Bazza

Piers san, how topical!! Your musings have been pertinent in my house since the Cooper auction here... and for decades before!! I love how you put it "Strangely there’s no sense of pain" BaZZa.

Pal, buddy, maaaate, don't talk to me about the 'to do' list..... @bugotsuji BaZZa.

@ian B3R2UH @darthlaker Where's the 'Awww, shucks' emoji?? Wonderful people and the Nihontou community worldwide have been the second big step in my life. The first was meeting and marrying my Darling Wife, who 'Lets me' (collect Nihontou!!!). Hats off to yo'all. Barry Thomas aka BaZZa.

I beieve TOGISHI use caustic soda to kill any acid, fingers or otherwise. BaZZa.

Leave it up. BaZZa, who has been doing the Aussie hard road for 60 years and has seen it all and been there and done that... Thin skin doesn't cut it in the Nihontou world...

Bugyotsugi said > If you include Bakumatsu and Meiji wine drinking within the definition of ‘saké’ then I will include these Kutani goblets. Kutani shot glasses - I like that!! BaZZa.

Gentle Ffolke, just found this FYI: Here is the home page of the Time and Tide series: https://www3.nhk.or....gram/video/timetide/ And three interesting programs I just watched: History Uncovered: Tsukumo Nasu - Power in a Tea Caddy https://www3.nhk.or....emand/video/3022038/ Takeda Shingen https://www3.nhk.or....emand/video/3022038/ MUSASHI TRUTH https://www3.nhk.or....emand/video/3022013/ BaZZa.

It my have been a (or part of a) DAIMYOU OMOCHA ('plaything'). Bob Benson in his BUSHIDOU magazine decades ago had a tanto with solid gold tosogu that was describes a Daimyou's 'plaything'; https://www.jstor.org/stable/1178558 BaZZa.

It really is a good-looking trophy and I love the wood... BaZZa.

'Like' with the proviso that the Phillips head screws are replaced with something more arsetistic... BaZZa.

Bruce, this may not be a bonji. Naotane is said to have used a katakana kokuin for a town name when he forged swords away from 'home'. I see this as 4 katakana that I have enlarged and translated with a -kana table. At first blush I get HI SHI NA (?) NI (?). I am likely to be way off base... BaZZa.

Might have been a real mumei nakago, but surely this is a crudely incised mei with a Dremel tool or a 4-inch nail!!?? BaZZa.

If we all saved pieces of history from being junked surely the stack would be over our heads suffocating us!! I 'save' things and when my wife peers into the shed and says "What is that doing here?" I have a number of answers: - it was too good to be junked - it needed saving to a good home - I had a plan and whatever occurs to me on the spur of the moment. But I do have a question Piers. What is the nature of the 'black string' on your rescued pieces??? It looks a waxed twine? I'm also reminded that I do have two powder flasks that I should present here for scrutiny - in time... BaZZa.

Dear Costas, this tsuba comes under the wangata umbrella - a concave tsuba. There is some useful information here: https://www.mandarin...-gata-tsuba-kunihiro BaZZa.

A 'souvenir' tachi fits the bill for me. The (dremmelled?) go-san-kiri mon on the habaki is d-r-e-a-d-f-u-l. I wouldn't want it at any price, so no valuation from me. BaZZa.

THE DUCK'S GUTS MUST READ... https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/35486-a-word-about-amateur-polishing/#comment-367040 BaZZa Who has been through this 'argument' dozens of times over some decades. The phrase that comes to mind is "There are none so blind as those who do not want to see".

Luca, nice, NIO btw. Are these papered?? I think they are Unno Shomin school, Mito province. See Legacy Art here: https://www.legacysw...-unno-school-menuki/ Note Ted Tenold's comment: The meticulously placed star shaped chikaragane around the posts are yet another qualitative touch that immediately show the dedication to craftsmanship through details, and a hallmark Unno touch. I must say, though, that I don't see the level of detail exhibited in the Legacy Art menuki. I have a pair of NIO in shakudo, also Mito, that have heavy posts. BaZZa.

Dirk O wrote: > 細野惣左衛門政守 - Hosono Sōzaemon Masamori MAAATE, just love this, love it to bits. Is there a sword with it, or is it a loner in the world?? BaZZa.

Alex, sooner or later in collecting Nihontou one has to 'bite the bullet' and buy. $1,000 is a good starter IMHO. I would buy it and send to a good polisher (search the Board for discussion on polishers) and beware a cheap deal. A 'cheap' polish gives you what you pay for - disappointment in the long run as your knowledge and experience grow. I've been there and done that. Vajo wrote "Its a nice shinto katana my guess". I agree and FWIW think it could be earlier Shintou than later. To find out all it costs is money, and when it comes to good Nihontou it pays to be not shy about money... You will win some and lose some, but you do have to get your feet wet. BaZZa.

Dear All, in my web travels I came across this, which I thought would be of interest to some: https://www.2aussiet...rs.com/osaka-castle/ BaZZa.

I guess that would make it a horrormono!! BaZZa.

Kyle, how about a closeup photo of the signature, please?? If its a shodai Kunisuke has anyone ever thought of a KINTSUGI process for restoring a good sword as a study piece. One would have to sink $$$$$ but we sword ffolke are nutty enthusiasts... BaZZa.

It would look good at a distance - - - - - - 5 miles... BaZZa.

Winchester/Brian, Thanks for your comments. I have seen three circular copper tsuba that are I think 'modern' with such holes. These have long puzzled me. When I organise myself I'll put some photos up in a new thread BaZZa.

I'm absolutely intrigued with the hole where the kozuka hitsu is usually placed. Anyone??? More than curiosity I have a solid reason for asking. BaZZa.