Blazeaglory

Ok, that was my other thought. Someone basically made a popular style and rusted it on purpose to hide anything and make it look old? That's pretty annoying that someone would do that. Thanks for reply

True. I thought that myself. Maybe it could have been hidden under a house for many years. Life's a gamble, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But at same time I was thinking maybe it was rusted on purpose So I take it you're saying this person made it rusty like this on purpose to try and deceive ppl? I can understand that but what I really want to know is, can a sword this far rusted be fixed with a polish? Or is it too far gone? Yes to a restoration (I mean in general not this specific sword, just swords in similar condition)

Its a Shobu Zukuri

Hello all. Any advice on how to fix/seal this crack? I don't want it to get any worse or start cracking/flaking away. Good thing is, the laquer/paint is extremely thick Thanks in advance for any help!

Very cool story and love the sword!

Any chance of recovery? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F233179980281

I want to thank everyone for all the advice and opinions. From what I've seen on my part, I strongly feel these are pure gold but listening to everyone here, I will hold back and perform other tests or get other opinions from maybe someone that can judge these in person. So I've got some thinking to do and some choices to make. If anyone wants to discuss this further, please send me a PM. Also, keep an eye out in the sales section. Thanks again everyone D

2.5$k asking price but yes that's something I'm willing to consider. I would hate for the wrap to get destroyed but I understand the concern. If you're serious, let me think about it. I haven't made the decision to list it yet and I don't want to negotiate or make deals outside of the sales section. I will offer a a window for inspection but actually taking the tsuka apart, I would have to think about that. So please, if I do make a decision to sell, I would like to do it properly within the rules of this forum and list properly. But please, send me a PM and we can talk further if you're serious. Like I said, 15% of sale price will go to Brian for the website. And if you're not serious and just trying to trap me in some kind of game, please don't.

Thanks Brian but that's what I mean. You say the tsuka-ito is bad and needs to be stripped and redone? Why? What exactly makes this a bad job? I only ask out of curiosity because in hand it looks like it was done yesterday. Also, I don't know how else I can test these, other than destroying the tsuka-ito, but 99% of places that deal in precious metals use the testing method I used. But I do agree that taking them out and looking at the back would be better. I've looked at quite a few and compared these to all of them and they look pretty identical and in some cases, these were actually better looking. For the last few months I've been searching similar menuki for comparison and hopefully some closure. Here are a couple quick links. The first is a Yokoya and the second are ko-kinko I think. I've also included a pic of a possible Yokoya shishi that looks close to mine. The really nice ones are pure 24kt wth no treatment while mine look to have been treated or coated with something. I've read that a red coating was used in some cases for looks? Or that was the cool thing to do at certain time back then? I've also posted mine again for comparison. So using these as reference, can we discuss and compare and point out how mine don't even come close in quality? And I mean all of what I type with the utmost respect Brian. I think what you have here with this website is amazing. I'm not trying to disagree just for the sake of argument but many others have commented on the quality of the Menuki and suggested possibly Yokoya or at least very high end. And if they aren't Yokoya, the quality is still there. I just can't understand why others would think they aren't quality? They say that but yet give no solid reasons why. I'll send them to Ford as well. Thanks for that info! And if after all of this, these do turn out to be plated, I'll humbly admit I was wrong. But atm, I'm still not convinced otherwise. http://www.ncjsc.org/item_menuki_shishi.htm https://yuhindo.com/kyo-kinko-shishi/

Wow nice find! May I ask what state? In America I assume? But that's a really good find for a letter opener haha

You're entitled to an opinion but I'm not trying to game anyone. I don't make a living off of seeking out possible mistakes in listings just to flip an item for profit. I'm only stating that we're human and ppl make mistakes. Myself included. After this response, I'm not going to talk about plated vs. Non plated anymore. If anyone is interested or close to my house, please come look for yourself. AOI also stated in the listing that they are solid gold. So its funny that some ppl pick and choose statements from the listing to justify their own opinion without any first hand experience with the item. He never stated they were plated, only that he was unsure. That's understandable when selling a possibly high end item and I'll do the same. Like I said, I'm not trying to scam anyone and everyone is welcome to examine. I would like to see a comparable set that is as old and in as good of condition. Each set I've looked at has always been patchy and worn with the base metal showing through or the plated gold looked so fake that it was obvious. I have never seen a set that looked like the ones here. Unless the previous care taker of this tanto kept it in a safe or drawer for its entire life, these Menuki would look much worse if they were plated. And not to disrespect AOI but I've already pointed out multiple mistakes from the listing, as well as others who have found siimilar items. I'm not gloating or trying to make myself seem like an all knowing professional but from the testing and handling I've done with these Menuki in hand leads me to believe they are solid gold. If not, they are extremely well plated. I personally believe they are solid gold but I could not bring myself to take them out and ruin the wrap. Its not in the cost of repairing that I'm worried about, it's the fact that the Koshirae is complete from late Edo and I want to keep it intact. Its not a ploy to deceive anyone. The new owner can do whatever they want with it (if sold). Also, why would you think the tsuka is a bad job? It's tight, even and the material is high end with a good color combo. Yes the Same is s little worn and doesn't look too good but the tsuka-ito, IMO looks and feels really good. Compared to others I've handled anyways. I would like to know because I've been under the impression it is a good job. So that's the deal with this package. It could be a home run with valuable gold Yokoya menuki, or it could be a decent buy with high end fittings and a nice little Koto tanto. Paper or not, if someone likes this item and feels comfortable with the settled price, a paper is irrelevant. That's why I bought this item in the first place, I really liked the hamon and the Koshirae. It wasn't until much later that I started to focus on the Menuki. Also, i am 50/50 on this being gimei. It doesn't really bother me tho because the mei is so obscured we'll never know which "Sada" the possible forger was trying to replicate, if it is fake that is. If it's real, we'll never know as well! I mean unless someone did want to shinsa this or anyone has info on school or smith. Either way it really doesn't bother me for this item. But i understand that others might feel different Please keep the info coming and if you do feel something is bad or off or whatever, please explain why so I can get a better understanding. I'm not discrediting anyone's advice here but at the same time I would like to separate personal feelings vs. solid info. Either way, good stuff! Thanks again!

Wow you guys are skeptical! But i guess it's warranted in this business..He also said the fuchi and Kashira were brass or bronze but they are actually silver. That's anther reason i wanted to hash this out prior to sale, so that if i did sell, we could have already discussed all of this. I really do just want to give someone a great deal but at same time I love this item and don't want to let it go for a price ill later regret. I've been looking for that listing since I bought this! Good one! This is what AOI also said about the Menuki :Menuki: pure gold Engraving dumplings and peony on the ground. He also said the kozuka was brass or copper but it's silver... So yes, he does miss a beat once in a while. It's understandable considering how many items he deals with. But to say the man is infallible is just wrong. I can go to most Nihonto dealers and find little things in their listings that might or might not be beneficial for a buyer. It happens if you know what to look for. Take it from a veteran eBay seller, were all open to making mistakes when listing an item Is it so hard to believe they are gold? The test I used, I selected a spot that was high and open to centuries of wear. First, just by looking, if these are mid 1800s at the oldest, compared to other gold plated, they look awfully good. Second, the area I chose for testing were several spots on both menuki that were raised and exposed so any plate would have worn off or been highly compromised. I sadly took allot of material to counter act the possibility of gold plating. So with that in mind, they tested to at least 22kt. And if I'm wrong? And they are just super thick gold plate? They're still possibly Yokoya school beautiful Menuki and if the new owner doesn't like that they're plated, they can return the item in original condition if not damaged. Like I said, I've been dealing in precious metals for many years and have tested both plated and non plated . I'm not being "hopeful" that these are gold, I've tested and viewed under a high magnification and they are definitely high purity gold. But I would like to hear everyone's reasons for saying they are plated? Is it from study and testing or just "oh the possibilities are slim or I'm subconsciously jealous and bitter that this guy found this for so cheap".Not saying anyone is jealous or bitter but what other reasons are there? I've been watching AOI for years and have seen MULTIPLE listings where he mis identified something as not a precious metal. Not to mention someone in this very thread said AOI over looked a solid gold habaki. But like I said, I don't want to get into a debate. Anyone is free to come check them out, instead of just basically guessing from online pics. Feel free to come and look for yourself. Send me a PM or make an offer when it's listed and I'll give a window for inspection. If it's listed it will be 2500$ obo. But thank you all for your opinions. And I'd love to hear why you think they're plated. Other than AOI would have noticed (which he really doesn't on many cases present and prior). Anyone close to Orange county CA feel free to contact me and we can meet. I would love to finally meet someone who is into Nihonto and maybe you can bring an item or two of your own to show off? Thanks all.

Just an educated guess from kantei. I would like to hear others opinions on who or what it might be tho. I'm not solid on that smith but I can't really pin it to any other during that time. Any suggestions?

Ill help out this Friday or if I make a big sale soon on eBay. Lately I've been having some issues

Thanks! Ill check it out

Interesting! I wonder why? Maybe just to show a signature without making it too obvious its fake? The Mei on this one is pretty obscured anyways

HERE ARE VERY DETAILED PHOTOS OF MENUKI. YOU CAN ZOOM IN VERY CLOSE https://flic.kr/s/aHskPh3gDF I agree. Up close you can see much detail, also in pics above. They are small. Less than 1.5 inches wide and 1 inch tall. But the tsuka-ito on this is actually very well done. Its tight as ever and not dirty or stained at all. The material is silk. In hand its actually very solid I'm not really worried about the blade making paper or not. At best this could be a Sue-Tegai Kanesada which isn't a low smith but not very high either, so using his signature as fake wouldn't make much sense when they could have used a more famous smith. Plus ppl get too caught up on "paper when IMO, the value is in the aesthetics of the blade itself. But you're right and I agree, paper does help. I think allot of value is in the entire package. I agree that eBay has allot of over priced tanto and I really don't want to list it there. I would rather someone experience this in hand to appreciate the quality. I was thinking a price tag in the 2$k to 4$k range? If I have to. I really don't tho. Thanks all for opinion and advice!

Chemical. Which is semi intrusive and I will only repeat prior to a serious offer (if I sell) AOI listed them as gold as well. I don't want to turn this into another debate about "are they or aren't they". I've been dealing with precious metals for over 2 decades and when you see good gold, you know it All other fittings are silver and tsuba is copper

https://flic.kr/s/aHskPh3gDF

Thanks I want to do the Nihonto justice!

Really Im debating on listing it and looking for advice to help my conflicted mind. I really dont want to sell it but today something happened. At this point Im 50/50 on listing it as Im working on other means of gathering cash. So it might not even be up for sale. But if were not allowed to ask for advice on what something is worth or what a good retail price would be, I'll stop. Also, I wanted to gather what the board felt so I could list here for a reduced price as a benefit for members. If I do list it, anyone who messages me with serious advice, Ill help them with a % of the sale (if I have to proceed with selling it). I will also donate 15% of selling price to NMB Im asking this with the utmost respect, can you please enlighten me how this is twisting the system so I can avoid breaking any rules? Because twisting the system or whatever anyone thinks I'm trying to do, is something I have no intentions of doing. I really mean that. But thanks for letting me know just in case. Im already conflicted that I might have to part with this blade as is MODS if you feel Ive broken any rules, please feel free to delete this topic as I didn't realize I was doing something that might be against board rules or frowned upon. Or move to another section maybe

I agree. I've been using it with great results but I think something might have gone screwy. I'm going to reset everything and see if that helps. I have an Olympus DSLR that I'm going to use but I have to find it. I'll keep you posted

I tried everything. I've literally gone through every option one at a time. No focus, auto focus, macro, sport, document, flood light, different exposures, ISOs, techniques to trick the focus (as suggested above), etc...

TBH I like the Koshirae more than the blade. Don't get me wrong, the blade is awesome but for the price, personally, I'd look for something older but that's just me. The Koshirae is Mino Goto. I've never seen an actual complete matching set like that from such a high end school. The blade is good but I think allot of the value is in the Koshirae as well. That's the thing with Nihonto. There is such diversity that you can choose what moves you. If this blade makes you feel good inside then go for it! The value is in the eye of the beholder. But you better move fast because this item is now ON HOLD!

Thanks. Yes, funny you mention the hamon because that's the reason I bought it in first place. I was looking for an old tanto with a suguha/gunome ashi hamon. At the time I thought it was the most usual and rare hamon I'd ever seen lol I didn't really notice the Menuki until I got it in hand and thought they looked awfully good for being so old. So I went online and read the listing again in detail and sure enough, they were listed as solid gold. Anyways, I've posted this tanto ad nauseam and I'm sure there are certain members here that can't stand me and are annoyed but that's not my intentions and the more nihonto the merrier right? Here's links to more pics. I don't really want to sell it but I'm in need of cash asap. I'm thinking of loaning it out but I'm afraid it will get ruined, so I would rather it go to a serious collector. Tanto and koshirae- https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBwog2J Menuki- https://flic.kr/s/aHskPh3gDF Blade only- https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBPp8to