Matsunoki

Not that I could identify in the hubbub. Just a nice gentle gentleman who spoke quietly.

Contacted Token….not a member. Not Stone……I heard something like Rock or Roche. I’ll keep searching

Pretty sure it’s Peter Rock. He said his first and second name meant the same thing and Peter does indeed mean Rock. Wish my hearing was a bit sharper and also my memory. I feel so sorry for how he must feel. Met so many people in such a short time……. Someone will know him.

At the Birmingham Arms Fair yesterday a nice chap called Peter brought an Itomaki no Tachi to show me. He departed but later returned looking for a fitting that he had lost. We searched but couldn’t find it. Well as I was leaving the Fair I found it under a neighbouring stand and have it safely secured. If anyone knows who this Peter is (could have been Peter Rock but my hearing ain’t good in background noise) please get him in touch with me and I’ll send it to him. I’m sure he is very upset….needlessly. Thanks Colin

One for @Bugyotsuji https://www.zacke.at...&sd=1&pp=96&pn=1&g=1

Thanks Brendan. Yep, I’ll be there next time….stressful but great fun😳 I’ll bring a different selection, maybe Kabuto, Abumi, very well mounted Tanto, some tsuba, different Tachi…..let’s see what happens between now and September. Thanks for bringing those two super swords. Wish I hadn’t sold them!🙂 Driving home now. Best. Colin

David, likewise. Than you.

Hell Piers, that’s good for me. I spend more time correcting autocorrect than I do typing. Anyway here is an image of current activity

Quick update. Dreadful fair with very negative vibe. Think several things…. Election. Father’s Day. State of the country. Shipping problems. Sword bans. Useless government etc etc - many people seemed on a downer. Great to meet some token and NMB members, that alone was worth it but NO SALES ON THE DAY☹️ but that’s ok. I was the new boy. Many people said I had the best swords there. Couple of possible after sales. Many sold nothing- guns included. However I had three pre fair sales thanks to this forum ( thanks guys, they are nice pieces) so Brian a donation will be heading your way when I get home. Pics will just show a load of miserable people….. maybe later when I get home. Sad but that’s what I expected. Bloody mess in the UK right now😊😡

Or go have a go at some of your customs people and carriers who steal swords.

Bad taste mate. Go have a go at our carriers. I’m totally pissed off with them as well.

The Yari is sold pending payment.

Looks fairly poor quality. The dragon has been applied (stuck on) rather than inlaid and it has also lost virtually all of its gilding. The whole thing has been de-patinated. OK if very cheap. Is it signed? (I doubt it)

Here’s one I bitterly regret selling. Truly beautiful sword. If you own it please message me. https://www.sothebys...edo-period-17th-18th

Many thanks to all. I would never have got that. Best. Colin

Thanks Ray. It’s a super blade so I guess next step is to see if blade confirms Mei. I’ll doubtless be back on another section of this great Forum! Greatly appreciated. Colin.

I would be very grateful for help on this Mei. I think it’s Tadashige but the rest has me going in circles (again). I’ve got my fingers crossed. Thank you so much. Best. Colin

Brilliant Jussi, couldn’t agree more. Straightforward honest opinions. I’ll chime in again. Seems to be that using the term Art Sword means totally different things to different people anyway. Maybe I’m alone here but imo Art Sword evokes certain uneasy feelings of elitism and possibly also disdain for anything carried by most “ordinary” Samurai. If I compare it to another type of weapon that features heavily in my collection…..antique pistols, in particular cased pairs of duelling/officers/target pistols….The likes of Manton, Purdey, LePage, Nock, Mortimer, Durs Egg et al (and their predecessors) produced some weapons of incredible quality, ingenuity, workmanship and functionality yet we never hear the phrase “Art Pistols”…..and yes they also produced more modest utility options…..as did (imo) most swordsmiths. Is that an unjustified comparison? Maybe some who collects Art Swords really mean “I collect bl**dy expensive swords”. At least we’d know what that meant! I’m a member on the Token Society of GB and I believe they have just revised their reason for existence as follows. It is a massive improvement on the previous one (which I believe did previously refer to Art Swords? Someone will correct me I’m sure). Well done ”Since its foundation in 1964 the role of The Token Society of Great Britain has been to encourage and support the study, appreciation and preservation of Japanese Swords, sword Fittings and associated art“

Andre, hello. Yes I do but I am unable to safely ship it to you. We are having terrible trouble in the UK…..our main carriers have banned all bladed items (because of knife crime). It’s crazy and won’t solve anything but there is nothing I can do. My apologies for the stupidity of our government and carriers. best wishes and thanks for your enquiry. Colin

@Volker62….see PM

@Volker62, I have replied via your PM. Sadly I am only considering UK sales due to the horrendous shipping problems we have here in the UK.

…..the other 3

Several members have kindly asked what I’m taking to the Birmingham Arms Fair this Sunday. I have done a very simple/basic “info tag” to accompany each piece and I attach images of the 14 tags below. Please remember that I am not a dealer and I am not an expert and as such some of it is my personal opinion. However much of the info on them has come from the kind members on this Forum over the past few years ….thank you all again. My personal taste is for complete and original swords in original koshirae, not papered pieces in shirasaya, and this selection represents that. All are now packed away ready but I’m happy to try and answer any questions. Maybe see you there? Middle hall, stand 81.

Well done Alex. I don’t feel so bad about taking mine to Birmingham now!

I Grey, yes I do understand but as far as I know there are no separate definitions of “fatal “ for Art swords although the term Art Sword is itself very open to debate…… In my mind old tachi etc were made solely as weapons. Granted, some are now regarded as Art but a missing boshi is still fatal and thus very bad news. To say it isnt fatal is very misleading imo I’m sure opinions will vary.