jrs

Hi everyone. I just wanted to share a couple of quick photos (actually taken with my iphone) of a blade that just returned from the polisher. This blade had been discussed last year in another post (link follows). http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3245&p=23860#p23860 I just wanted to share the pictures because the blade turned out really beautiful. I will be submitting it for shinsa early next year and will post results then.

I plan on being at the museum most of the day on Friday, Nov. 13th.

For anyone interested, the exhibition catalogue for "Art of the Samurai" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is now available. http://store.metmuseum.org/New/Art-of-the-Samurai-Japanese-Arms-and-Armor-11561868/invt/samuraiexcatalogue I ordered my copy in anticipation of my trip to New York for the exhibit. Anyone else planning on attending? James

For arguments sake, isn't it possible for a blade to be shortened after receiving a shumei? Would tradition require that the shumei be removed, or, would the shumei be left near the end of the nakago as part of the blade's history? James

I'm 37 now but have had a serious interest since I was 13 years old ad started visiting Col. Hartley every chance i had to learn more. I have gone through phases which were more passive in the studies, you know, real life getting in the way, but I always seem to return to the study of the Nihonto. James S.

The one that really annoys me is a tanto I bought off ebay many 6-8 years ago. It was pretty tired but had I really old suguta and signature and it was in my price range at the time (very cheap). The mei read "Rai Tomotsugu". I could never find out any information on this smith and no one seemed very impressed by it. I literally gave the blade away later, when I sold 2 other blades, just to "sweeten the deal" so to speak. I was told about a year ago that the blade had been seen at one of the shows by someone from Japan who took it back with him for further study because the mei was in fact authentic. Made by Uda Tomotsugu while he was studying with the Rai. Either an unknown signature or exceedingly rare. Again...I GAVE it away... James

Mainly scrap metal!

Shan, Let me say that you remind me of customers who come into my highend jewelry store to look around, find something they like, and then leave without buying. Only to return an hour later with something similar that they have bought at the discount retailer down the street. They then ask me to tell them what I think of their new purchase. And, I always think the same thing. There are no shortcuts/money to be saved in better quality items. Whether jewelry or swords. You get what you pay for. If they wanted the VS clarity/F color diamond but it was too much money, I could have sold them a SI clarity/ G color for less. But then they go down the street and buy a I clarity/I-J color for even less and then want to be told that it is just as beautiful, rare and valuable as the firsI showed to them and "What a great deal you came across!" When that statement just isn't the case. You post your finds on this forum for feedback on you purchase. It usually isn't what you want to hear, which I think is "Great Job! Shan! - Beautiful Piece! - A real Treasure!" Sure you ask questions in a "humble" manner, but you don't really seem to be open to the answers that are not what you want to hear. You seem to provide you own answers with their own excuses and justifications regardless of what the more experencied eyes/ qualified eyes see in you pieces. MY question to you is "why continue to travel down the path?" Are you actually learning anything? Each of you post reads like any of the others. It is a "Game" I am tired of reading about. Obviosly to me, you don't have the trained eye needed for descerning between ok, better, and great work. There is nothing wrong with that it comes in time with expereince. But not over the internet. You need to get out in the real world and look at as many blades as you can, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Before long you will see the difference. Also invest in some good books, one of the smartest things you can do at this time while you are learning (as I still am also, so you are not alone). Polish is one thing that I DO NOT believe in trying to save money on. The reason for that is more than I want to get into at this moment and can probably be found in another thread. Look it up and read it. Learn. Listen. With out the rose colored glasses for a change. It will only make you better. Shan, I'm not trying to pick on you for fun, but, reading you post always annoys me. Even that time you apologized to someone was in such a way as to be obnoxious. I'm sorry for writing this out in the open for everyone to read but I just thought perhaps it was time for someone to say something. James Stephenson btw, a $240 polish job scares the S*** out of me.

As much as having a museum worthy collection apeals to my vanity, I would not donate to a museum. I would much rather put the blades into the hands of true collectors/students that will appreciate and care for them. On a slightly different topic, what do some of the more serious collectors do about insurance. Do you put the blades on a homeowner's policy or do you have seperate policies for the pieces, and if so, what companies are good with nihonto? Also, for security, is a gun safe an ok decision? I have seen gun safes used, one time in a walk in vault. I don't have that kind of square footage. What is the best option for home security? James S.

I've been getting the same expired domain email at work.

I don't know if you got a good translation or not but I just happened to have a German friend with me who translated for me. He says SCAM. Do not respond. James

No problem using IE8 beta. James

mods? is it ok to bring this post backup to see if anyone has an opinion now? Please delete if this is old and no one wants to revisit it, I just haven't had any new info to add and am still curious to other insights. James

1st thing - Be Careful. Dont cut yourself or damage the blade. 2nd - Congratulations! I know that you have been wanting to purchase for a while and I hope you are happy with the blade. At this point, I'll reserve my right to say "nice blade" until I can hit my books to do some comparisons. That isnt anything negative, I just want to give my honest, throughly reseached opinion, since you asked for one. So far I haven't been able to do the research. Just taking a quick look without digging further down, the blade looks solid and what you wanted. You should be happy with that for know. I'll post a real comment when time allows. Don't get discouraged with the forum. I've made several post/comments/questions that received little or no written attention myself. I think a lot of the guys are like me and are just careful with what they say and sometimes take their time. Be Patient! James

I know nothing about fittings (I am a blade guy. Haven't graduated to fittings yet) so I really cant add anything here but reading the post did leave me with a question. I din't think the Goto worked in iron. Is this true? Also, as long as I am asking questions, what does it mean when somebody says that "bones" can be seen on a tsuba? James

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding is that a sai-ha blade will not receive Hozon papers unless the nakago is uba and/or it was made by a very well known swordsmith. James

Sai-ha means that the blade was damaged in a fire and lost the original hamon. The blade has been retempered. James

Ko-Motoshige? James

I also wanted to add in case anyone is interested, that there are 3 definite kirikomi, and possibly 2-3 more that I've spotted that are little more than fine nicks on the mune or shinogi. I seem to see something new everytime I look at the blade. James

I've had time to really look the blade over and do some research and now I'm leaning toward Bizen Tomomitsu. I've seen two oshigata with the same sugata, hamon and grooves that started below the yokote. Any opinions?

I corrected a typo I made in the body of my original post. I had mistakenly typed "Kanemoto" when I was intending to say "Kanemitsu". If anyone has a suggestion as to what direction I should be going as far as school, it would be greatly appreciated. James

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I finally received this blade today and I'd like anyone's opinion on possible school. I bought it because I thought it looked like Nanbokuckho period, with nice kitae and either Bizen or Soshu (or Soden Bizen). Now that I have it, it's beautiful even though it needs to be polished. The hada is a tight ko-itame that has, for lack of a better word, "velvettiness". It does have utsuri that I can see, even in the state of polish, appearing at the shinogi and/or sometimes right at the hamon itself in between the peaks of the gunome (I'm not sure if the latter is considered utsuri or not). I cannot make out the boshi because of the scratches and/or rust but I feel sure that it is there because of the size of the kissaki and because the hi starts so far below the yokote. I think the blade is So-den Bizen but I'm not positive and the closest example of the workmanship that I can find in any of my books is Kanemitsu and his school but I'm afraid my judgement may be clouded because I just received Darcy and Bob Benson's Bizen book yesterday, which I read cover to cover, and I'm seeing what I want to see. GREAT book by the way, can't wait for the rest! Any opinion anyone has is greatly appreciated. nagasa is 63.2cm. sori 2.5 width at machi 2.6 width at yakote 2.1 James .jpg] .jpg].jpg].jpg]

ok, I'll do it your way. Nambunkucho (spelling?) period Yamashiro tradition Rai school Smith? I don't have books with me. Just gut reaction to the blade. James

Rai? James