b.hennick

I came a cross the name Bunpei Usui while learning about a sword that I now own. Any information on this person who was I understand the sensei of the New York Token Kai would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I can not determine the first character but I believe the second is mitsu. Any help would be appreciated. This blade has sat in a trunk since 1973.

Here is a tsuba that is on a wakizashi that has been in a trunk since 1973. Any help with the mei would be appreciated. If you can also provide information on this interesting tsuba that shows two shells would also be appreciated. Thanks!

Thank you so much! This is greatly appreciated.

Hello: I managed to translate some of this mei and date but not the full thing. All assistance is appreciated. My first photo clipped "saku" and the last few characters were not all that sharp so I added a second photo. As for the date sixth month lucky day but I do not recognize the rest.

Similarly other fittings should be protectively wrapped. If not bumping in to each other can lead to damage. I recently received unwrapped fuchi kashira and one piece was not under the elastic but was free to interact with the other.

Hello: My aim as stated is to add to Guido's wonderful article. The result will be published in the JSSUS Newsletter. If Guido agrees I see no reason not to also publish it here. I will have to remove colour from the JSSUS article and use smaller images but here we could use larger images. It is difficult at least more difficult than I expected to source images. I appreciate the help I am getting. Images can be sent directly to me at barry@hennick.ca I also check PMs as they arrive. Thanks again.

HELP! I am working on Guido Schiller's wonderful article on jichu no hataraki - activities in the ji and or shinogi-ji. My aim is to find photos that I can use to illustrate the article. I thought that this would be an easy task. Looking at my own collection of photos was disappointing. What I am asking for is photos that I can use to illustrate the terms. I have a list below of terms mentioned in the article. The article will be submitted to the JSSUS Newsletter. If you have images that I can use or if you source images that I can ask permission to use please PM me. I put the terms in alpja order. Here is the list 1. 1. Ara-Nie 2. Bō-Utsuri 3. Chikei 4. Chōji utsuri 5. Ginsuji 6. Hadaka-Nie 7. Hajimi 8. Inazuma 9. Jizukare 10. Ji-Nie 11. Kage Utsuri 12. Kazunoko Nie 13. Kinsuji 14. Ko-Nie 15. Kuro Utsuri 16. Midare-Utsuri 17. Mizukage 18. Muneyaki 19. Nie 20. Nioi 21. Ō-Nie 22. Saka-Chōji Utsuri 23. Shirajimi 24. Shirake Utsuri 25. Sumigane 26. Tobiyaki 27. Utsuri 28. Yakiotoshi 29. Yubashiri I hope to be able to add to the article "With help from friends on the Nihonto Message Board".

NIce fittings Brian! Iron is quite difficult to work. It is rare in Goto work as they used soft metals. Iron is far more challenging. That is one reason why I like the work. There seems to be much more detail in my fuchi kashira. I will try to take some closeups of the finer work. I can't imagine how one would do what I see. Then again I can't imagine how Ford Hallam works his magic!

Hi Ted: There is no blade just a koshirae. There was one seppa but it was not delivered with the tsuka, tsuba and saya. I had not thought of a Nanban fuchi kashira as I have not seen any. Hizen was what I intend to investigate further.

Here is the full tsuka.

I purchased a koshirae because of the iron fuchi kashira. The menuki are gold dragons. I posted the kanteisho that came with the koshirae that was supposed to cover the menuki. That is discussed in the translation section. Here is the link. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4903

Here is a photo of the menuki. Do you think that they actually belong to the kanteisho? I ask because I am doubtful. I actually bought the koshirae because of the iron fuchi kashira. I will post those in the Tosogu section.

This paper came with a koshirae I bought. It was supposed to be for the dragon menuki. Any help with translation would be apprecitated.

Look at the mekui ana of the wakizashi. It was either redone or poorly done when made. Unless it was made this way to suggest that the blade was shortened long ago. Comments?

Interesting to buy mumei blade and its original tang with signature. Both are shown on the Hozon papers. Interesting way to buy a Rai blade... I would love to see the tang polished the way Ted Tenold and Keith Larman showed at their presentation at Tampa.

I just finished the article and both enjoyed it and learned things from it. Taking a look at the larger context certainly sheds new light on things. Here is a question to consider. Hizento generally have quite thin skin. Shintetsu often show after a relatively few polishes. If you considr Tadahiuro's teachers did either of them make blades with thin skin? Was this just Tadahiro's way of increasing the profit margin of the smithy? If thin skin is common in either teacher's work that could lead to a closer relationship.

Weather and Beaches no none of that - tables, greasy food, good conversation boredom at times. It would have not hurt my earnings one bit to spend a few hours at the pool. Some might not be happy with me away from my table sooo much. I do go to Board Meetings and Educational events. No tan for me but then again no snow either (that is good for a Canadian in February!) :D

Hi Paul: As a Hizento collector I always look for more information on the school and its smiths. I would appreciate a copy as well.

Here is the report that I wrote for the JSSUS Newsletter. Florida Token Kai Show Report by Barry Hennick Slow – there were fewer vendors than usual, fewer buyers than usual and fewer sales than usual. This is what I would call a slow show. It was an opportunity to chat with friends from far and wide (except the usual crew from England and Japan did not attend). The program offered by the Token Kai was very good. On Friday there was an iaido demonstration and a lecture on jutte – devices police officers used to defend against swords. The jutte is basically and iron bar with a hook. Saturday had a sword care and etiquette lecture by Grey Doffin representing the JSSUS. Three board meetings – NBTHK/AB, Florida Token Kai and JSSUS Board of directors all met Saturday. One of the best presentations was given by Ted Tenold and Keith Larman on blade construction. It was amazing to see polished cross sections of blades showing how they were assembled. Keith’s photographs enhanced the presentation greatly. The NBTHK/AB kantei session had a Juyo Bijitsu Hin Den Rai Kunitoshi, a Tokubetsu Juyo Token Nakahara Kunimune, a Tokubetsu Juyo Token Shizu Saburo Kaneuji, and a juyo Tametsugu. Thanks go out to those who lent their blades to hands on study. Bill Miller had a display of Satsuma blades and yari – all in polish for people to oogle. The Saturday night auction was light on items and purchasers. Some of us did well at the auction while others continued their banter in the “sales room”. A lot of trading went on. It seemed to me that people were doing trades just to go home with new things. I certainly did some trades so that the other person could have a new treasure while I took on some lesser goods that had an equal or slightly higher value when grouped. A friend got what I think was the best deal at the show. He bought a juyo Kaneuji tanto with great koshirae at a great price. The oldest blade that I saw was a Heian tachi by Bungo Yukihira.You do not get to see many 1000 year old swords! This one had what I thought was a bad kizu but a friend pointed out that this smith usually carved a dragon on one side of the blade. A closer examination with the thought of a dragon in mind made that horimono come to life and kizu fade. I also was impressed by a juyo Kanenaga and a Senjuin ken in wonderful condition. A Gassan Sadakazu tanto with ayasugi hada was also a great blade. A complete set of kinko fittings for a tanto koshirae were wonderful. No papers, no shinsa opinions and $45k asking price remained unsold and returned to Japan. A tsuba collector of note had 525 tsuba for sale to be sold as a group. Along with the tsuba there was a set of photographs and descriptions organized by school. The per tsuba price is low but the numbers high. I hope that this collection will find a good home or homes. As a learning experience you cannot beat sword shows. There are blades to handle books to buy people to meet and opinions on anything and everything available.

I am just about to pack up for the Tampa sword show. There is always something interesting to buy at the show. I am taking my usual assortment of fittings and blades as well as a few books. Since money is tight I expect to see both more trading than usual and lower prices as well. I will certainly set mine at their lowest levels. Please drop by and say hello. It is nice to put faces to names. I expect many on the messageboard to attend.

I too owned one of that design with a matching fuchi kashira. It seems popular.

Hi: My suggestion is to buy books rather than swords at this point. The blades look to be reproductions. The ivory handle looks to be plastic. You need a knowledge base before you make a purchase. Read some learn some and then think about what you want. Ebay is a trap. Yes one can get deals but more often than not there will be problems unless you buy from a known dealer of good reputation. Try the sales section of this message board. Look at what is or was offered at what price. That will give you a good head's up on what to expect. Finally I want to put in a plug for the Japanese Sword Society of the United States (JSSUS). For $40 US you get 6 Newsletters with a lot of good information. Visit the JSSUS at http://www.jssus.org

I suggest that you show your blade to a polisher and ask how much it would be improved by a polish. A good polisher would not want to spend his valuable time on a blade that does not need polish. He can tell you what he can do for you. I have had those conversations several times and in both cases decided to get the blade in question polished.

I'll be there. I expect that there will be many bargains at the show. Times are tough and people are selling things to get by. I will have a fair assortment of blades and fittings priced to sell. Please drop by my table and say hello. It is nice to put faces together with posts... Not everyone uses a picture of themselves as their avatar.