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MHC

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Everything posted by MHC

  1. MHC

    Any guesses?

    From my machinist eye, the Mekugiana appears to be drilled, not punched, so not too old?? Mark
  2. You can just make out the remains of the serial number just ahead of the Habaki, definitely a WWII NCO sword that has been repurposed. Mark
  3. Hello all, Regarding the first 2 shots of my Tsuba with the grass & orchids, would really like to find a nice matching Fuchi Kashira set to go along with it, as I plan to use them in the Koshirae on a Katana I have. So if anyone has a lead on a set they think would be a good pairing, please don't hesitate in dropping me a PM. Thanks. Mark
  4. I have a couple of simple examples, that I find very appealing. No great works of any masters, but I like the simple styles. Mark.
  5. Others have given this advise, and even though I'm a beginner, I'm going to offer it back up again! Unless you are a very astute Japanese sword collector, and very wise in all things Japanese sword....it is best to avoid Ebay/ Buyee or Auction Houses, and just buy your swords from quality folks like the folks here on this forum. Paying a little more for real quality and real Nihonto beats getting burned on a cheapee any day of the week! My .02 cents worth. Mark
  6. Just received the Tsuba I bought from Ed today! Very nice. Super guy to work with, can't wait for his new improved site to be up-n-running! Mark
  7. I just bought a tsuba from Ed, everything is fine with him. He is updating his web site as we speak, hopefully back up and running shortly. He was a victim of the severe cold snap down south, so that put a chink in his plans and timing, hard to update when you have no power! Mark
  8. Well....I'm 3 for 3 with total fail with them. Even after winning 2 bids, before they bothered to tell me they could/would not ship the item(s). Item #1 was a cut up sword, all pieces under 15mm per legal export rules, claimed "unable to ship to the USA" ( receiving my $43 dollars back was like pulling teeth, took 4 weeks). Item #2 Tsuba (funds returned promptly) after claimed "unable to ship to the USA". Items #3 sword care kit, yep you guessed it "unable to ship to the USA", bid canceled from their end. Done, done & done with them for good! Mark
  9. MHC

    Hamon style opinions

    Thanks again all, Yes, I'm not a huge fan of the "over whitening" either, but it is what it is, as it is in full current new Japanese polish {bought it that way}. Blade dated August 1692 for your edification. Thanks. Mark
  10. Thank you both very much for the information! It is painfully obvious that I need more reference material in my library. Mark
  11. Hello all, 甫掃 (Hoso?) Interested in a Tsuba with the above Mei. but cannot find info on the school/artist through the search outlets here on this forum. Advertiser wrote Mei and possible translation noted above, not I, as that is beyond my ability. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Mark
  12. Hello all, Out of shear curiosity only, I bought a mumei Wak from Kumonjo off ebay, for a whooping sum of $168 bucks. Total rust bucket, no habaki, junk saya, no tsuka. Anyway, clean it up a bit and low and behold it is a folded steel blade, straight hamon, punched ana [not drilled], no real flaws to speak of sans the rust of course. Uneducated guess by the shape & patina on the nakago, 1800's, certainly not any older for sure. Not at all worth putting another dime into it, or even taking pictures of it.......but it appears by all accounts to be a real Japanese blade, most likely mass produced, probably for conscript military use?? Anyway, thought I'd throw it out there for you folks. Mark
  13. Well better late than never...I'm 62 and been a Nihonto fan for 30 years. Bought my 1st sword in '94, 2nd in '18, 3rd in '19, 4th in '21. I had an old house restoration pause and feeding a porsche habit between '95 and '17, yes my other addictions! Anyway Porsche's gone, old house on the market as we speak, retirement at full speed ahead with Thailand as the destination! Mark
  14. MHC

    Hamon style opinions

    The blade is actually in fresh Japanese polish, but a heavy coat of oil {for protection during shipping} and poor pictures, really doesn't make it appear that way....so sorry. The entire Hamon is actually very white, and is hiding details that could otherwise be seen with a different type of polishing style. The current Japanese trend for this very white "look", is not my personal preference, but I bought the blade this way, and so it will stay. Later on once I'm in Thailand, I will clean off the oil and practice getting far better close up pictures, if I manage to pull that off, I'll share. Thanks for the replies! Mark
  15. Hello all, In my never ending attempt to learn more, what do you feel is the most accurate style of this Hamon. I'm thinking predominately Gunome, but it also has some Toran traits. Please let me know your learned opinions, thanks! The pictures are very so-so, as the blade has a coating of light oil, so the light hits it always wrong. I won't be able to take better shots until I arrive in my new home in Thailand, as the blade is securely packed away for transport. Mark
  16. Well now, what a way to be humbled.....I have now learned more in 1 short essay from Rog, than I've learned in months! The only down side is the clear and present fact, that I'm unworthy of these pages let alone making comments.......sigh. Time to get another book. Mark
  17. Hummm...polished with scotchbrite and simechrome paste?? Nothing that another $2000 won't fix.......but it does look like a nice blade under all that abuse. Mark
  18. It's simple really....the lure of easy money or wealth is the basis for all con's and scams, it matters not the subject or item. Sunken treasure, lost gold mine, buried mason jar full of coins, helping out the poor Nigerian lad. etc., etc. Personally, I have found that nothing has any real value, until one has invested either sweat, time or love into it. I gave up any illusion of instant benefit, once I aged into an adult. Mark
  19. I have avoided making any comment on this for days now, but can't stand it anymore....... All things being of possible illusion, and I hope I'm way off base here...but my machinist eye cannot stop seeing a distinct line running thru the Nakago right where the Habaki would conceal it, visible on both sides, but most discernable on the left side. The apparent line runs perpendicular to the longitude of the blade. I can only guess, but it would appear that there is a possibility of the nakago being welded at this location. This would explain the heavy file marks(to cover up the weld repair) that do not match the original file marks, lower on the nakago, plus the distinct difference in the look of the steel both above the habaki area and below the possible weld area. Even the area of the Bohi looks tampered with and does not exactly match the bohi on the blade. My observation could easily be incorrect, as making assumptions from small photos can lead one down incorrect paths. Mark
  20. I'm shaking the money tree with all my might....but being winter, the tree is bare...:{ Mark
  21. Hi guys, What could of caused that line, just above the mei on the nakago? I can only see 1 side of the nakago, as there are no photos of the other side. The line seems to have a large center divot area, then the line disappears but then re-appears and goes up and over the spine(sorry don't know the correct term for the top of the nakago). Almost..... dare I say looks like it could possibly be a butt weld in that section?? I'm probably just seeing things that aren't there, probably my machinist eye coming out to haunt me. Mark
  22. F.Y.I this sword is currently on an auction site back east in the USA, with the auction running today, most likely over by now, as it is 1pm on the west coast now, with the east coast being 3 hours ahead. Mark
  23. Hello all, As I found out with international shipping of my personal items overseas to Thailand, that it is required to supply your SSN# or a Tax I.D.# So further investigation, showed that it is super simple to just obtain a US federal tax I.D.#. Apply online, it's free, takes about 10 minuets, and lasts your life time, zero negative consequences, only positive. So for all you US citizens, there is no reason not to do it, can solve/simplify many things. Mark
  24. MHC

    Three Tsubas

    Well I like the small wak sized one a lot, very delicate and clean design. Would have picked that one up myself! Mark
  25. I put a bid of a sword remnant from Buyee in Japan, only to be told by Buyee 2 hours before the auction ended, that they would not ship that type of item to the USA. They made a few attempts to explain to me as to why they could not ship such an item, but I looked at all categories of prohibited items, and it did not fall into any of them. Luckily I was out bid at the last moment, or I would have owned an item that I would never have received! Mark
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