Jump to content

mtexter

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    127

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by mtexter

  1. Grandpa's WWII cache

    in Military Swords of Japan

    Posted

    On 7/9/2021 at 1:07 AM, MichaelSeeley said:

    @mtexter I wanted to follow up on this thread. Did you ever get any photos of the actual blades or learn anything further rom these? Thanks!

    So here are some links to other threads I started on the complete blades that Grandpa brought back:

    Type 98 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33084-type-98-my-cousins/?tab=comments#comment-342680

    Type 97 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33233-type-97/?tab=comments#comment-344312
    Kuniyuki Wakizashi - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33129-kuniyuki-wakizashi/?tab=comments#comment-343294

    Mumei Tanto - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33165-mumei-tanto/?tab=comments#comment-343700

    There are imgur links for all but the type 98 which belongs to my cousin, so I got what I could from that.  May pay him a visit if people are interested to see more on that one.  

    Cheers everyone,

     

    • Like 1

  4. optimal conservation

    in General Nihonto Related Discussion

    Posted

    On 1/26/2021 at 11:25 AM, French nihonto said:

    I have never looked into the subject until now, but it is very interesting.
    for me at the moment, with the chimney fire running 24 hours a day, I am at 45%, below 40% it is harmful to the lungs I believe.

    other photos: (it is still around 45%)

    except the last one, which is strange, hoping that it is a malfunction of the hygrometer, because 58% is too much

    5B96A32A-CFC0-4CF7-87C7-1735666955DE.jpeg

    163EA47F-C58F-43D6-9FA1-D573080E8AD0.jpeg

    Maxime, that's a beautiful display, wow!  Where do you get a glass case like that, or is it custom-built?

     

    • Like 1

  8. Curious-looking golden armor

    in Katchu

    Posted

    I love all the fine details on this, if I can get it for a good price I'll probably display it with my swords someday.  I just have no concept of what a fair price would be on it.  ≈500 would probably be my max budget for something like this

  13. Not sure what to do with this

    in Nihonto

    Posted

    I agree with what Steve M said above wholeheartedly.  You might find an entry-level collector (like me) interested in a blade like this for ≈$100, but you can always try your luck on eBay.  Old, traditionally-made blades with issues are still collectible, and very old and sharp things are still cool to people like me, regardless of condition.  Or, keep it!  Care for it as best you can, get as much rust off of the blade as gently as you can, and you might find yourself with something you think is cool too at the end of the day :)

  15. Grandpa's WWII cache

    in Military Swords of Japan

    Posted

    On 9/5/2020 at 3:28 PM, Smee78 said:

    They were likely covered in cosmoline and that's why they were so protected all these years.

    This is exactly right!  We didn't know the name of the substance, but this has to have been it.  I've removed it all now, but that's an important thing to know about the history of these.  Thank you!

  17. Very plain simple Black Katana signed

    in Nihonto

    Posted

    The pics of the tang (nakago) are actually upside down, for what it's worth.  An experienced reader can still translate it though I'm sure.  Do you have the overall length of the cutting part of the blade (nagasa) by chance?  This looks more like a wakizashi to my (inexperienced) eyes than a katana to me, but this length will tell for sure.

  20. Learning experiences

    in General Nihonto Related Discussion

    Posted

    On 10/2/2020 at 12:18 PM, Surfson said:

    Mike, after the covid lockdown has ended (hopefully next summer?), you are welcome to come visit me in Chicago to look at swords.  I have stumbled upon a few good ones over the years.  Hey, maybe we can organize a Tristate sword club in MI, WI, IL.  Cheers, Bob

    I love this idea.  Chicago is an easy train ride from GR, or just a few hours in the car.  Similar for our friends from Milwaukee, I think!  And let's not forget Ohio, I've seen at least a couple of members from there.  Yay Midwest!

     

    I also really want to go to the chicago sword show, once that comes back.

  21. Learning experiences

    in General Nihonto Related Discussion

    Posted

    Wow, great stories and advice so far, thank you all.  I have a great reading list ahead of me :) 
    Since discovering this community, I've had a lot of fun seeing so many interesting things and learning just how much there is to know about this one topic.  What a beautiful way to spend a few months.  It's crazy to think I only saw my family's collection for the first time as an adult just under 3 months ago.  I can't wait to see where this takes me!

    P.S. I'm also attempting to learn Japanese, for some reason; it's fun!  Hiragana and ≈50 kanji down, katakana and ... a LOT more kanji to go :P

    • Like 1

  22. Learning experiences

    in General Nihonto Related Discussion

    Posted

    Hi Everyone,

     

    I find that I'm struggling a bit to learn more about Nihonto.  Over the last couple of months since the community helped me learn about my family's swords, my knowledge has stagnated.  I have bought a 3-volume set of books on the various smiths of Japan, (and maybe that is the best avenue to learn more) but I'm trying to just grasp what seems to be basic knowledge for many other forum members.  What is an itame hada?  What does a hakimage boshi look like, versus komaru, omaru, etc?  I've been looking for good resources to help distinguish the many, many different types of blade attributes, but have come up empty.  (Yes, I have a LOT of books to get around to reading, but I'm also not sure what a good starting book would be.)

     

    Did most of you learn just through experience?  I'm curious what resources there are to help me learn (besides the wonderful people on this forum of course), other than piecing it together one item at a time and hoping my brain remembers.  I'd love to hear 'origin stories' if anyone is willing to share how you learned, or how you got into the hobby, or whatever!

     

    Cheers,

  23. Translation on special order blade maybe- please?

    in Translation Assistance

    Posted

    On 9/22/2020 at 6:18 AM, shakudo said:

    Hi Bazza, Id guess its the camera as its photographed in a black box to cut reflections. Did say I thought it was gimei! Will put some pics up later in week to hear everyones opinions but as I said - gimei. 

    Hi Matt ,  sorry " +2 with no second 2" ?

    Cheers Michael.

    In my limited Japanese studies, the + is actually the kanji for '10' (jyuu), followed by the two dashes on top of each other, which is the kanji for '2' (ni).  so it essentially just means 12 (twelve), or 12th.  So it would be pronounced jyuuni I guess?  I've only been studying for a month or so though.  LONG ways to go yet :)

  24. Type 97

    in Military Swords of Japan

    Posted

    Hi Everyone,

    I've finally gotten around to putting up a thread to show more details on the 4th and final complete blade that my grandpa brought back.  Pretty gorgeous looking blade in my opinion, nice hamon, and seems to be in good polish!  Lots of little scratches but it's easy to see features through them.  I'm curious about the paint on the other side of the nakago from the mei, if anyone could translate those.  

    Take a look and let me know what you think!

     

    I believe we had a translation of the mei already:

    Gotō Hiromasa
    後藤廣正

     

    Pics are here:  https://imgur.com/a/MxCiizH   but i'll put some in this thread so they survive long-term.

    IMG_20200901_181634.jpg

    IMG_20200901_181921.jpg

    IMG_20200901_181930.jpg

    • Thanks 1
×
×
  • Create New...