsugu H 08515m died 1653; second etc
  20. Hi, it is Inabasuke Yoshioka. In fact it is usually I think actually signed Yoshioka Inabasuke 吉岡 因幡介. I am not sure if I have seen it the other way around. If it is signed like that, can we see a mei please ? The Yoshioka family were highly rated in the Edo period, being almost as highly placed as the mainline Goto family. They make extremely nice black shakudo and and work heavily in floras, animals and kamon designs. Their sets with family crests are very common. The better works are signed with the artisans name and this was more common in their earlier years. As they progressed through the Edo period they just signed Yoshioka Inabasuke, CHeers Rich
  21. Rich T

    tsuba help

    Hey Brian, here are a couple I found on the net. I will have to dig out my books when I have some free time for more examples http://www.ricecracker.com/inventory/it ... tsuba1.jpg http://www.ricecracker.com/inventory/82 ... ba_aoi.jpg http://www.shibuihome.com/media/SD-0095wblg.jpg Rich
  22. Rich T

    tsuba help

    Hard to say due to the poor condition, but i might guess Sado. Rich
  23. Ed, I handled that sword in the shinsa room it was quite nice. Rich
  24. Hahahahahahaha hahahahahaha hahahahahahahah hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Thats priceless.................................. I vote Guido to be KING.
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