Surfson

No, didn't really set out to collect them, but they just accumulated over the years. I have bought a few nice sets or collections on ebay when the price is right.

Has this book ever been published? I remember Bob carrying around his huge notebook overflowing with Kao and signatures. I would be interested in getting it if it is out.

1. Tsuba Shoki 2. Showa Token Meibutsu Cho 3. Tsuba Shusei (?) 4. Yumei Koto Taikan 5. Osafune Choshi 6. Waga Ai Tsuba Not sure of values, but I think the Yumei Koto Taikan is quite expensive. Cheers, Surf

I have a large collection of tsuba and seppa and see nothing wrong with marrying a tsuba to a sword that is in mounts absent the tsuba. It is my impression that often people will remove a beautiful tsuba and leave a sword otherwise intact. If you have enough tsuba, you can usually find one that fits tightly and is the right thickness. With any luck, it will fit well with the other koshirae!

Nice sword Dale! Where did you find it? Cheers, Bob

You are correct, the signature being Bushu Ju Masa Toshi. Classic Bushu work I think. Very nice.

Thanks for the replies and I'll continue to study the suggestions. I have bought fittings from Bob Benson in the past and have friends who have sent top quality blades via him. Does anybody know who he uses as his Juyo grade polisher and how that person rates next to the others? I assume that the number of polishers with that level of talent is very small, but I just don't know their names. Isn't there still a Hon'ami working? How does Kenji Mishina rate? Who are the best in the world right now? Cheers, Bob

Actually, it just came to me - minogame is the term. Here is a link to an online photo of one. B http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... 29,r:1,s:0

Hi all. I searched for previous threads but couldn't find any that fit. I have several swords that in my opinion are worthy of the highest grade polish in Japan and submission for high level papers and would like to hear who the NMB members recommend in terms of polishers and agents etc. Thanks in advance. Bob

Gorgeous sword - truly epitomizes the "art and the sword". Thanks for posting. Bob

Getting back to the original question, I can't recall seeing turtles, though there is a turtle-like creature that pops up every now and then. Sorry, but I don't recall what it is called.

Interesting question to pose, and it's eliciting a lot of introspection and confessions! As to me, I brought a sword back from a trip to Japan 25 years ago and became hooked. I entered an intense phase of study and put together a sizable library of books on Nihonto. I shortly thereafter entered a phase of "buy and sell" in which I ran ads, ran around like a nut buying swords and sold swords to Japanese dealers and collectors for several years. I had to continue to study then so as not to "buy high and sell low", so the books became even more important. The only sad part about that phase is that I had to sell all the very best swords that I got since I couldn't afford to keep them, so my actual collection consisted of mostly the lower end pieces. The last 10+ years, I have not sold many swords and have primarily been a collector, but I have to confess to being an accumulator as well. I have bought a lot of gunto with hand made, usually koto, blades in them and have just tucked them away. I can sometimes kantei them and sometimes not. I am a scientist in my professional life and am in the business of creating new knowledge. I became a bit frustrated with studying about nihonto constantly because I felt that I was only learning what is already known and not generating any new information. Presently I enjoy reading books on kantei and the NMB and am still picking up swords, mostly on ebay.

Bottom one looks the better to me (check out carvings in the plug in the kogai ana and others), though hard to tell if either are genuine.

Does the middle fuchi kashira set look to anybody else like the work of Goto Ichijo? Nice collection and worth cataloging if this is a representative sample. Cheers, Bob

It looks to me like the hamon runs off the blade at the kissaki and there is no boshi.

Hi Ian. Sounds very useful for those who have the original book. I don't, but tried to download anyway, but the file was stated to be damaged. Could you please email me a pdf at surfson@rcn.com? Do you recommend buying the book and know where it can be purchased? Cheers, Bob

Funny thing is that I bought some items from Stanley Kellert years ago (not sure if it was books or fittings), but don't recognize that one.

I'm guessing it's a genuine gendai, but isn't particularly appealing. I emailed him about the Kanesada and he said he bought it from a dealer in Japan and that neither he nor the dealer had sent it to shinsa. Hmmmmmm.... It is up to a price indicating that somebody likes it. I didn't study the mei of that one.

Very interesting thread guys and I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said. It is amusing to me that the conversation only was had among gaikokujin and can't help but wonder what the view of the typical native Nihonjin collector of Nihonto would be.

Both of those tsuba are beautiful and elegant. For the koi design, which fish is Democrat and which one is Republican?

I buy on ebay quite a bit, and have picked up some great swords, along with a few boo-boos. In general, the Chinese fakes don't bring much, so I think that ebay buyers are generally on to them. What is more fascinating are the dealers that were referred to above who are buying rejects at the Japanese auctions and then putting them on ebay. These swords have big names on them, almost never have papers, and are in good polish. I like to play a game with myself - what's wrong with this sword? I never buy from these dealers and generally only focus on bring-back swords. The sad part of all of this is that there is now a steady flow of this sludge from Japan to the US and these swords will be circulating in the sword shows, auctions and private sales. This means we will have to be more vigilant than ever about the swords on our market.

At the price, it's an ok starter sword I think. I wouldn't invest in a polish - enjoy it, study it, and when you're ready to move up, you shouldn't have a problem selling it at that price on ebay. It looks like it is tired, has kizus and the chip in the monouchi would eventually grate. I didn't study the mei.

I'm with the other kaos

I agree that it looks to be shortened. To my eye, it looks like Kanbun Shinto, maybe late 17th century. As to value, assuming that kantei doesn't indicate a rare maker, I am guessing in the $1500-$2000 range on ebay. The fuchi has been corroded by the leather sheath. All in all, it looks to be quite a desirable sword. Congrats.

I see that crack that I think you are referring to, but it doesn't look to me like it is in the ha. Rather, it looks to be in the nakago.