Blazeaglory

Was it mumei? Would you happen to have any pics? I love Ichimonji! EDIT: Just read your last post, looking forward to pics!

Search here first and if you must buy from eBay, FIRST check the sellers feedback and prior sales and if the seller has many negative feedback or doesn't have a solid history of selling Nihonto, walk away. As stated above, some Japanese sellers will act like a middleman and list Nihonto from other sellers but for a higher price. There are only a small handful of respectable Nihonto sellers on eBay and allot of time their merchandise isn't that great. Once in a while you can find a nice deal but not that often. Your best bet is coming here first and checking in the sales section and asking others

You're right, it is. Some things scream quality but honestly sometimes I have to look at it for a while to come to any conclusions. But the longer I'm here, the better I get! So thanks for actually taking the time to reply!

Honestly I cry sometimes after spending half an hour on Yuhindo.

Nice link!You mean something like this?

Interesting, that's the kind of info I need! I'll look closer then. I was assuming it was late Edo maybe but I agree, it does look kinda new, or in really great condition. Maybe the maker added the gold leaf in the saya as a way to trick buyers into thinking everything else was gold as well? It's a stretch but the longer I hang around NMB, the more I'm becoming a sceptic. Which is good i guess

yeah I love Yuhindo and wish i could afford many of the items there. That's EXTREMELY high end tho IMO. Respectfully, for future reference, just because I post something doesn't mean I'm interested or think it's quality. I'm making conversation. I just wanted to throw that out there as a disclaimer ???????? The only thing I like in this listing is the tsuba and saya but I'm not interested in buying it. I like how the maker incorporated the gold leaf flakes into the lacquer. Also, the dragon tsuba reminds me almost of the old Viking or Saxon style. But I agree, other than that, I don't see much there. I'm also kinda annoyed that so many sellers misrepresent their items, giving other sellers a bad name. Whether this seller is or isn't, I wanted to see if others thought he/she was. The Menuki look bronze.

Im on eBay quite often and see it all the time. Not only Nihonto but many other things as well. It boggles the mind

Ahhh yes, I know that website well. He has allot of great, early Nihonto and high end fittings. Well to keep the theme of the thread going, here's another auction. This one is a bit better but I'm 50/50 on the F/K and Menuki being gold. Menuki look brass and F/K the same, although seller does list the F/K as "silver with gold plate" while the Menuki are listed as gold. The saya and tsuba are really nice tho. It has "whales beard" tsuka wrap. Baelleen(so?) I think its called? Over all this one is decent IMO. It houses a nice Edo tanto https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F133006643530

Haha thanks. Honestly from now to a year ago, I can't believe some things I thought we're attractive.

I think you're right. From the back they appear stamped

No, I have zero interest in these boars. Only posted because I thought it was funny how my tanto thread got so "popular" in regards to gold Menuki. I found these on accident and thought we could get some good discussion out of it. But fear not! I don't find these attractive, detailed or intriguing. I agree that they're really thin and lack any kind of detail. But maybe someone else might, not I..lol Thanks for Darcys info! I don't know if I've looked at his website or not but I'm constantly online and in the last few months have probably examined (online) quite a few Menuki. Would u happen to have a link?

Do you own this? Or thinking about buying it? The first pics you posted, I was inclined to agree with Raymond, as the nakago didn't look natural and appeared a bit odd. It also resembled a blade I just posted that appears to be "questionable". But the latest pics you posted are looking better, so maybe you got a home run? I really loved the sugata and shobu Zukuri style. Either way, good luck with the blade!

LOL https://youtu.be/Jl5vi9ir49g

Found these yesterday. Had a price tag of 500$, didn't sell. Today they're re-listed as an auction. Considering 2019 is the year of the pig/boar, these would make a nice addition for a current/future Koshirae build or as an addition to a collection. Only problem is... are they real? Plated? New posing as old? Anyways, I thought it would be interesting to see how much they sell for as the seller states they're "solid gold". I'm not claiming they're real gold or authentic, nor am I interested or searched this sellers other items, I'm only sharing the link for anyone who's interested or wants to critique. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F133006621114

Happy Year of the Boar as well! More solid gold (or gold plated) fun!

Soooo seller states WW2 or younger but has no other info. Perfectly normal right?

Thanks for the kind words. I'm not saying they are Yokoya, I'm only comparing them using other suggestions. And if I'm coming across as brash or not listening, please forgive me. I just ask allot of questions. But I do listen, just please bear with me. So, I agree it looks goofy, I actually thought that before I bought it. It grew on me tho. I have noticed that others look goofy as well when made with the Shi-Shi looking straight ahead and mouth open. Also, there are similar circular "swirls" that Yokoya has been known to do. You can see them on the legs and one is on the very top of his head. So I'm not disagreeing with you or claiming these are Yokoya 100%, as there are minor similarities, but I am debating further in regards to quality. Please know I respect your opinion and expertise. Check out the below pics. I think maybe one is Yokoya and others are maybe Goto and random or none are Yokoya (see above pg.1 for Yokoya). The faces are similarly goofy looking to a certain extent. And regardless of anything else, Yokoya or not, solid gold or plated, I have to disagree that the quality and detail isn't comparable. I've attached mine as well for easy comparison. Once again, thanks everyone. I am listening and contemplating everyone's insight. If do decide to remove these Menuki , I'll post results regardless of outcome.

No worries, I didn't expect you to. I'm really on the fence about taking it apart. The tsuka-ito does have paper/cork triangles underneath close to the Menuki and viewed from the side it looks a little more "3D" but I think maker was going for a streamline look but who knows. It could be non original because I've noticed the Same has been repaired, so it's likely the Tsuka-ito was replaced at the time as well. If anyone knows of a seller who has similar (preferably exact) tsuka-ito, I would like to know because in all my searches I have been unable to find it. I really like the color and feel. If I do decide to take it apart, I'll post another thread and show step by step, but I would like some advice on how to proceed. But don't get your hopes up

You're probably right. It's not that noticeable now anyways, so I'll just leave it alone. It does have a really nice texture, I agree!

It fits pretty snug but not too tight or anything... I think it's from the act of holding the koshirae while drawing the tanto maybe? I knew the crack was there since the purchase a while ago but I noticed the other night while removing the tanto that the lacquer in that area is somewhat "lifted" from the wood bit. So I think, from the history of ppl removing the blade, squeezing that area might have led to the cracking.

Good to know I really hate that ppl do this.

Thanks! I won't try anything myself, as you said, it would probably just make it worse

IKR? Funny I was thinking same thing. Entire blade is horrible but yet the rust subsides only around the mei. The more I think about this now, the more it's pissing me off. I wonder what the seller has to say?

So just leave it alone? I was thinking of sending it to someone professional. It's like a thick egg shell, waiting to flake off