CSM101

That was very fast. Thank you! Uwe G.

Hello, I just wanted to know, if these scratches are really "Hachiman" or are these just scratches. Thank you Uwe G.

Hi, it is policy of this board not to comment actual auctions on ebay. I think, that everything can be seen and that the description is as good as possible. Look t the photos and then decide. Uwe G. PS: Don´t forget to sign your posts.

Hi John, you are right. And as far as I know there are only 2 Tegai Kanenaga left that are ubu. And one is a saiha. But I already wrote: it is a little bit mean. Uwe G.

Hi Christian, I know, this is a little bit mean but here are some photos for comparison Yamato-nakagos. Greetings Uwe G.

Seems so, that it is absolutely meaningless and just for decoration. Thank you for your anwsers. Uwe G.

Hi, I just have one question. I found this "symbol" on several horse menuki. Does it have a special meaning or is it just for decoration? Thank you Uwe G.

Hi Grev, I know it is a little bit too late to organize something, but: This weekend is Karate-EM in Konstanz/Bodensee. 250 starter and about 4.000 viewer. That would be the place... Otherwise you can give your sword to dealer who sells you sword on commission. That means 15 % for the dealer. Usually. I hope, this will help you. Greetings Uwe G.

Okay, I will stick out my head. The blade itself is Shinshinto or later, unsigned but polished. The mounting is complete but nothing special. No papers. I would try and sell it to someone who is looking for a katana over the fireplace. A Karateka or Iaidoka. Maybe someone, who saw "Kill Bill" to often: "An unsigned Hattori Hanzo, you know.." Depending on how fast you want the money it would be something between 2.500 and 4.000 EUR. But closer to 2.500 EUR. This is just an opinion. But a start at least. Uwe G.

Berlin. Well, well, well. One of those cities that look better after an A-bomb explosion. I know. I lived my first 23 years there. The Pergamon Museum is under permanent reconstruction. So, some parts are closed and some parts are not open. But at least they know, what they are doing. There were some of those rusty Japanese discs with motifs and insciptions. And to make them look better they cleaned all of them with metall brushes. No kidding. Dahlem has got the usual stuff. Nothing special. So, if you look for weapons and armory you will be very disapointed. Two sword dealer live in Berlin. Thomas Schulze; Motzstraße. But the little shop is always closed. Last thing I heard is, that operates now from an appartment. And Udo Drechslel: honto-nihonto.de. Several private collectors live in Berlin and in the outback. But they are very shy. And I think none of them is a member here. I will be in may in Berlin, too. So, maybe we can start something... Greetings Uwe G.

I only got this photo from the dark side of the internet. No further informations avaiable. Uwe G.

Hi, seems so, that the sword is like Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I´ll be back!" To haunt all those who never believed in Murasame. Uwe G.

Yes, that he is! Unfortunately I can´t find any further informations about him. Seems so, that most of his works are only for iaido. Maybe you have more informations. And if this is in the wrong section maybe one of the mods can move it, please. Uwe G.

Hi, I have a new sword here and now I am looking for informations or photos from Seki ju Kanemichi born Kojima Ikuo, son of Kojima Tokijiro. Normally this sword goes as a iaito but the quality is very good. I know, that he won the Yushusho prize. But that is all that I have. Thank you in advance Uwe G.

Last year we had a meeting with the theme: Kiyomaro students. And here are the photos. Nr. 1: Masao, Kiyondo, Kiyondo and Kiyondo Nr. 2: Masao an Kiyondo signatures Nr. 3: Kiyondo (a later work) Blade Nr. 4 is unsigned but a very, very fine piece. Uwe G.

Hi Grev, if you want to keep the sword for sentimal reasons, then don´t do anything. A sword end of muromachi unsigned is worth about 3.000 till 5.000 EUR max. Gimei is 3.000 EUR max. A polishing in europe would cost appr. 1.200 EUR. In Japan definitly more. And you would put money in the sword that you never get back. And so: polishing is expensive. Keep the sword as it is. Greetings Uwe G.

Hi Grev, here is pic from a juyo Nagamitsu signature. I think your sword more or less end muromachi and a polishing is expensive. Uwe G.

There is a wonderful programm called photozoom pro. It is for photo enlargement without pixel. Very useful when you play CSI Wladiwostok. But in the end you are right: only buy from a trusted source. Uwe G.

Morning, so, one of the easiest things is to open a photo and make it invers. Now it looks like a negative. And here you can see if the hamon is gone. Or, if someone worked it over with brushes, deleted some parts, etc. The last one I saw was a Kagemitsu. Another good filter is highpass. You can make details more visible. And if details don´t come out, then there aren´t any details left. Then you have to look, if certain parts react later with color correction... There are many ways.. Greetings Uwe G.

You have to see whatever you want to buy. Photoshop, Elements or Gimp give you the possibilities to manipulate a photo in every way you want. And so this can happen with everything. Swords, tsubas ..you name it. When you see a photo like the next, then you know that someone used layers, masks, erazer. But what else? I have seen photos from Japanese dealers where fatals flaws where hidden. But the right technique brought them back. And that with swords that were sold within 2 weeks with a price over 20.000 EUR. Ebay and other platforms are 95 % a scam. You have to look at the photos and study them. And then you decide. Uwe G. PS: This is the same tsuba.

And here is just another reason why you have to hold in your hand what you want to buy. Kano Natsuo: before/after Uwe G.

Maybe it is more helpful to see both signatures together and compare then... Uwe G.

Hello, I just wanted to thank you all for your comments. Now I feel "enlighted". It was very interesting to follow all thoses hints, links and sources and now I know a lot more about kodogu than before. So, once again: THANK YOU! Uwe G.

I hope this one is better now. Last time the flashlight was a little bit too much. Uwe G.

So, here is another photo of the tsuba and I hope that Mino-Goto is still a possibility. Uwe G.