nihonto1001

What about the sword? Is it even worth having polished? Remember, it can still be an artifact in its patina. Not all swords, even old ones, should be polished. Time period, flaws, health...all play a part in choosing a good nihonto candidate for restoration. I think polishing should be reserved for the best of swords. The rule of thumb is, if the finished product will be valued more than, the price of the sword plus the cost of the polish, then consider it. Bob Benson, who was aforementioned, is an excellent appraiser for this determination. Sending your sword for a bad polish is like throwing your money out the window. There is also a good chance they will ruin the artifact. -Captain Obvious

The kick-off party was last night. Both, the company and food were excellent. It was great to see the finished exhibit. It is something to be proud of. A few bootleg pics can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/SoulOfTheSamurai?ref=stream

I was there today during the set-up. It is going to be good. There are many high quality swords and fittings waiting to be displayed.

One of the older collectors once told me, 'Shinsa 3X before removing a mei'. Some gimei are obvious, but I can't help thinking about the possibility of maybe, a student of the smith signing on his behalf, or a lesser known smith with the same name... We have all heard those stories of the same sword (mei removed) papering back to the original mei. Once the mei is removed, history is lost forever. For what, a slip of paper?

Hi Curran: Yes, it is about 2 miles from Orlando International Airport. Right near Hooters, I might add.

Sounds like I am getting recruited. Maybe, I will put my future photography skills to good work. I'll be putting a couple good ones out: 1. Tokubetsu Hozon, Hida no Kami Ujifusa Katana with Koshirae. 2. Hojoji Masahiro Katana.

I got this email yesterday regarding the show. It has been a good show, for the past couple years. Its a nice mini vacation. I look forward to attending the seminar on sword photography. Orlando Japanese Sword Show June 14-15, 2014 Tables $100.00 Entrance $10.00 per day. Rooms ­ ($85/night for two queen beds; $90/night for one king bed). For more information about the hotel, please call 407.438.2121 or 800.230.4134 Dear Friends, Greetings! Please, be aware of and plan to attend The Orlando Sword Show hosted by Bob Elder. The past two years have proven this to be a fun and educational summer show. The discount room rate has been extended until May 24th. We look forward to seeing you there.

I think of papers as the destination and the research as the trip. Having a destination in mind is important before embarking on a journey. The fun begins when you begin researching why the expert came to that conclusion. Sometimes I feel like I was led astray, other times not. In either case, I have learned something.

I think of papers as the destination and the research as the trip. Having a destination in mind is important before embarking on a journey. The fun begins when you begin researching why the expert came to that conclusion. Sometimes I feel like I was led astray, other times not. In either case, I have learned something.

I like a good microfiber towel for choji oil removal. I would be careful of using any solvent. It could get between the grains in the steel and start a reaction from within. Choji oil should be used, but sparingly. Too much if it will "congeal" and may cause corrosion spots. It should be wiped down to a micro thin layer.

Narrow shinogiji with correspondingly thick kasane, choji, Shinto...Tatara Nagayuki is the best you can hope for.

Excellent topic. If there was ever a book of excellent wakimono to be written, I am sure there would be a Kaifu Den work, or two, in it. Maybe because they were not prolific, their works just do not bolster much interest. High ratings in these texts indicate that Kaifu Yasuyoshi works have been highly valued, at least at some point. Hawley's is supossed to be based on actual transaction values, if I am not mistaken. Ultimately, a good sword is a good sword...and many good swords have come from the Kaifu Den in Awa.

Awesome, as usual. Big fan of naoshi swords.

I think you can Google their names to find them. Neither one has a Website, but both do top quality work, spoken from my own experience. Let me know if you cannot find them on your own.

Bill Green, had one in Baltimore last year, but that was September. I was a vendor at the show. However, is was a buyers market. I saw some incredible swords, most notable of which was a Tokobetsu Juyo Motoshige. In the end, I purchased an excellent little tanto that was greatly undervalued. So, what I am getting at, if he has it again, go to it, whenever it is. I like how Bill is ambitiously promoting our hobby.

Yes, it is like that, but without the whirlpools above it. Although, the undulations do occur close to the ha, I think the Ko-Uda is more ayasugi-esque. I will get the camera out this weekend, and massacre some photos.

I thought the same. I mentioned it to another collector who likes Ko Uda. He said patches of ayasugi are not uncommon in these works. Of course, Norishige would be better) But, who am I to challenge the NBTHK. It is a beautiful work nonetheless.

Hi Mariusz I have found, the one rule in this hobby is, there are no rules. I am going with most nagamaki-naoshi had adjusted curvature and/or saki-haba when transforming into Katana or Wak form. I have 2 fine examples residing in my collection, which I have been meaning to have photographed; a Ko-Uda wak, with ayasugi hada and a big Osafune Masamitsu. Both have no yokote and trimmed boshi. Nagasaki-naoshi is one of my favorite forms, with or without yokote. That Hojoji example is excellent. My main point is that during Muromachi times, they started to make Wakizashi and Daito in nagamaki-naoshi form, having never been a nagamaki.

When dealing with this type of thing, all one can do is describe the item as it is. Good to hear. During the Muromachi period, "Retro Nagamaki-Naoshi" wakizashi and katana were made. I have never seen any of the like from a prior period. Boshi, is of course evidence, as the turn back would normally be cut off (or at least partially) in a true nagamaki-naoshi.

I very much like naginata-naoshi sugata nihonto. The fact that many "wood block print Samurai" characters are using them, I think says something about the way they were valued as a weapon. Assuming that is nioi-guchi in the turn back, that has me thinking Muromachi period, made in the "form" of a naginata-naoshi.

Is that a turn-back in the boshi (the second picture of the kissaki)?

Excellent piece. Sometimes at the sword shows you see other swords comparable in excellence. Tokubetsu Juyo Rai Kunitoshi, Rai Kunimitsu, Motoshige are some favorites that I have seen. I won't mention the owners names out of respect for their privacy. These are the things that keep me going in this hobby. Thanks for sharing.

It is a great reference to start with. But, do not take the information as "scripture". Robert, has been recently working to clear up inaccuracies and conflicts with canonical references. So, hopefully it will only improve.

Hi Jean: Was it an Ebay find? Trying to draw some similarities.

Hi Stephen: Strange they missed the hagire. I once bought a NTHK papered osuriage Kanabo Masatsugu Wakizashi that had a hagire, from a Japanese Dealer. I returned the sword to the dealer and it later turned up in Australia. The new owner was trying to sell it, unaware of the hagire. IE., until I notified him.