hybridfiat

I dont know much about styles but a matched pair of blades with undulating hamon, a lot of activity and o-kissaki. In matched period mounts, textured black lac on the saya and sakudo fuchi. inlaid tsubas (like this) Hope its'ok to post this. Im not talking investment just something to look at. Drool

Ive seen this on ebay and Im not convinced. The carving and kanji to my untrained eye looks sus. Am I right or just paranoid? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... otohosting

Thanks. I haven't damaged my sword, it was a quest for knowledge. I had forgotten about the laws governing length.

I know for some this must seem like a daft question but can someone tell me roughly or approximately how far could a blade be shortened if damage occurred to the tip? I presume that it could not be shortened much before the softer core metal protruded. ?cms? ?mm? Also am I right in assuming that since the cutting portion of a blade used most often was the last 6 inches, suriage was done because of bending/break near the nakano?

Can someone tell me if bidders the Japanese site is a reliable place to buy a sword? Ive looked at some blades and they are run of the mill but bidding is low. Can non-Japanese bid (I have a friend who is resident who is willing to register and bid on my behalf). Are there any catches or pitfalls? Thank you for your help

For those who are fascinated by this discourse but who have not the knowledge or the wherewithall to research an answer, could we beg a more elaborate answer to the question of why this blade is not all that it seems. Sincerely Steve

It is a Fiat X1.9 1982 with a Toyota Starlet Turbo 1.3l 16 valve turbocharged intercooled motor (118hp at the back wheels). A real hybrid.

:D Wow!! Im impressed and very gratefull for the help. Ill get some urushi from the Japanese supplier and have a go on a mini saya Im doing for a laminated blade from a Japanese smith. Ill experiment on that first. Again thank you

I realise I am only a novice here but I would like to make a suggestion. Would it be practical to have a library of images of nihonto owned by members. Would it lead to unwanted solicitation? I belong to a couple of sports car sites and we post pictures of our cars all the time. Plus one site has a register of owners with pics and descriptions. I find the other cars inspirational and the pics motivate me to spend more time on mine. The library could be anonymous but with as full a description as possible. It would be an incredible resource. I humbly submit this suggestion

Very sweet! Especially the history of the sword. Thats the most interesting sharpening posi Ive seen for a Togi. Its'all a bit distracting. I concur that it would be a very interesting read if only it were translated....hint hint :D

About $400 for the saya. If it was a nice edo period saya Id spend the money gladly but it aint. Its for display not historical restoration. Nevertheless Id like it done with trad materials. Ive made custom stocks and grips for a wide variety af firearms and learnt how to handcut the checkering. Id like to learn a little about the craft of lacquer work even if it is just to see how difficult it is.

Sorry about the delay. This is a best offer or buy it now. $999 reckon that is a good price??? http://stores.ebay.com/Kevco5000

Thanks I thought it would be pretty difficult to attempt but the alternative is to build a new saya and use cashew lacquer to finish it. Id like to use the original despite it being a very basic gunto saya. The problem Im having is finding some seasoned Hoh timber in Australia. Ive no lack of mostly Japanese hand tools to do the shaping its' the materials.

Cant, because the hamon isnt clear from the pics posted. Im just going to watch it and see if it goes for a reasonable sum. Thers some stupid prices paid for blades out there at the moment.

I found this on ebay and wondered who the smith was. I can recognise the last characture as michi but not the rest Cheers Steve

Does anyone know a good book that describes how to restore or recreate the urushi finish on the saya. Ive got some significant scratches on my wakizashi saya under the leather cover where someone removed the saya before loosening the snap studs. This forced the hanger ring down the saya leaving deep wounds in the lacquer. Because the saya is only partly finished Im going to fit kurikata and kaerizuno plus put buffalo horn around the slot and on the KOJIRI . Cheers

What is Bungo? Why does your appreciation of Bungo make you a cheapskate?

My first real taste of the facination that the Japanese sword can have was when I visited the tower of London and saw the collection that was presented to queen Victoria. It is stunning. I still recall my amazment that every edged weapon, the arrows, spears, daggers, swords, axes, funny shaped stabbing type things Id never seen before all had the most beautifully wrought blades. Then a trip to the Rotunda Artillery Museum and more blades, such craftsmanship I was determined that one day I would own one. 20 years later and my dream has been realised. I hope you will be able to see some of the magnificent examples that are out there.

I hope this isnt hijacking the thread as Ive looked at the sword/s in question and they 'look' pretty to me. Please excuse my ignorance here but Im sure this is something many people ask themselves as they first enter the world of nihonto. How do we decide what is a 'Good' sword and what isnt? If the sword is of a high quality and visually attractive, plus isnt going to be used/ tested in battle how do we ascribe a value?

I look forward to seeing it. Id like to do the same with my waki. Get a tsuba and assorted fittings from the period and have it redressed/fitted. First I have to know if it is worth a Japanese polish. Ill be heading over there again next year to ski (Hakuba), so that may be the time to do it.

Sorting the good from the bad with this sword stuff is like fraud investigation. I might put this in my CV. Qualified detective: once bought a genuine sword off the net.

See if you can see some similarities with this sword the vendor sold a while back http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0161301760

Thanks fellas, I will post some pics and will make them as detailed as possible. We have had 5 days of problems with the phone line and I only have short windows of oppotunity to post I missed the end of the auction and prob wont be able to afford anything for a few months now as I over spent on the waki (my fault). Id like to learn more about these beautiful blades so Ill visit when I can and ask questions. Thanks for your patience. Tomorrow its' back to the mine so Ill be unable to do much for 8 days.

Ok, so no thoughts. Im not sure what to think. Have I done wrong?

120193468088 Im watching and tempted. But It looks a little too new Any thoughts guys. I picked up a wakizashi the other day and need some advice as to whether it is worth a polish. Its in a good state of preservation. Signed by Nagamichi and has no obvious flaws. The hamon is really hard to see and photo. Im going to have a go with the scanner. Anyway theres no hurry its the Christmas silly season and the visa is going to be streyched to the limit. Merry Christmas