Vermithrax16

Any non-scan picture, prefer flash camera phone or regular camera. White indoor light is fine. Pictures from Grey Doffin on his site or Raymond Singer are what I mean. Aoi recently has now included a real light pictures in their ads.

How about a cyanobacteria produced oil derived from sunlight and waste CO2 gas for a high quality sword oil with no acidity?

This is why real light pictures are a must for any seller and if you get a hard time about it, move on from that one.

Only seen this a couple of times, but do wonder if I just missed other times.

Nice additions Robin! I like #6 very much. As Johni asked, the Satsuma use of the feature is annotated as to keep the sword in the sheath against a quick temper. Member Jussi also expanded the information for non-Satsuma tsuba in this response: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/24513-mokume-tsuba-pair-arrived-in-blizzard/?do=findComment&comment=248078

So, did we get consensus on care of silver fittings?

Updated listing, http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as16570%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE-%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE%EF%BC%9A%E5%A4%A7%E6%85%B6%E7%9B%B4%E8%83%A4%EF%BC%88%E8%8A%B1%E6%8A%BC%EF%BC%89-wakizashi-taikei-naotane

What's more spectacular, the hada or the price!? 70cm to boot. Great offer. Going left to right 1st row, last picture: the nie concentration around the flow of the hada......WOW!!! This must look 100X better in hand than in pictures.

I can't help it if you have exquisite taste Bob A real beauty the Korekazu is. Super jealous. Congrats.

Derek did this for Nihonto, a great thread: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/16303-nihonto-oil-a-study/

What a roller coaster ride! Very informative.

Wonderful masame work, love the shape. If this Smith ever made a masame katana, I would sell my camaro, a kidney, and some other stuff to get it.

As a follow up, Aoi as of this week is adding real light pictures to every auction blade so far (katana, tanto, going to assume waki). A big thank you and hope this catches on.

At the start of this thread I added that I was elated that Aoi has started to include real light pictures. I even added a different thread on it as well: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/24682-welcome-addition-real-light-pictures/ I often ask Aoi for real light pictures, and if I had last year, I would have dodged a bad buy. When I ask for this kind of picture from various sources, it can be like pulling teeth. It's an absolute requirement for me now, so don't expect a sale to me without one. Not going to happen. As to the Sa blade, when was the 62nd Juyo session? Having trouble finding a list, but recent I would think. The health of the Sa is probably what got it the ticket, even with some ware. Or maybe it was a bad session.

This reminds me of when I used to work on hot rod engines. When selecting a block, people would avoid this made on Monday and Friday, feeling they were paid less attention to

As of late I have noticed that Aoi Art has begun to add a picture or two of their swords in real light, in addition to the high quality scans they do. I do hope this was not due to my requesting real light pictures over time, but whatever works! Scans and hi-res pictures are great for a lot of things, but to me, evaluation of state of polish requires a real light picture. Hoping other dealers follow on this example. Mods: if this is better in another section, please move it.

Someone make a Post It note: - Only buy 1st or even 2nd sword from a known dealer (or NMB For Sale section) that has been doing this a long time - Even at low price range, papered, trusted blades can be found - STOP responding to deals that sound too amazing to be true by private contacts, if it was a great deal, they would advertise it - Consider for real what the price of restoration is for blades that have serious issues. Time and price (year or more, big bucks) - Ask before you buy something. Too late if you already have it in hand Ok, I am done.

As to the Sa, you don't think the condition is good? Anything in particular?

Another thing to discourage collection in the art. Happens in all areas, but it's annoying.

Yes, I have been studying the listing/pics for 2 hours. No idea why so low priced, dimensions not THAT bad. Due to your swords I always stop at the Tegai or Hosho swords.

Well out of my range (and most peoples) but this one is a marvel to look at so figured it was worth a post. The health of this sword jumps out, as well as the wonderful kissaki. Aoi also included a live light picture of the blade, which I wish they would do for all listings: http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17325-%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E7%84%A1%E9%8A%98%E5%B7%A6%E5%BC%98%E8%A1%8C%E7%AC%AC62%E5%9B%9E%E9%87%8D%E8%A6%81%E5%88%80%E5%89%A3-katana-mumeisa-hiroyuki62nd-nbthk-juyo-paper While you are looking anyway, this may be the most stunning Ishido sword I have ever seen, and I look for them a lot: http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17491-%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E7%9F%B3%E5%A0%82%E6%98%AF%E4%B8%80%E7%B2%BE%E9%8D%9B%E4%BD%9C%E4%B9%8B%E6%96%87%E4%B9%85%E5%85%83%E5%B9%B4%E5%85%AB%E6%9C%88%E6%97%A5-katana-ishidosekido-korekazu-seitan-saku-kore-0

I think the seller bids, but your right, how to know where to stop?

Super cool find!

Wonderful crafting! Congrats!

That one would need a LOT of TLC to come back to life. Wow at the price.