Vermithrax16

Over time my love for Shinshinto works increases, just a nice set of excellent smiths making top flight works IMO. Fun exercise Kirill! Thank you!

I am not schooled well enough in tosogu to offer an opinion of any worth, but these pics don't convey an older piece. I am confused by your today @3:56pm comment; a dealer overlaid poor foil over good foil? 95% positive nanako? I don't know what that means. In any case, I wanted to ask if you showed it to the big guys, you still have questions?

Considering selling some of my own stash (not nuggets) as silver and gold have had a better run as of late. Chris, nice nuggets! Panning or metal detecting?

Motooki is a wildly under rated smith, had many excellent works. Would love to follow this story along as it goes.

I replied above, Shinto Kanemasa. Only pic I still have is with my 2nd sword, a gimei Yoshimichi, but was clearly Ishido school. Go figure, gimei down the ladder, amazing. Here they were, off to good homes now: Only 2 buys since then. Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu and a Tegai Kanekiyo that I think is a Hosho sword, but what can you do:

Mokume tsuba mei's can often be hard to read. Well done Peter.

Shinto Kanemasa.

Will give that shot Ford, thanks for the tip.

I am glad Lighting made it hard to get the surface texture right on the iron, will do a few more later on. In case anyone is interested in the lineage, this is the 8th gen maker in the Kawaji School line:

Been a bit since I added a tsuba (April) but that's how nihonto goes. Super slow then several things all at once. When I first saw this one, I really just passed it by. This is somewhat of a problem for me, more so for tosogu, that if something does not grab me right away I tend to move on. Sometimes it takes a bit of study and looking a piece over before the art of it can be seen. Luckily, I discussed this one with a nihonto friend who kindly and gently suggested I spend a little more time looking it over. I did over the next 3 weeks. I don't like to over talk a piece, each takes what they will from any item. To me, the dragon's face is lively and full of activity. Seems to convey a sense of mischief. The billowing clouds swirl and almost seem to wax and wane when you hold the piece in hand. The small punched scales and detailed joint carvings are a real nice treat under magnification. Patina is very good, though some remnant rust areas do remain. I am pretty happy with this one and hope people enjoy as I am. First test of the phone camera stand: it's really super useful but I was challenged by the lighting in my den when I did the shots; as twilight was coming in all the windows it was hard to get a clean focused shot. Will do some more after dark. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Signed: Chōshū Tomonori (⻑州友範) ‒ Tomonori, Nagato Province Unʼryū no zu tsuba (雲⿓図鐔) ‒ Tsuba with Cloud Dragon Motif Oval shape, iron, polished finish, sukidashi-takabori relief, raised sukinokoshi-mimi 7.31cm X 7.65cm X 0.56cm 151g

Thank you Uwe!!!! This is wildly cool.

Will get some practice tomorrow evening, package from Japan at post office

Going to get some real practice for the new setup soon, lot's of fun stuff arriving. Really excited.

I didn't even look at the koshirae, I often don't as it's almost never anything I would want anyway (except for the amazing Tensho set that came with Jean's sword). I like the fan tsuba, if for nothing else, it's something I had never seen. Delicate and intricate, but yes, a touch flashy. Arguing about mounting is sort of silly, none of us are going to mount a mid to higher end tsuba on anything anyway for any kind of actual use. The pieces are babied and preserved.

I have been a bit surprised at some of the listings on Aoi as of late, just cringe worthy. But always worth a look, here are 2 items that are super cool: Tsuba: Kaga Kinko in a motif I have never seen: http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/af19293%E9%8D%94%EF%BC%9A%E7%84%A1%E9%8A%98%EF%BC%88%E5%8A%A0%E8%B3%80%E9%87%91%E5%B7%A5%EF%BC%89-tsuba-mumeikaga-kinko Any Motohira is going to get me excited to look and study: http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as18578%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E8%96%A9%E9%99%BD%E5%A3%AB%E5%85%83%E5%B9%B3%E5%A4%A9%E6%98%8E%E4%BA%8C%E5%B9%B4%E4%BA%8C%E6%9C%88%E6%97%A5-katana-satsuyoshi-motohiratenmei-2-nen-2-gatsuhi

Wow!!!! Going to get it myself. Thanks Barry.

I think it's a tanto, and without a full shape and a clear hada picture (that one is too close to resolve) I am afraid it's beyond my skill to project a maker.

Arrived today. Pictures are top flight, very enjoyable work.

Two rare items offered up on same day. Very cool.

Thanks Barry!

Thanks Logan, I had no idea what a DSLR was before your post. I not "against" a real photo setup, it's just not my priority right now. The latest phones have crazy good camera's so I let it ride.

In anticipation for some items coming in soon, I and going with a tripod setup for a phone based camera. This should alleviate my usage of books and other objects to get the phone to setup at the correct distance and angles needed for each piece. Actually a bit excited about it, but want to wait for the new arrivals to start using it. Anyone else have similar ideas? I want to avoid buying a dedicated camera as it's an area I have zero knowledge of.

Love the color!

LOVE the pic Paul. Agree with Jussi on the 15k boshi.

Welcome Pete, my fellow New Englanda!