Babu

I see what you mean it might be a reshaped sword fitted for WW2. I think very little would have been thrown away if if decent length . It's certainly looking way too long for our usual expectations.

Get a piece of wood and a small hammer. put the wood at the blade side of the habaki and gently tap down towards the nakago on that wood pushing the habaki that way. Keep checking your not damaging the habaki and keep changing the side of the blade you tap. It will come off. When it does clean the area it was on the blade with soap and water and an old toothbrush.same on the inside of the habaki.remove old rust. Don't worry about touching the blade other than to not cut yourself, you won't cause any damage significant to warrent that type of warning as the blade needs a polish anyway and that will take off surface steel.

Alex that seems a contradiction by UPS. They prohibit the movement of All Firearms. Articles of exceptional value, works of art, antiques, precious stones, gold and silver. In order to be exempt from the offensive weapons act you must declare an item antique . So once it hits our shores it should be governed by UK regulations for that particular company. I'm sure there are ways around this call it an umbrella or something, but your'e item could be siezed legally and destroyed legally as that's their printed operating rules. look I'm no expert here but I wouldn't risk a £4000 sword on a no insurance delivery, where if found to be a weapon could be destroyed. in the UK we are responsible until the item has been signed for. i guess what I'm saying is..... proceed with caution...

DHL will accept Antiques, works of art and fine art with an individual value in excess of £5,000 no mention of swords or blades so a possibility.

I don't think that's what wee are referring to Dave that's obvious 😉

If a blade has gone through many polishes it loses its ha machi I would guess so machi okuri would at some point be a necessity.... or are my assumptions wildly off? Polishing is a matter of necessity in most cases so are we also to assume that a sword with machi okuri has been well used in battle or perhaps abused?

If a blade has gone through many polishes it loses its ha machi I would guess so machi okuri would at some point be a necessity.... or are my assumptions wildly off? Polishing is a matter of necessity in most cases so are we also to assume that a sword with machi okuri has been well used in battle or perhaps abused?

Hi Michael, in the UK Jo is a girl and Joe is a boy. Kelly is a girl period. Sam I would always question as that is unilateral. Pronounced the same Mike is a boy and Mich is a girl. Even if the spelling is as your name is you might be referred to as either your full name or Mike. It's just the way it is. Thats an unusual avatar of a handsome young Anime character. Is that actually what you look like?? 😉 And before you ask I know that Brian's got a rather wide legged stance like his Avatar, I'm also told he's slightly bow legged and when he runs he looks like an egg whisk! But that's just what I'm told.

Kelly is a girls name over here but I now know I was wrong.

Paul I'm pretty sure that 1m is now 65cm as that's what my post office stated to me. They then go to Parcelforce who.....destroy on sight. What I mean by destruction on sight is this. If you use these companies and claim your sword is say a tripod or walking stick and the X ray sees a sword, they will open the parcel and if evidenced they were right, as per their terms and conditions destroy it rather than let it progress through the postal system and endanger staff. It is a prohibited item and in their opinion you should have checked. Legally you won't have a leg to stand on. In order to evidence exemption from the offensive weapons act 2018 you must state that your sword is an antique. Many of the above also refuse to ship antiques. Catch 22. However there are a few private companies that will pick up this work should you need to know of them PM me as many are ludicrously priced. I had one quote for £200 the rest all £95 or similar and one £45 which I went for but with no insurance. Insurance to £2000 was an extra £97.50!

I've just started to register and the first thing it wants me to do is send money. Is that right? It doesn't even know what I'm interested in yet.

Sadly not a lot of good the shadows don't help. You need to take indoors with overhead light or I guess flash just for sugata. Take off the habaki and just take the flare blade on the ground on a towel.

Had a wakizashi and a yari confiscated and sent to the post office dangerous goods team last week and I'm still awaiting the outcome. Royal mail will move antique swords but only up to wakizashi length at best. Parcel force will destroy on sight DPD will destroy on sight Fed ex will destroy on sight UPS will destroy on sight In fact I could find no other UK courier of global reputation that would accept a sword or antiques. As also many now prohibit antiques. None of the parcel brokers accept swords and will if found destroy on sight. What a nanny state we are!!!

It is my understanding that Paul is actually getting very much into the study of tosogu now so I'm hoping that he will. You may be right so I've contacted Kelly Schmidt as well. Only downside is she may want the lot for her own online sales .

I've seen some tosogu on the Japanese website but it's not accepting my phone number. I would like to hire Paul to bid in my behalf. Huw do I contact him I cannot see any way on the net.

It is most likely between 50-80% gold depending on the date of manufacture which we must assume is either pre 1830 or modern. The gold content permitted before an outright ban in 1830, over the preceding years, dropped as low as 50% by law on sword fittings. I appreciate it's nice to some but I don't like it.if it's modern cast with little artistic value ,it's scrap value is $18,016.94 for a price of $23,600 If 14k . But I think it's probably 9ct based on colour if true in the image and possibly modern and has a scrap value of $5240.

Brian you may do better in the Military swords if Japan section as many don't read this section they will be hugely helpful.

I have seppa like that I've no idea what it's doing other than making microscopic adjustment. The flat always faces the tsuba which has a more decorative side that buts up to a seppa then the Fuchi.

It's possible it's the screw with a reverse thread so unscrew clockwise.

That appears to be accurate.

Yes just a homage in this case. Bear in mind maybe one in one thousand might be genuine. Look to the nakago and activities then the mei. They tend to remain true to the finish as if it were a full size sword. Some may be suriage of course.

Has anyone got any examples of decorative or unusual kozuka slots on saya? I see some rarely and assume this is Oju or a special order request. I believe some have material,some paper then varnished or clear lacquer over the top. Regards Adam

Makers identification mark I expect.

I've started to collect genuine Smith signed kogatana. I have a few now I missed one with sayagaki by Sato. I agree most are fantasy but there are many that are not.

Rather than allow more liberal members to step into the beartrap wouldn't it be prudent to admonish the OP. Tell him we don't offer advice on amateur polishing and close that thread immediately?? Because leaving it open just causes problems. Michael, just for the record, has what people said here put you off doing the sword because it's my belief your going ahead anyway, it's what you do. Regards Adam