b.hennick

Sad news indeed. ????

I have had bad experiences with Daimyo54 and avoid his listing. Twice burned.

My fear is that a person uses 0000 Steel wool and it is too slow for them so they use a coarser type then coarser still. I would rather that no steel wool is used. Many do not have a lot of patience. You can't easily undo the results of people trying to improve their blades. I have seen too much damage in my time collecting blades. I started in 1976. So I probably have seen more damage than you.

I would not use steel wool on any sword at any time.

There looks to be a casting line in the middle of the rim (mimi) of the tsuba.

I wanted to send you a pm as I didn't want to put his phone number on Internet. Unfortunately, you did not list your email address so I could not forward the information to you.

Welcome Eckhart. You will find a lot of help from the people here.

Early camo!

I would have no problem receiving the swords and then shipping them to you. My concern would be customs tariffs. There is a company called cross border shipping that provides Canadians with a US address and trucks to Canada. Once here, items can be picked up or sent to my home. They prepay customs duties and import fees. The client pays a fee to them plus all the import expenses. They also take things by truck to the US for mailing there. All for a small fee. I would mention that a member here has provided a service for members here to get their things in the EU for a small fee. A person in Japan purchased a catalogue and sent it to me. I'm still waiting for it to arrive but I do know that it is in Canada - has not moved for more than a week,! Patience...

It is not their fault. They can't change the mail service. You can ask for a refund but I would not count on one. If you are lucky enough to get one, there are lots of swords for sale on nmb at reasonable prices. Patience....

I have only seen pictures. The tsuka is covered with leather. There are no menuki under the leather. It looked like a string wrap. It has an iron fuchi and iron tsuba.

If done for a small group for personal use there is usually no problem. They would not be for resale.

Thanks George. It sounds like a family name.

Please translate this added "name"

In museums looking at Nihonto, I like to use a LED light if allowed and I have cane with a drop down seat that I can use.

Do a Google search for binocular dissecting microscope. You can also get a digital camera that will put the image on your computer screen. When I taught high school Biology I used both. There should be many good used ones for sale.

Welcome Greg!

I visited their shop in the 1980s. They treated me well and showed me some very good tsuba.

Welcome Jim. Great time to study and learn about swords. Then again, it always is a good time to learn about swords.

Look at the Nanako. Compare it to any authentic Goto piece. That will give you your answer.

At least one or even both of the NTHK groups use the word Den with any unsigned blade. They might point to a specific smith but since the piece is not signed they add Den. The same could be done for unsigned tsuba. I also agree with what Steve wrote in the post just above mine.

I had a blade papered to Enjyu. It had what I thought scrap long chikei. I sold it in order to buy something very special. That blade ended up with juyo papers to Hosho. So, what I thought was chikei was masame hada.

If I know what you value something at, then I can offer something of equivalent value of more value of I really want the offering. Whether for sale or trade we need a price.

What Brian said!

Thanks Mauro! Great work.