Bazza

I had a lengthy correspondence with Willis Hawley over many years and echo Ian Brooks' sentiments. I tips me hat to Ian's near instant recall of where information about Willis can be found. It would take me 'forever' to find that in my own resources. Willis had a niece who collected stamps and I would send him Australian stamps from time to time. He was an amazing gentleman with an extraordinary generosity. His stories about collecting and the things he acquired stick in my mind. A gold mounted tachi for $200 was one of them. Even so long ago it was a stunning price for an incredible sword. I bled for him when his collection was stolen. Vale Willis who did so much for the English speaking world of Nihontou. BaZZa.

Ummmmm... Do you need some kind of license to have this?? And how hard is it to get for something that falls into your hands, so to speak?? This one looks very nice, bronze I guess with that lovely, old patina, unless it is a very old 'fake'. BaZZa.

It could be a lacquered tsuka imitating a silk binding. I have personally seen such work, but an in-hand inspection is warranted if bidding on this one. BaZZa.

The last pic above is, I think, one of the 47 Ronin cleaning his sword after the attack on Kira's mansion. BaZZa.

CHIN CHIN CHO CHO - Tanobei sensei's mark of excellence... Steve, hat off, low, low bow. This will help me with one of my Tanobe sensei sayagaki. Thanks also to Chris for his sterling effort at translation and for putting it up here. BaZZa.

John, If you have the English set of To-ken Bijutsu read Han Bing Siong's series of articles on studying at the sword museum. Jifu utsuri is discussed in one of his articles. BaZZa.

What a gem, once upon a sword... I bet it has a nice 'ring'. BaZZa. EDIT: PS: Where are the bottle openers???

Yes, but like the answer '42', what does it MEAN??? BaZZa!!!

Somewhere in my mind comes this little echo - "whale bone" carved to resemble "emperor nodes". As to the functional purpose of these 'lumps' vis-a-vis the tsukaitoI, I'm not entirely sure if there is one, but it must have something to do with the quality of the same being put on show front and centre, as it were, an aesthetic use of the principal feature of a quality same skin. BaZZa.

Gentle Folk, I collect because my wife lets me!!! BaZZa.

And does the dragon have one dragn on the ground??!! The name of whom we shouldn't speak!!

'SINGED' with a laser???!! BaZZa.

Gentle Ffolke, give yourself a treat: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/cat-mouse-armor-jeff-deboer And/or google Jeff de Boer Keep an eye out for 'Samurai Cat'. BaZZa.

WOW!!! VIVA STEVE M...

Dan C wrote: > A few pics of my Shichibeijo Sukesada. Taken in a dark closet with 2.5x zoom and flash with a I-Phone 8. Need to do it again with my 11 and see better results. Could you please post a pic of the mei full tang and closeup??? Thanks, BaZZa.

Methinks nijuba. Inazuma means 'lighning' and in my recollection is blackish and zigzags from yakiba to jigane and back and forth. BaZZa.

Xander, good pickup. It's not the first time I've been dyslexic reading a Hizen TADA 'something' or 'something' TADA... Thanks for setting the record straight even though its an old post. Someone searching for YOSHITADA information will now pick up on a good reference signature. Thanks. BaZZa.

Is there a word savant who can explain why coincidence could not be a case of synchronicity??? BaZZa.

FANTASTIQUE - please excuse my poor French. Gilles, this is an incredible exercise of vision and skill. I love it very much. Thank you for showing us such a wonderful video. Barry Thomas aka BaZZa Melbourne, Australia.

The wold of Japanese swords is deep and complex, nothing is simple. In talking of Kotetsu it is well to remember KAJIHEI: https://markussesko.com/2019/12/31/kajihei-鍛冶平/ BaZZa.

Well then, this 'little piece' looks like a modern made hobby piece to me. Good looking to be sure, but not old... BaZZa.

Can we comment on the 'little piece' if it is a jauce auction, or do our 'no comment' rules apply here????? BaZZa

DANG DANG DANG - TANG TANG TANG Gomen...

Thank you Peter - and now for a photo of the yari??? Some years ago the JSSUS published photos and an article on an intact kikuchi yari that was, if I recall correctly, an heirloom of the Hosokawa family. It was a stunning piece. I seem to recall too that it had a British connection. Paul?? BaZZa.

Sent to me by a friend: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/munekazu-an-exceptionally-rare-and-highly-importa-44-c-bb9472c874?objectID=175187878&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=26a6319182af7d923906808b9142d285 BaZZa.