Michaelr

A sword that I was looking at was made in the WW2 period and signed by Nagamitsu. I was told that it is a traditional made blade with a gunome-Choji Hamon. Then someone else said that if it is a Choji Hamon then it would be a non- traditional made blade. Can this be a traditional made blade? Thank you in advance MikeR

Brian all well said. Thank you and I hope this ends this insanity MikeR

Very cool Rich. Thank you for sharing. I would like to find a original copy of that report to see if the pictures might be better. Just something else to be on the look out for. MikeR

Thank all of you for your help. Neil thank you for the pictures of your sword. That is exactly what I was looking at. Yours is beautiful. I am going to try and track the fellow down and see if I can buy it. If I do I will share the pictures here. Thanks again MikeR

I just looked at Wakizashi that has me a bit puzzled. It is a traditionally made and signed blade ( maybe Edo period) in Gunto Mounts. The only thing is that the scabbard looked like the normal type 98 scabbard but it was made of wood. It was painted with the sand like finish and mounted like a type 98. You couldn't tell the difference until you picked it up and it felt much lighter. Was this a special order, or a earlier type? I haven't seen a wood scabbard in this configuration before. Sorry I couldn't get any pictures, the show was closing up when I spotted this one. Thank you in advance MikeR

I am still at the hotel waiting for a early departure and a 15 hour ride home. The show was great and the people even better. Thank you to all the people there that treated me like a old friend and helped me with any of my questions. Thank you Ray for helping me with questions that I had with a purchase that I was considering. Thank you everyone for all of the GREAT seminars that were provided. This was my second year at this show with my friend Jim Colorado and I would recommend it to everyone no matter what stage of collecting you are at. Most of all a big thank you to Bob Elder for putting on such a First Class Show and always making me feel like a old friend. Ps thank you Mark and Mike for allowing me to make a last minute purchase that I am very proud to own THANK YOU BOB MikeR

Hello Eric, I will be at the show helping a friend of mine with his tables. Today was pretty light on the public but lots of Great stuff to look at. There is a good mix and something for everyone. Saturday is usually a pretty busy day with lots of activity. Come on in and enjoy the show

Don’t know what it is but I love it. What a great find

WOW that’s beautiful

Thank you all for your help. I think that I will follow all of your advice and just leave it alone. MikeR

Hello everyone and thank you in advance. I just purchased a blade that was polished and put into a newly made Shirasaya. The new Shirasaya is very light and very new looking. I also have a blade in a Shirasaya from WW2 and it is a rich golden color. Is there any rule here or is it just personal preference on the color or finish of a Shirasaya? Is it ok to put something on the new Shirasaya to change the color? If it is ok to do so what is usually used or recommend? Thank you MikeR

This was new to me. Thank you for posting MikeR

Hello everyone. A friend of mine has a sword that his father brought back from Japan at the end of WW2. It has been very neglected over the years and is just now becoming of interest to him. I am hoping that someone can help us both out with this one. I see that it has what I believe is a Shoa stamp but I can’t read the Smith. To me it looks like the blade may be stainless? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. MikeR

I use a product called Talas. They have a whole line of products that are used in the restoration of leather bound,high end books. I have used both the leather cleaner and cream with Great Results. Dosent change the original look just cleans the leather and feeds it. Good luck

Thank you Alex. I understand MikeR

Alex I also went to the page that you posted and no swords. Says it was last updated in 2010. I think that the people that defend his type of selling on eBay haven’t been involved in any of his auctions. Vajo as you I have bid good money on two of his swords only to be supposedly out bid at every step,and then the auction ends and the sword is sold. But wait for it——- it reappears for sale again. Say what you want I won’t deal with a person like this. Say what you want ,if he wants you to contact him outside of eBay then he should just put a high reserve on the sword and say if you have any questions contact me. Just my opinion. I am sure he won’t miss my money but I am sure that I won’t miss his type of dealings. There are many GREAT people here on the board that don’t have to play games,know what they have for sale, and are glad to help you along the way. When I make a purchase here there is no BS and I know what I am getting and usually I am more impressed after I receive the item because it is even better than I thought. Just my two cents Mike

Thank you Pete. Brian your $50.00 has been sent via PayPal. Again thank you and all the others of the board for a great place to learn. This forum has been my daily go to place to help me learn. MikeR

Kind of new to the board but am so greatful it is here. My $50.00 is waiting to be sent to you Brian but I don't know how. Please let me know what to do and the $50.00 will be on its way. As a beginner this is money well spent. Thank you to ALL. and to you Brian for making it all possible MikeR

Gary, when times are good and people have money the prices of all collectibles are high. People buy what they like or are interested in at the time. When times aren't as good people often have less money and prices are down and people buy what they like or are interested in. People collect for different reasons. Most collectors buy things that interest them for what they can afford at that time. We all hope in the back of our minds that our items will appreciate over time. That dosent always happen. I have found after many years of collecting many types of things" buy what You like and what You can afford, enjoy what you buy for as long as you own it. Enjoy it for what it is Not for what you paid for it and when the time comes to pass that item on for what ever reason get all that you can for it,At That Time! " if you ONLY collect for the reason of a investment you never take the time to enjoy what you have,because you are to worried about what it might be worth tomorrow. Believe me I have sold my collectibles for huge profits and have also lost my butt on others BUT as long as I had them I enjoyed them, studied them and was proud to share them with others. The nice thing is that when I passed them on weather at a profit or loss I knew that the new owner was also going to enjoy them for what they were. MikeR

I have a blade that was placed in a shirasaya in 1945 and both still look great. MikeR

Sean, when I picked up my first sword I made myself crazy trying to figure out what type of case to put it in and where to purchase it from. Then one night sitting in my living room watching TV and looking at a pretty much blank wall it came to me, why not put then right there above the TV? So I now have 5 beautiful Japanese Swords displayed on my wall above the TV. I think that they can be appreciated much better by me and others and they remain out of reach to those who " just have to touch them" What ever you decide remember, display them where YOU can enjoy them, where they are out of reach of the touchy- feeley types and most of all, leave a lot of room since this field of collecting is very addictive and I am sure that you will be adding more to your display soon. MikeR

GREAT JOB Bruce. You should be very proud of what you have done, I am sure your dad is proud of the sword and OF YOU. MikeR

I agree totally. Although I have never dealt with Yahoo I have delt with eBay. They are both doing the same exact thing. Items are being listed with no reserve and being pulled right before that end and then being re listed. I was watching two items, one had 25 bids and the dealer just pulled it and resisted it. The other was in its last day ( when I usually bid ) and had about 15 bids. It had started at a penny and was about $850.00. When I went to bid it was pulled and resisted with a buy it now of $5250.00. My highest bid would have been $1500.00 figuring it was worth about $2000.00, certainly not over $5000.00 Maybe if the buyers start to become more aware and start to walk away form the fake frenzy, then maybe then Thease dealers will start to be more realistic with their prices and stop the BS of shill bidding and pulling and re listing their stuff. When this happens to me, as it just did, I feel that dealer is unreliable and not someone that I want to deal with anymore. MikeR

Just me. If I were one of the 25 bidders and the auction went like it did I wouldn't be very happy. As far as I am concerned a Auction IS A Auction, not a fishing expedition, or a advertisement for sale. At a real auction after a second bid the item has to be sold in less it has a reserve.I have been involved in similar auctions and when this happens to me I just cross that dealer off my list. My feelings are if you want a certain price for a item, put a reserve on it. If you don't know what it's worth put a high reserve on it and see where it goes, BUT DONT take bids on a item, say it was sold and realist it for what you really wanted for it in the first place. I was just getting ready to bid on a very nice Wak on eBay from Japan with papers. It was the last day and the sword had only reached around $800.00 it started at one penny ( figured it to be worth around 1500.00 to me ) so at this point the dealer pulls it from the auction stating there was a misprint in the listing and realist the same exact listing with a buy it now for $5200.00. WHAT! Oh well nice guy or not, friend or not I don't deal with those type of people. I am sure that they don't miss my bid but over time a lot of me's egual less sales. Call it what you want and blow it off as " everyone does it" and " he is really a good guy " but if you want to be honest just list it with a reserve and see where it goes. Just my opinion. MikeR

Stephen, thank you so much for sharing this video. MikeR