hybridfiat

I was skiing in Japan last year and stayed at a delightfull little inn in Narita only 200m from the historical gardens and temple complex. It's called Kirinoya Ryokan and the proprietor will pick you up/drop off from the railway station and the inn has a very traditional Japanese feel about it. Outside the door of my room was a large glass fronted cabinet full of armour and sundry items related to the samurai. Downstairs is a built in tea room that acts as a display of armour and possibly a shrine to the owners family. I have no idea how genuine the artifacts are but it is very reasonable in price and worth a stay. If you let Katsumata-san know when you are at Narita town station (there is a direct train from Hakuba) (http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi) he will come and pick you up. The hotel is 200m from the most beautiful gardens and temple complex. The “beds” are futons on the tatami mats and you eat trad Japanese food prepared at the Inn. I found the Kirinoya in the Lonely Planet Guide to Japan. Narita station is only 12mins from the airport and it is about $2 for a ticket although they don’t always charge you . I hope this is of some assistance. Im the reviewer 'Fossil' http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... Kanto.html

Damm! my computer just fused when I drooled on the keyboard

Is anyone else having trouble getting the pics?

Photos,Photos,Photos,Photos, we demand photos!

Sorry if youve read this already, I posted it in the wrong place. In a bizarre turn I have discovered that certain favoured sellers on Ebay can even sell whole working firearms. I was looking through the live auctions on ebay 2 weeks ago when I found one selling a complete working Japanese Arisaka 6.5mm carbine. (WWII rifle) I wouldnt normally interfere but I was curious to see if ebay really adhered to its own standards so reported it, (ebay bans sales of firearms, ammo and parts) but the sale went through several days later. I recieved several replies from ebay's security dept thanking me for the info but they ignored the sale??!! I was tempted to bid on it myself just to see how ebay coped with it. Bizarre eh? It seems that ebay is quite happy to facilitate the sale of firearms as long as they are listed by live auction houses. A seller I have bought from was put through the 3rd degree several times by an ebay zealot because he was selling empty brass for reloading and yet I am free to buy working guns. This shows how frustratingly hypocritical ebay is. End of rant. I think the sooner the UK 'nihontites' get their own For Sale site the better.

I think it is Shame, but the real value for the owner is it's history in relation to his father so all is not lost.

Thanks, I apologise for the lack of information and good pics, Im dependent on the owner sending me the photos and he isnt good on computers and as far as Im aware only he, I, his wife and son are aware that he has the sword and thats the way he wants to kept it. Getting more will require tact and diplomacy.

A friend has asked me to get some info on this sword his father (Aussie soldier) was given during WWII. He was awarded it in place of a commendation as his act was not witnessed by an officer. Nontheless his CO gave him a sword after the battle and he passed it to his son. It is in good gunto fittings and still has the original company commander blue and brown tassle. It is a full length katana of medium weight. Ill post more pics as I get them. The stamp at the base of the nakago is unusual and does not look like an arsenal stamp. Thank you for your patience. I intend to search the kanji pages tomorrow it is nearly midnight here. Steve

I read an article last year that described the steel used in navy gunto as being stain resistant not stainless. The steel will still rust but it has a lesser predeliction to oxidation. The hardness and flexibility are better than a pure stainless sword. Having said that I wouldnt touch this one with a long pole.

Thank you gentlemen, I bow to your greater knowledge and experience.

I realise that there isnt much to go by, but we were able to declare a sword I have gimei by the signature. I was hoping for the same this time. The sword is on ebay 220310823059

The vendor of this sword states it is signed Kiyomitsu 清光 . I think that is right, (not that Im any good at reading the mei) but the vendor is in my experience a trustworthy man. What Id like to know is does this date to the 16th century and is it likely to be Bizen? I dont have the resources to tell this. Cheers Steve

Moisture and oxygen are your enemy. I f you can exclude them youve won! I believe i saw years ago a paper that gun collectors use for storage. It does not contact the metal just sits in the gun safe absorbing oxygen. Im not sure if it is still available. It might be worth looking in to.

Sorry posted this in the wrong place.

Try the New Zealand site Trademe They have no problem listing AK47s that are legal in NZ. All th einfrastructure is there already

The saddest part of this whole sorry affair is that the legislation is not intended to stop the violence. It is a cynical action by the legislators to "appear" as though they care and are doing something, without actually doing anything. The same happened here in Australia with our gun buyback. It was well known at the time of the handgun ban that this would not have any impact on the use of guns in violent robberies and attacks. Nevertheless since the british govt knows , after being elected multitudinous times, the "great unwashed masses" have s#$t for brains and are easily duped.

For some reason all I get instead of pictures are little boxes with an X in them????????

Lovely. I hope to do the same one day

$1,942.00!! Someone thought it was worth it. :lol:

Cheers for that. I just needed someone to confirm what I already felt. Damm! gotta keep looking.

This looks kinda tempting any opinions? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... ink:top:au

I wasnt going to buy it. I was gaining knowledge. Learning a bit about the appearance of swords pictured on the net is helpfull. Diserning what is valuable and what isnt is not easy for the novice.

So the hamon has been enhanced? I assume all signatures to be gimei until proven otherwise on Ebay.

Now Ive no doubt this is a real blade Im not sure about the appearance of the hamon can anyone offer an opinion please http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~mugen_ed/T96.html Listing: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAMURAI-Katana-s ... dZViewItem

I have thought this over and despite the proviso of having more money than God my desire is still to have something beautifull to MY eyes rather than what is desirable to the 'collector' of nihonto. After all if I have so much money I wont care if it is going to apreciate or if others are impressed, it will be bought to please me. If a Masamune fits the criteria then so be it but if it by an unknown I wont care. Selfish B@#$%^d aint I