tony edmunds

Hi Steve That looks like a very decent start to any collection. May I ask which Sword Shop it came from, I know most of the guys in Kyoto including the shop next to Nijo Castle and Tozando. May I also suggest you have a look at the Token Society of Great Britain web page: www.to-ken.com very helpful and very knowledgeable members, we meet up in London every quarte or so. Regards Tony

Hi John I once owned a hirazukuri tanto with marumune. As I recall it was quite a medium height mune. Tony

Thanks Jean , Nakayama does say they were common in Muromachi period and most examples I've found on the web are Mino den of that era.

Hi Guys I've recently acquired a Shobu Zukuri Ko wakizashi with a Nagasa of 13 inches. It's out if polish with no details visible but from the nakago and general condition it looks like a Shinto piece to me. I was hoping someone could clarify the broad periods for swords of this sugata. My initial research tells me Muromach i/Shinto and Shin Shinto but I'd be happy to be corrected while I wait to see what a polish will reveal. Regards Tony

Hi David Congratulations on a good looking website with some very nice pieces. Regards Tony

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, but the saya is covered in Botan Same which is/was quite rare and expensive, Assuming the saya is original to the blade someone really thought a lot of it when it was last mounted

Congratulations to Ian, and everyone involved in making this wonderful weekend a reality and such a success. The setting was perfect,the gala dinner a delight and the lecturers were erudite, expert and entertaining. The quality of the swords and fittings on show was outstanding, and thanks are owed to all who so generously shared pieces from their collections with us. Regards Tony

Hi Doug I never wrap same under the fuchi it requires a lot of filing to get the right step down for the ito. I fit the fuchi/ kashira first and then trim the core to accommodate the same. Wood strips and paper for the ha and mune to get the perfect ito fit. Good luck Tony

Hi Doug Try this link; http://www.ksky.ne.jp./~sumie99/samewrapping.html Tony

Hi Brian When I suggested splitting the saya I should have added by softening the rice glue seams for 2-3 inches form the koiguchi. That should free the habaki and release the sword. A re glue followed by some careful filing work to refit and all should be well. However I realise there are risks when adding moisture to a shirasaya with the blade inside! Tony

As a logical extension to this historical conservation thread, I'd go so far as to say the Gunto mounts should be kept with sword they came in even if that's a high end Koto blade subsequently remounted in shirasaya. Gunto mounts (while not my cup of tea) are part of the sword's history and were the last mounts made for actual combat. Regards Tony

Hi Brian I'm guessing you weren't able to remove the tsuka and then tap the saya off (using proper tools of course). If we assume an extreme case of shrinkage you might need to split the saya to protect the blade. Not sure any amount of moisture inn the near environment would reverse the shrinkage but I'll bet our Japanese friends have an answer. Regards Tony

Hi Stephen Here you go, before and after.

Hi Guys A while back I purchased a good quality Gendaito from a fellow board member. Unfortunately it had been subjected to an acid polish (if you will excuse the obvious oxymron). I simply had to have it repolished and now it's now back with me and it looks like a different sword. The ko itame hada is visible with Ji nie and the activity and complexities of the hamon are clear to see. All in all I think this counts as a save and shows that thankfully, acid (polish) can be corrected by a skilled polisher. Regards Tony

Dear Morita San Thank you for the information. If I'm lucky I will get to to see my third Masamune (assuming the one in the V&A is genuine) when I visit Kyoto in November Regards Tony

Hi Jean Could this be Sugi-Chigai ( crossed timbers) of Niwa Nagahide as per Japanese Mon page 95? I think the horizontal bars are a stylistic distraction. Regards Tony

A lovely suzuribako indeed, the suiteki is one of the nicsest I've seen, also love those dragonflies! Just wish I could help with the signature Tony

Hi Curran Be aware that EMS parcels reaching the UK ( and I belive other countries) get allocated a new tracking number,you need to know the original number plus the new one to track your items. Also it's quite possible that a completely different parcel has had your tracking number allocated in Canada. This is the problem with using tracking numbers without addresee/ senders names. I had a daisho tsuba set lost in the UK system for three months before I tracked it down at a parcelforce Depot! Good luck I hope you sort it out. Regards Tony

Hi Paul What a fantastic idea, count me in for both days and of course the dinner. Chiddingstone Castle is an inspired choice of venue,will there be an opportunity to see some of the sword collection not usually on show? Their Muramasa with the gin zogan mei should gett some interest and then there's the lacquer collection which is the best I've ever seen outside Japan All very exciting. All the best Tony

Hi Darcy As you know I was very interested in your opinion of the Sadatsugu having a mumei katana with NBTHK papers to Hyugu Daijo Sadatsugu in my collection. I am astounded at the level of detail your research has revealed, I'd only managed to place him in the Echizen Shimosaka school. Thanks to you my sword now has an historical context and indeed a family history. Regrards Tony

Hi Adam If you are set on buying a Gendaito I'd recommend to trip to the Birmingham Arms fair in June (it's held in the National Motorcycle museum which is worth a visit too). You will get to meet some great guys on the Northern Token Stand ( you could even sign up at the same time) and see quite a few swords which would offer you better value than £2.2K for a genaito in questionable polish. Good Luck Tony

Thanks for the heads up Malcolm,I hope to make it this year (missed 2013 due to work). Is it just me or is this an unusually early notice of the DTI dates ? Tony

Thanks Darcy, I knew you were a Koto guy hence my interest in your aquisition of the Sadatsugu, albeit an excellent example I'm sure. Hawley's lists two Sadatsugu Echizen smiths i.e 746 and 747. I think the NBTHK papered my sword to the earlier circa 1624 smith ( Hawley's 746). I was midly surprised that the NBTHK were happy to paper a mumei shinto blade smith to a specific smith although the workmanship is very typical. Regards Tony

Hi Darcy I'm interested in your opinion of the quality and workmanship of the Sadatsugu, I have a mumei Katana attributed to Hyugu Daijo Sadatsugu ( NBTHK Hozon) Hawleys 746 who I believe is the same smith? Regards Tony

Hi Chris Interesting, I wonder if you have ever seen it done where a false kissaki with boshi were fabricated. I've seen false boshi and hamon so I guess it's possible? Regards Tony