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leo

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Everything posted by leo

  1. Another term would be "swordcane", actually a sword with shallow sori inside a walking stick. This device, even when it is antique, is illegal in many countries. In many states in the US carrying one is illegal. I do not know how customs handles import if they are antique. Best, Martin
  2. Hi, employ a goldsmith or someone very familiar with metalwork to remove the habaki. The tin solder melts already at low temperatures and like any solder, flows toward the hottest spot. The blade has to be fixed in a vise and the habaki carefully heated and at the same time pushed towards the jiri. As soon as it becomes loose the heating must be stopped. When it is removed you will probably find remainders of the solder on the nakago and maybe the groove. Part of this can be removed by a glowing piece of metal or a soldering iron. Unfortunately traces of the solder will always remain on the surface of the steel and can ony be removed by polish. Off course a new habaki will cover it. Regards
  3. To contribute to the original thread: Until further notice, there will be a suspension or delay at best for Japan Post/EMS parcels to these countries: https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/2020/0401_02_01_en.pdf This list is from the beginning of March and has not been revoked yet. I received a sword shipment via EMS on March 3rd, but Germany as US and UK is not on the list. I personally think that shipments will go out from Japan after a due delay, but I would not take the risk of sending any parcel there right now. Best, Martin
  4. Careful, Brian, remember the Battle of Hastings when the "Norman" William conquered England! Cheers, Martin
  5. Hi, folks, the NMB ist still the no.1 nihonto board shared by the western world. I do not think that this will change as long as Brian keeps the spirit of this institution alive! Thank you, Brian! Best, Martin
  6. She is not bad looking, either! Best, Martin
  7. Hi, Rodriguez, see this link: https://www.catawiki.de/l/30548117-Japan-kawahara-sadachika-katana-schwert Best, Martin
  8. Your are right, Moriyama san, my mistake! It is not Kunimitsu, but as you said, Echigo no Kuni Mitsuoki Tsukuru. BTW, the mei is a tachi mei. Is this the rule with most Gendaito or just the personal style of the smith? Regards
  9. Hi, Seth, it seems to be signed by Echigo Kunimitsu and dated June, Showa 17 (1942). it also carries a kokuin (hotstamp). Quality seems good so I guess it is a gendaito, a traditionally made military blade. i am sure the smith is listed in one of the books about showa swordsmiths. Best Regards
  10. leo

    Fake - Real ?

    Found the daisho picture:
  11. leo

    Fake - Real ?

    I think, later, from Keijo well into the Meiji Period they made a lot of decorative Daisho for export and used these tsuba. I had one long ago, fitted with a pair of papered Jumyo blades. I try to include some old pictures but they are not very good. Regards
  12. leo

    Fake - Real ?

    Hi, Simon, these are Kinko-school tsuba from late Edo and no fake at all! Tis style is very decorative and they are normally high priced. If you see one cheap, please let me know! Best, Martin
  13. The company who issued the paper is the JTK (Jyuho Token Kenkyukai). The basic paper is light blue, the higher grade paper is light brown. Best, Martin
  14. Hi, all! I think this is a great idea and would suggest Germany(Berlin?) or the Netherlands. I could bring 4 swords for myself and several more from my customers. As soon as the whole thing is seriously considered I would advertise this on my HP and offer my help to support this event. To begin with, an organizer is needed and somebody has to inquire at NTHK about the exact requirements for a shinsa team to come over including a possible date. Jean, most airlines will carry a sword in a locked guncase, which is anyway required for transport in Germany. If somebody is not able to tbring it in personally, I might be of help to arrange a transport by a licensed "transporter". Even though edged weapons are subject to federal laws in Germany, you can buy and own swords of any type, old or new, if you are at least 18 years old. Cane swords are forbidden if mounted. Cheers, Martin
  15. Hello, Mark, Brexit is absolutely no problem right now and I doubt it will for a while. So in the case of your gendaito the dealer had no reason not to ship it. Anyway the merchandise has been paid for and the procedure of clearing customs is always the problem of the buyer. Chris, the revolver deal had nothing to do with Brexit. Pinfire(Lefaucheux) revolvers are normal guns in most Euopean countries and require a certain export procedure which might be a nuisance for the seller. Exporting from the EU to an non-EU country, like Switzerland or the US, involves a lot of running around and paperwork in Germany. You need an export declaration for any type of antique, regardless of value, plus an export license for swords because any blade exceeding 30cm, falls under the weapons law and is thus treated like a firearm. Shippers officially need a license to transport swords. Many dealers (like myself) do not generally export anymore outside the EU, unless the buyer is willing to pay for the additional expenses. On the other hand shipping within the EU is absolutely no problem. Most courier services have a network with fellow shippers all over Europe. If I call my German courier, he picks up the sword the next day and the day after it is being delivered to the buyer anywhere in Europe and for a fair price! Best, Martin
  16. While I do not support the thesis that most green papers are not legit, there are too many issues adding up regarding this sword. Most were mentioned already, I might add another one: The style of the mei is definitely different from the style of the date characters. Best, Martin.
  17. Hello, Ray! i think this is not a yari nakago. It is a clean, well shaped ubu nakago with the signature in the right place. With its straight shape and the thick kasane it probably was a special order, maybe for the use as a cane-sword. On the photo the nakago-mune looks a bit reworked, but I can be wrong. If the TH paper says its ubu, then it was made as a tanto/wakizashi. Best Regards, Martin
  18. Hi, missing a name to address you! The signature is "Higo (no) Kuni Ju Hagi Jiemon (no) Jo Munekage Saku". It is a well rated Shinshinto smith, worked around 1840. Sword is old, if signature is genuine, is difficult to tell. Wrapping is maybe lacquered silk thread, tsuka looks contemporary. Cheers, Martin
  19. Hello, Jon! Had the same problem with one of mine that i sold recently. Would be nice and also quite cheap to find factory made brass pieces, but I did not find any. After some search I decided to give it to an small workshop of a local goldsmith. The lady working there, did a nice brass jigsaw work and engraved the little pieces. It were just the little kiku flowers, though. After som artificial wear and some patination they looked perfectly original. With the many pieces missing on your gun, it will cost you a few hundred bucks, though. Best, Martin
  20. Jaques, I do not doubt that. Would be too many reasonable saijo saku blades if it was. All these samples with the Kiku and Yamashiro mei are most probably the Kunimichi listed in Hawley as KUN480. My former blade was sold as KUN480. Still I have not seen one of those early 國道 mei by the later Dewa daijo and I would like to see one. Always interesting to raise a discussion. Cheers, Martin
  21. Dear Justin, thanks a lot for the compliment! If you should own this blade, it might give you an opportunity to study. Dear Arnold, i am afraid you have to revise your statement that Yamashiro no Kami never used kiku. I have seen a few blades and they all had kiku engraved. I enclose one of mine that I sold about 15 years ago. It was suriage and machi okuri but had TK and Hozon papers. But do not worry, we all learn until we die Whether Yamashiro no Kami aka Yamashiro Heianjo was an early name of Dewa Daijo or not, is interesting material for another study. Best, Martin
  22. Justin, without pics of the whole blade any comments on the quality would be purely hypothetical. From the mei and the kiku its a typical Mishina school mei. It seems that this signature might be an early variant of the famous Dewa Daijo Kunimichi. See the link to a text from Markus Sesko´s index: https://www.Japan-budo.com/antike-wakizashi-/yamashiro-kunimichi-1615-1624-genna-15896-wakizashi-sword-.html Best, Martin
  23. Yamato Shizu, maybe Mino-Kinju school? Regards, Martin
  24. The photo is not exactly HD but I think I see a regular togari/gunome variant with this pattern: 2 peaks_3 peaks_2 peaks_3 peaks... and so on. The blade looks massive and the nakago looks not too old so I would also vote for shinshinto. Here among others we have Bizen Yokoyama and varous Mino schools. For an appraisal the picture does not show enough details though. Regards, Martin
  25. I think it is "Sato Kanesumi saku", 佐藤兼住作, Showa smith Blade and Koshirae are typical for Showa period. Best, Martin
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