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b.hennick

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Everything posted by b.hennick

  1. Hi Deron: I have several with the same theme. The maker usually worked in iron. He was identified in one Haynes catalogue - I can't remember the issue number. The seal character is his signature.
  2. Hi: I can not see this as the work of Soshu Masamune. Can one imagine a Masamune selling for less than $100k 11 bids and it is up to $2100. The blade is not in great shape.
  3. Hi: I teach high school science. Biology is my major followed by physics then chemistry. I have read some things on string theory but I am not one of the dozen people in the world who realy understand it. There are many who think that htye understand it but do not. It is just like swords - a beginner thinks that everything is clear. There are rules and the Japanese followed them. Unfortunately as you learn more you learn that there realy are no rules - the things that you thought you knew have many exceptions. When you realy start to understand things you step back and say honestly I do not know much. In swords it takes about 20 years of study to become an official beginner. After that thigns get better. I think that it is the same in physics at higher levels. 20 years of study probably makes you an official beginner.
  4. There is a good article on steel with the unusual title "The physics in your fork". It was published in Physics Today. The article is very readable. Here is the URL: http://ptonline.aip.org/journals/doc/PH ... 88_1.shtml Comments from those who work steel would be appreciated.
  5. Hi I recently sold a blade by Tosa Yoshimitsu. You can see photos of the blade, koshirae and a good image of the mei at http://www.hennick.ca/SFI/YoshimitsuW/index.htm
  6. This is a great idea! Usually I like to try the translation and see how close I come. At other times I'm stumped and ask for help. I agree if the need is urgent one could express that need. In the specific case of the mei I asked about knowing that a family name preceeded the smith's name was good information. Thanks to those who do offer assistance.
  7. The video is amazing! The Chinese have taken reproduction to a new gihger level. If those polishers were to set up in North America one wonders what they would do to the blades over here. I noticed the handle wrapper did not place paper under the tsukaito as is the custom. The handle did look OK from far away.
  8. Hi: I need some help with this mei. I think that I get Seki ? Kane? Kazu Nori It seems strange to have two smiths signing this blade. All help appreciated.
  9. Hi: I have two Hizen wakizashi that are heavier than the typical katana. One is by Tadakuni and the other by Masahiro. Both look very similar and have similar weight. They are much much heavier than their typical wakizashi. It could be special order blades...
  10. Thanks for all your help!
  11. I checked my references for Kotetsu and this signature differs from my reference sample. As the saying goes for every 10 Kotetsu there are 11 fakes. Is the cutting test genuine? I followed Mr. Nobody's lead to Guido's cutting test list and found Yamano but not much else. Can someone translate the cutting test? Thanks :D
  12. This evening I am tired, getting over a cold and somewhat lazy. All poor excuses to ask for help with a mei but please if you care to look at this let me know what I might have discerned if I spent some hours on it. Thanks[/img]
  13. Gentlemen thanks for the help. I got the Ichi monji part but not the Nara or Endo. Thanks again.
  14. Can you please help with this mei?
  15. b.hennick

    tsuba no 9

    I have a very very similar tsuba but mine is round. Same in all other ways!
  16. Thanks! The blade is dated as well. I read it to be February 1844.
  17. The first character appears to be Naga or Cho. The last two saku kore. The essential middle two elude me. Any help would be appreciated.
  18. Tampa Show Report by Barry Hennick This Florida Token Kai show was more of a fittings show than a sword show! Fittings were moving very well but swords very slowly, if at all. Perhaps this has to do with the relative cost of blades versus fittings or perhaps this is a reflection of poorer market conditions overall. The Japanese dealers did not come to the show. They usually feed the show with money. By buying some swords they put money into the show so that everyone ends up with money to spend. As for the educational aspects of the show again there was a little less than usual. The American branch of the NBTHK had four blades for kantei. Michael Hagenbusch ran the kantei session. It was wonderful as usual but was only open to American Branch members. The four blades were an Awataguchi Kunimitsu katana, an Aoe Katana, a Chu Aoe katana and an Omiya nagamaki naoshi. It is great to handle blades of this quality and to learn from Michael Hagenbusch who did this kantei session without previous preparation and notes. His ability to discuss what a person sees and to tell them what he or she should have seen continues to amaze me. Grey Doffin gave a session on sword etiquette early Saturday morning. At 9:00 a.m. attendance is problematic. There was a session on the metal composition of fittings that was given to a select few fitting collectors that I missed (no invite for me ). There was a display of blades by Gassan Sadakazu, a display of tanto in koshirae and a display of Satsuma blades and fittings – all worth the look. The food was the usual Florida fair – fried chicken, salad, rice collared greens and peach cobbler. Breakfast was slim with coffee and tea but no bagels or buns. As for blades – as usual some of the best were not on the floor. Among the best were a Go Yoshihiro and a Tokuju Choji. Among Hizento I saw there was a superb yondai Masahiro katana that must have been a special order piece. I also saw a questionable nidai Masahiro, and a questionable nidai Tadahiro. On my table one could find a shodai Masahiro, Tadakuni and Kunihiro among others. Sunday afternoon after the show I spent some quality time with friends discussing Nihonto. The topics were wide ranging from the NTHK and their possible reunion (consensus it will not happen) to steel for tsuba being leftovers that the sword smith can not use. Getting together with friends and sharing views, opinions and musings area part of the show that is certainly wonderful. The next show is in Chicago – I hope to see you there.
  19. After reading Darcy's post on pricing I wanted to let the list know that I have wakizashi for sale by both the Shodia Masahiro and the Nidai Masahiro. SInce I have collected that family for many years I actually have a good assortment or hamon to choose from. Most are papered. There is a shinsa coming up inb Chicago and Mineapolis, I will take to shinsa any Masahiro bought and pay for the shinsa. If the blade does not pass I will refund in full the price paid. Priced in U.S. funds from $5k and up.
  20. I will have a table at the Tampa show as usual. I am bringing a collection of 44 fittings (tsuba, menuki, fuchi kashira kozuka and a kogai) that I am selling for a long time collector. He has priced things to sell. I am considering buying some pieces myself. I will have some of my own fittings and blades as well. Please drop by and just introduce yourself. I put my picture on my posts so you will know what I look like.
  21. A polisher can put ububa on a blade as well ar remove it form a blade. Tricky guys can do wonderful or nasty (depends on your point of view) things!
  22. OK, back to the thread.............. Der Ombudsman told me he paid 400 bucks for the repair ( but I can't tell what repair , so it means the repair was good ) which I think a wee bit expensive ( me being the cheapo that i am, Ford, you listening ? ). I think the best one to answer that question is Der Ombudsman himself and he's on this board . As for the restoration of the tsuba. It actually cost $375 not $400 and the work was done by a person employed by Cary Condel. Cary's person and I believe in minimal restoration. We both wnat to put something back to the condition that it would have if it was a well kept piece i.e. not new condition. Cary said when restored the piece should paper no problem. I agreed that was the case and was happy with the restoration. As Milt says he can not see where it was done. The arrows and their feathers were worked on. Some rust was removed. I too amy happy that both tsuba are now back together.
  23. Hi Brian: The link does not work. I was hoping to read the posted archives.
  24. Sorry here is the image - I hope..
  25. b.hennick

    help needed

    I need some help with a few kanji that were on Tokubetsu hozon papers for a Yamato Shikkake katana. I can read the kanji that are for Shikakke but not the other two kanji. Can you please provide a translation for them?[Here is the URL for the image http://picasaweb.google.com/TanenbaumCH ... 2727368578
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