Matsunoki

If you don’t find anything beforehand contact me before the next Birmingham Fair in Sept.

Give us more of a clue… Koshirae required? Koto/Shinto/shinshinto/gendai/shinsakuto?…..or just anything? Gunto mounts OK? In polish or near enough? Suriage ok?

OK, give it a whirl but make sure the dealer in Japan uses the correct UPS delivery service. Do UPS use their own customs staff/facility in the UK or does it go through our UK Customs/Border Force system?….because that can be a real nightmare….speaking from multiple personal experiences in the last couple of years. One member on here recently had his swords confiscated by customs but I can’t remember the shipper. No matter what the shipping docs (even with the correct code) say you best be prepared to be charged 20%. Sometimes I don’t think they even read the docs, they just look at the value…..and proving the age is another ballgame altogether. Anyway, if you go into it with open eyes you won’t be surprised. Good luck!

I think UPS have stopped shipping swords now. That is discussed somewhere recently on this forum so I guess you saw it? What Brian says is correct….at that price point you will find decent swords over here without any of the hassle and import duties etc. Ever been to the Birmingham Arms Fair? You will be able to actually handle pieces rather than take chance buying from images that won’t tell you everything and might even hide some nasties.( I do have an affiliation with the Birmingham Fair🙂) Still, if you like gambling and sleepless nights……

Jon, you need to do some research regarding the serious problems that now exist re importing swords (or any bladed item) into the UK…..whether antique or not. Most shippers including Parcelforce have a total ban on all blades and you risk the item being confiscated or returned to the seller which can cause even further issues. These bans apply to both importing and then subsequent shipping within the UK. There are several discussions re this on here. Have a root around.

Can we see focussed close-ups of the face plate on each item please?

Have a look at this thread….modern technology and processes are getting a bit scary The last images are “enlightening”…….

Thank you Thomas. I was aware of these (and many other copies) but your images are a most welcome confirmation of the process. It is very clever and can provide a cheap but almost exact cast copy of some very expensive things. Obviously not with inlay but the multi-patination (not true oxidisation) and masked gilding can be extremely deceptive/convincing (at first glance). re your original F/K, well I don’t have it in my hands so will say no more. Thank you again for your images. Best wishes C.

Hi Bruce, I think I sent you these a few weeks ago? Nice gendaito “Hizen Kunimitsu” in good quality Type 98

Thomas, just to be clear you are confirming that the tsuba below complete with mei and Kao is modern?

I still suspect that these could be new. 1. they actually look brand new with zero wear including the inside of the fuchi 2. the treatment of the dragons “feelers” is very clumsy and lacks Japanese refinement (see image) 3. Enlarged you can see what looks like black paint encroaching over the claws, that would not normally happen with true inlay. (See image) 4. the dragons scales look clumsy and flat 5. the black patina does does not look like shakudo patination. It looks more like a paint of some sort 6.they remind me of the tsuba I posted in the attached thread which was new - but scarily impressive

See what others think… Victor? @Exclus1ve

Are these modern? Something not quite right with the dragons.

I believe they are simply copying the old Chinese (and other) constellation maps where the stars are joined by lines.

See page 35 of Bruce’s superb compilation of known stamps

The rabbit and waves (or hare and waves) is a very popular theme in many aspects of Japanese art including sword fittings. Google will tell you more. Many legends and stories.

Unsurprisingly none of the big money pieces sold. Just a couple of the cheaper ones got away.

But just when you thought is safe to go back in the water….. some big names giving opinions here….

Well, as we can’t ask the tsubashi it’s all a matter of opinion and an interesting discussion which leaves me on the fence but happy to fall either side. Sorry for adding another reply🙂 Now how do you get out of a black hole?

Thomas, how would you explain the ones imaged below. They are very geometric and fully accepted as constellations. The Myochin one even has an astrolabe according to the description. Also it is documented that the Japanese were busy studying “modern astronomy” ie moving quickly on from the old Chinese texts throughout the Edo period and with the appointment of official Shogunal astronomers studying European knowledge. Just my irrelevant opinion but this topic has merit and is an interesting perspective…..as long as we remain objective.

Admin…..maybe move this now over to Nihonto forum? Javier…..you will get wider expert opinion on your blade in that forum rather than this new members forum.

Javier…..where are the images?

It is (imo) a bit of a shame that this thread degenerated into such a vitriolic bun fight. Maybe the way Dan first kicked it off or maybe a legacy from another topic were contributory factors? But, if we look again at the tsuba that Dan first presented and if we completely ignore the sukashi shippo elements and leave just the brass studs or holes I suspect a great many on this forum would probably say “constellations” without too much effort. If we take into account the Japanese love for “hidden meanings” which often get debated on this forum (especially re tsuba) then it is not (imo) a massive stretch to think that to hide a constellation within another design ie “broken shippo” is perfectly feasible? …or maybe the artist was not even trying to hide a constellation…..simply enhancing an otherwise rather visually boring design. Just some musings. Shields to maximum.

Tsuba (once probably quite nice) is hawk in pine tree with flying geese on reverse Menuki look like flower carts Fuchi kashira scrolling karakusa with Kirimon ….all Edo period….looks perfectly genuine but badly neglected as others have said. Does it have a saya? (Scabbard)

Looking at the inner edges of the sukashi……doesn’t look remotely new to me. There is a distinct difference between the finish on the later insert and the older original edges….as you would expect from later modification (in shakudo?) imo