Peter M

Hi Mark, I agree with you. I asked for everyone’s input....got great advice...I did not think that I had ignored anyone. Wait for a sword worth polishing is excellent advice and I am looking. I suppose it is my historical background coming out when I want to get the muromachi uchigatana polished. I think it would be a great waste to continue down the path of leaving it to rust. I have sent out some emails to those polishers that were suggested to get some more ideas. If you have any suggestions for a good buy that warrents a polish let me know Regards Peter

Hello all, I would like to thank everyone for their responses on the forum and via PM, it has been really helpful. I have been reading as much on the board as I can ever since I found the forum as it has been a great database of useful and elucidating information and opinions. I feel that I have come a long way from the person who originally purchased the uchigatana with the intention of doing a home polish to one who would never dream of such an event. So you all managed to save one sword at least! This brings me to the question of polishing this sword. I have read and re-read the comments on this forum regarding my sword as well as getting a couple of books and web searches. Everything points to the fact that this is in all likelihood (Jean leans to a ratio of 95%)a bundled sword of little to no commercial value. From reading between the lines on this sensitive issue of polishing through the many posts on this forum, I THINK that I would therefore struggle to get ANY Japanese polishers to even attempt to polish this sword due to its low value. This factor coupled with my non existence polishing contacts, primary school knowledge of the Japanese language and general inexperience in this field makes the process of sending overseas daunting to say the least. Both Mark and Stephen have provided some excellent links to Polishers that from what has been said on this board refuse to polish this sword. I can understand their reasoning behind this as the whole process from what I have read is time consuming and punishing on the joints...why waste it on this sword when they could be spending their time on other swords of more cultural and historical importance. Andrew I would love to know your response to this...do you see this type of low commercial value sword coming through the shop from inside Japan or from outside the country? The link to the sword showing the rust and overall poor state are at the top of the post. Will Send a PM in the next few days. Regarding Sending out of Australia. I have no objection to this and would send it tomorrow if/once I find a polisher to take it with some reasonable fees and timeframe. I will keep sending out those emails. I live In Queensland which as of yet does not have the same restrictive import/export laws as Melbourne when it comes to Nihonto. Regarding the worth of the sword for polishing. The first posts on this sword lead me to the conclusion that I would never purchase another in poor state requiring a polish. My attempt at my second purchase was I THINK even less successful. I Have read and re-read this post to try and detect the undercurrent which is I think is that it too is of little value due. I realised when purchasing that it was of no value due to Flaws BUT did not think that it would be a fake or ShinShinto age wakizashi. I thought I was getting an older wakizashi in polish at a cheaper price because of flaws when I really got a newer flawed wakisashi! Here is the link to the second sword; viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4841&p=37537#p37537 I have got some great information from this post so I will keep watching for more replies. Thanks to everyone Regards Peter M

Thanks Justin, I have read enough to know NMB policy on polishing blades and too little to know of the process for getting blades polished from the far corner of the earth which is Australia. I almost made it to the Sydney Shinsa (sp?) which would have made a great start , however work and family commitments clashed. The blade I would like to get polished has been discussed previously on this forum here viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2589&st=0&sk=t&sd=a I realise that it is extremely unlikly that there is a Japanese trained polisher here in Aust that is why I am asking for where the guys here get thier swords polished and the process they use. All PM's would be greatfully recived. Many Thanks Peter M

Hello all, I am after some contact details specifically from Australian collectors as to where they get thier swords polished. I realise that this infomation might be "sensitive" however any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Peter McV

Hello all, Sorry one more question. Can anybody tell me what style of polish this sword has recived? And just to state my previous question again. Is this sword able to be assigned a school of manufacture and a time of manufacture. Is the signature gimei? Thanks again Peter McV

Thanks again, Ok so Shinsa is not worth my while. thanks for the input nagamaki. Any ideas on classification or history behind the blade? I realise I am asking a lot and indeed this infomation would cost me the $500 at Shinsa so I promise I will not be disapointed in the lack of replies :D Regards Peter McV

Thanks for the replys, I must admit that all of the replys went over my head however. What I am taking away from the responces is that this wakizashi is a much later reproduction? I was assuming when I purchased that the blade because it was made during the muromachi period was much less likely to be a forgery due to the proliferation of swords from this historical period. So what do I actually have? Regards Peter McV

Some more pictures and two more questions. Is the state of polish acceptable. There are polishing marks (lines) on the mune neare the tip and on/under the habaki (collor sp??). does this indicate a resent polish in Japan? The sord was posted from this location so my guess is yes. 2. There are a couple of "hamon dots " on both sides of the blade that I cannot find the terminology for but seem to be present in Soshu swords but in much graeter numbers. Does this mean anything? Once again thatnks for all help. Regards Peter McV

Hello all, I purchased this Wakizashi a month or two ago from ebay, largely due to a mistake. The auction had an ‘offer’ option so I entered an offer below half of the asking price just so that I could watch the item in my bid page on ebay. I am happy with the sword and have been going through the two books that I possess on the subject to find out more about the history of the sword. I recently contacted Adrian in Sydney Australia regarding the viability of have this sword appraised at the upcoming Shinsa in Sydney. The cost would work out to about $500 AUS with postage etc. So My question is; Given the limited pictures that I am able to provided, would you recommend sending the sword to the Shinsa given the following information; Nakano is signed …. Soushu ju Hiromasa Whole Length about 27.0"(68.7cm), The blade Length about 18.1"(46.2cm) : Carve about 0.4"(1.1cm), : Width(motohaba) about 0.9"(2.4cm), Width(sakihaba) about 0.6"(1.6cm) : Weight about 560g There are a few hada ware and Fukure Yabure near the harmon itself (see pictures) and this alone may make the sword not worth the expenditure in cash or time. I realise that the term “worth it” is subjective but I am after opinions after all. Lastly Nagayama in the Connoisseur’s Book of Japanese Swords lists two Hiromasa’s smiths working in the Soshu traditions, one from 1394-1428 and the second at about 1492-1501 and gives a brief account of the styles for each smith. With my extremely limited knowledge base I am unable to discern between the two if this is at all possible. My readings to date seem to suggest that Wakizashi’s of the Muromachi period were longer than this one in the whole so would this suggest a fake? Basically I am after any more information that you are willing to give me on the sword itself and if it is worth the Shinsa.

Hello all, Was wondering if this is an example of a nakago that has been welded/reattached to the blade? Regards Peter M http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Aizu ... dZViewItem

Thanks all, Sorry I have been away for a few days on holiday. I will pass the news on to the owner regarding the tsuba. On a side note....He also purchaced a Katana while he was in Japan about two months ago. The people he bought it off were reputable and informed him that while the blade was genuine the mei was not. Would it be of any interest to those here to post some pictures of the blade and the fake mei for study/records? If so let me know and I will organise some photos Regards Peter Mcv

Thanyou Richard, I was amazed at the similarities between the two but now that I have a quick look through eBay and some online pictures I can see what you mean. Any thoughts as to the authenticity of the Tsuba and what the mei reads as? Once again Thanks Peter McV

Hello all, Would like some comments on a tsuba purchased recently from Australia. I was just trolling through some online listings for tsuba and cam across on which appears to be almost identical. Identical design however some chisel marks may be slightly different. Would like to hear from anyone who cares to comment. Have included four pictures of the Tsuba in my possession and some from the auction. Thanks Peter McV My Pictures Below Ebay Pictures http://cgi.ebay.com/TSUBA-iron-sukashi- ... dZViewItem

Hello, Just letting you know that your nihonto auction on eBay is still active here is the link http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-sword-Waki ... dZViewItem Regards Peter McV

Hello al again, Just wanted to ask about polishers located in Australia. If anyone could provide me with a few names and websites/contact details that would be great. Thanks again Peter McVeigh