Chishiki

Hi Justin. My best suggestion is to seek further opinions whilst the sword is still in Japan. Have your agent contact a recognized appraiser such as Tanobe (does he still do appraisals independent of the NBTHK (sayagaki?), or Fujishiro?. Or get him to take it back to the the NBTHK and seek clarification. It depends how far you want to take your research. For what it's worth I think the sword is not Koto. Regards Mark

Update. New display will take place in September, not August. Stay tuned... Mark

Hi all, now moved to the 16th of May due to a special open weekend at the Art Gallery over 12th and 13th. Mark.

The display will be temporarily removed from the Art Gallery on the 10th of May until some time in August when the new display will go in. So get along and see it while you can. Mark

Thanks for all the positive feedback. Here is a photo of Colin cleaning one of the swords just prior to giving the talk. Regards Mark

Hi Adam, thanks for the compliment. it's appreciated. The Koshirae displayed are original, although some have had repairs. The way they are displayed is important, Colin custom makes a stand for each item you see. Presentation and attention to detail really make the display look 1st class and lastly all the items have to meet a certain standard. Regards Mark

Colin himself.

On Friday the 9th of September at 1pm Colin will be at the Art Gallery to give a talk about the items on display. Hope to see you there. I have attached some pics and have many more. For Members unable to attend who would like to see an item in more detail please ask. There is a list above this entry of items on display. Regards Mark

During the shinsa Colin will make himself available at the display to talk to interested members. A date and time will be posted later. This will be a great chance for members to discuss the swords and fittings. Items on view will be as listed above. Regards Mark

My 6 year old son says the string broke on their yoyo. I hope this solves the problem. Mark

Hi all. The nagasa of the sword and the hamon do not point to '1st generation Magoroku' or either of the next two generations. In my opinion. Also I feel the mei tries to draw you to a conlusion of 2nd generation Kanemoto 'magoroku'. I can speak with a little experience here as once I purchased a big katana, sombonsugi, (gold mei) kanemoto that was sold to me as being magoroku. I was about 75cm nagasa and osuriage. Subsequent Japanese experts placed this sword as much later, 5th generation or younger. I think your initial insticts are good and the blade needs appraisal/shinsa from NBTHK. Forget the gold mei and consider it a mumei o'suriage katana of which there are many in Japan. 2nd and 3rd magoroku would be a good aim, but many of these swords are tired, go for a healthy example. Mark

Hi Brian, can you post a pic of this tsuba if you have one, just in case we need to look around for a replacement. Regards Mark

Thank you very much for the translation. Kind Regards Mark

Hi all. I need some help to translate an inscription found inside a saya that is to be repaired. I can read the date but am lost after that. Just curious. Thanks in advance. Mark

THIS IS A LIST OF NIHONTO AND TOSOGU THAT HAVE JUST REPLACED THE OLD DISPLAY AT THE ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, COLIN MCDONALD WILL BE THERE IN MARCH 2011 TO CHECK THE DISPLAY, IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN A FIRST HAND VIEWING OR WISHES TO ASK QUESTIONS COLIN WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PIECES ON DISPLAY.(DATE TO BE ADVISED) TOP SHELF:- Left to right 1 MICHIMASA (MINATOGAWA JINJA TOSHO) 2 OZAKI SUKETAKA (SHINSHINTO) 3 MASAHIRO (SHODAI) (SHINTO) MIDDLE SHELF:- 4 YAMATO-MINO SENCHUIN (KOTO) 5 KUNITOSHI 6 OZAKI MASATAKA (SHINSHINTO) 7 SATSUMA TADASHIGE (SHINTO) BOTTOM SHELF:- 8 HAMANO (SCHOOL) (NIO MENUKI) 9 GOTO (SCHOOL) (SHISHI MENUKI) 10 WAKI GOTO (SCHOOL) (SHISHI MENUKI) 11 KAGA (FLYING CRANES) (KOZUKA) 12 GOTO TSU JINPO (TIGER&OGRE)(KOZUKA) 13 ISHIGURO ICHIJU (MON)(TSUBA) 14 HAMANO NAOYUKI (TIGER)(TSUBA) 15 JAKUSHI (CHINESE LANDSCAPE)(TSUBA) 16 JAKUSHI (DRAGONS)(FUCHI-GASHIRA) 17 HAMANO NAOYUKI (TIGER)(KOZUKA) SIDE STAND:- 18 CHU-MIHARA (TACHI) (KOTO) ITOMAKI-TACHI-GOSHIRAE (MEIJI)

Cudos to you Ford and to Bob Morrison. A leap of faith, helping keep the 'Art' alive. Mark

Any member who would like to meet Colin in the Art Gallery of New South Wales can do so between 3-5pm. A great opportunity to view/discuss good quality swords and fittings. Just introduce yourself. Mark.

Hi everyone, Advance notice the Colin will be changing the display at the Art Gallery on the 16th of December. NMB members are invited to meet Colin and discuss the displayed items More info to follow. Mark

Hi Ron and everyone. Would like to share these items with you. The fuchi gashira are lovely quality, and note how the owl's head is protruding above the kashira. Regards Mark

and a few more. Mark. PS, the blade is antique, traditionally made.

I would like to share with you this fantastic ivory tanto. The carving is exceptional. PS sorry if the pics are on the yellow side, artificial light! Regards Mark

Jean wrote... I think so many collectors had that dream when reading this book....me included. You summed up the book perfectly. We move on.... Mark

Hi Chris, From memory, and I am not 100% sure, but I think Han Bing Siong wrote an article for one of the sword societies. A number of the swords were 'not right'. As to Robinson and his book, at the time I think this was a real gem for collectors who were starved of information in english. I don't agree with people rubbishing this man and what he tried to do for the sword collectors of the time. The advice on repatination of metal work was unfortunate. Mark

2. Kanasugi Tomotoshi + kao. Yanagawa school. Regards Mark again please post clearer pics of mei. Thanks

1. Ishiguro Masatsune (the 3rd) + kao. Ishiguro school. Regards Mark Can you please post clearer pics of the mei especially the kao.