Lewis B

I don't know enough about Yoroi to pass judgement. What I can say is that I refuse to support businesses with questionable ethics, hence the Caveate Emptor comment.

A couple to review https://sbg-sword-fo...ity-purchased-katana

Caveat Emptor re that dealer. Examples of (recent) poor experiences both here and on other forums.

I think there may be some confusion with the length of blade permissible for the Merchant Class during the Edo period. The length of blade for the Samurai was not dictated but rather dependent on fighting style, convenience, height, reach and proficiency. I read recently that some successful battle tested Samurai were perfectly happy with a blade length around 60cm, a lot shorter than the more common >64cm and better suited for single handed use. In one hand the increased reach compensates for the reduced blade length.

Agreed. I can only imagine the number of hours it took to create such a superlative masterpiece.

Over 10% (3/26) are Norishige's work. Not bad going.

Found a used copy in Berlin. Appears to be one of the best English language references for understanding the technology of sword making. The author sounds fascinating. Kapp was a Molecular Biologist at UCSF where I worked for 7 years in the lab of Nobel Laureate Stan Prusiner.

IMHO differences are due to the geometry of the blade in question. It has nothing to do with the steels used in different eras per se. Neither does the forge welding and folding have any noticeable effect. My Shikkake from the late Kamakura, early Nanbokucho era is 70.6cm, motohaba >3cm and weighs 770g. No Hi. The Senjuin is a lot more diminutive at 62cm and 2.55cm motohaba, 1.65cm sakihaba but with >7mm wide shinogisuji and full niku. Even with bohi the blade weighs 450g. Put them side by side and the size differences are dramatic.

Let's not forget the Go's too. So much for never seeing a Go or a Ghost.

Don't bring a violin to a sword fight. I think Nihonto trumps a violin in the soul stakes. I would say a better analogy is that people like old violins much like they like old vintage motorbikes. The sword traditionally embodies the soul of the Samurai and families passed them down through countless generations. It's the reason so many numbering 100,000's still exist. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to own blades that are not merely a corroded shadow of their former image.

I thought that was the reason for the shortened bohi. Break the tip and form a new kissaki.

Nice pickup and a good moment to make a big purchase with the strengthening of the $ against the Yen. A Fukuoka Ichimonji is on my list but I have yet to find one i like and within budget. Prices seem to be all over the place. Spending the sort of money they command requires an in person inspection.

I'm sure we would all like to know what you bought and maybe some reasons why the 10 priority blades were not in the shopping cart at the end of the day. I assume it wasn't due to the price if you had seen these on the websites.

I'm looking forward to the annual Christies Japan Art auction next Spring.

I have the same issue with the Mino senjuin katana I acquired. For me this over application of oil, which gets onto the wood causing it to swell. The reduced clearance and and contact with the edge leads to these wood shards. My other two Koto blades had a minimum film of oil (not visible) and I've yet to encounter the splinters. I would ask Patrice Sabah in France what he would charge to refurbish the shirasaya.

Brilliant news. I will attend again. Hopefully there will be more Koto blades and a few more lectures in 2025.

https://www.amazon.c...Er-aT9uwLW7nOuYKcmrQ

The starting bids are going to kill most interest IMO.

Most of the swords seem to have optimistic estimates. I don't know how anyone can spend those figures based on the very poor photos.

What is the source of that passage Barry? According to the Zeiss institute at the Uni of Florida Soft cosmetic cellulose tissue specifically designed for optical surfaces (Kimwipes are suitable for lens cleaning, but typical facial tissues contain hard particulates that are harmful to optical surfaces) From what I've read many of the potential scratches are from particulates embedded in the oil or settled on the blade surface. Safest way to minimize those extraneous particles leaving scratch marks on the blade is to moisten the tissue with alcohol before wiping the blade.

Be careful with that dealer. Unscrupulous seller. I would look elsewhere.

I use laboratory Kimwipes by Kimberley Clark. These are a nice disposable alternative to microfibre for certain jobs like removing old oil.

And I'll bet a proportion of those are actually Senjuin Yoshihiro. Before the signed and dated Senjuin Yoshihiro blade was discovered, blades with both Yamato and Soshuden features would have weighed heavily towards a Go attribution. And let's examine those numbers. He died at age 27-30, was according to history a Samurai retainer for a Daimyo, which means his time would have been split with different responsibilities. Could he really have had enough time to make 64 blades and thats ignoring the number that have been lost to time or yet to be identified to have 64 exist today. There has to be a significant question mark over many of those old attributions.

I like the look of the last koshirae. What's inside?

I believe the blade shape (as well as length) was dictating the sugata. A different curvature was better suited for deployment of very long blades when on horseback vs on foot when a shorter blade was preferable.