Rabro

Leave it alone, this is the third masamune blade that I have seen him offer and it simply is not credible at this price. Roger

Hi Steve, I quite like the wak and for the price that you paid, it doesn't seem too much. I would try to get it into the hands of someone who can really tell you what you have. As for the Katana, $1800 is a lot for an out of polish mumei blade but who knows??. All that I can offer you is that there is a lot to know and that it takes a really long tme just to find out what you don't know. That said, I follow a basic rule that I got from a collector of many years which is......If you like it and can afford it and don't expect to make a profit from it.....then buy it and enjoy (or at least learn from the experience) Roger PS you should see some of the c**p that I bought when I started.

Ebay is a real crap shoot and you need to be careful even when the blade has papers it doesn't follow that the owner has. There are a few real gems that occasionally appear and I have a couple swords that came off ebay at seriously bargain prices. On the other hand I have been straight up scammed for $5000 where nothing arrived. Known dealers with good reputations are always best but there are no bargains. Welcome and lots of luck. PS I have my first blade for sale at the moment if you want to check it out there are photos at http://www.esnips.com/web/Shinto Roger

I'm trying to get fixed up with the guy to take the photos and then lets do it!!! Roger

Hi all, This is my first time with the serious people. I live in Chile where there is amost no information, expertise or prensence of nihonto. Also I am a blade man who knows next to nothing about blades and less about fittings. That said, I recently found 50 tsubas that are part of the residue from an auction of an important Japanese collection that took place here in 2002. The original auction included some 700 tsubas amognst other things and was attended by dealers from around the world. We can therefore safely assume that the gems were sold. I am having enough trouble getting my head around blades and have not therefore entered into fittings but I would be more than happy to collect information for those of you that are into tsubas. As I know nothing and in an attemp to not waste your or my time, my question is, What do you guys need to know? and or What are the basic photographic requirements that will provide usefull pictures? These remains from the auction are currently in a tin box under the desk of the owner in an office in Santiago. Quite a few of them are signed. If there is enough interest I will happily collect info, photos and prices. Let me know Roger

Uchiko or at least good uchiko is as fine as the uchigumori stones that make the final finish and therefore cannot damage the steel. I make no claim to any extpertise in the world of polishing but I do practice it on my own blades and in my humble opinion, we get too scared of our blades which were, after all, made for battle. I have read rediculous statements from "apparently" inteligent people who claim that Japanese swords can be damaged by improper use of tissue paper !!! ???. I think that there is way too much BS about this subject for us mere mortals (ie those of us who do not own treasure blades). Unless you have a juyo nagamitsu lying around in the closet, I say work with the uchiko since there is almost no possibility of doing any real damage and it gives you a rare opportunity to participate in one of the serious art forms that is not readily available from any other segment. I mean to say.....who the hell would touch up a Rembrant!! Bottom line......... I'll go with the popular line that if you think it might be something special, get an opinion and if not.......Uchiko the hell out of it and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah right!! Roger

Hi Adrian, I just noticed your logo and was wondering if you recently bought this daisho set or sold it? Roger

I have a shinto sword in full polish that I will sell you for less than the price of this one. It was my first sword. There are fotos at http://www.esnips.com/web/Shinto Roger

How was the gift shop? Roger

Truely exceptional !!!! and now I'm seriously jealous. Roger

Are new repro and not very good at that. They are just somewhere to put the blades. Roger

Hi all, does anyone have a line on quality koshirae? specifically I am looking to mount a katana of 68 cm with a sori of 2,5 cm. Any input gratefully received. PS. I have a nice daisho on ebay at the moment if interested check out 220037792598 Roger

I may need some help in this part of the world. Roger

From this seller and he was very cooperative. I asked him to submit the blade to NBTHK for shinsa on my behalf and he was happy to do so with no charge for his time. The blade passed shinsa but with attribution to a different smith from the original old kicho papers that it had when it went in. Because of this change, he never billed me the costs of the new papers. The sword was in very good polish when I received it but I don't know if it was arranged by him. Roger

If its valuable make sure that you get it insured with the airline or someone as I recently lost a sword flying from London to JFK. There is no prohibition against checking them in. Roger