CSM101

Dear Nihonto-Lovers, I already wrote about it, but a serious upgrade happened, and so I want to inform you again. From 24.10.2016 to 05.11.2016 the Rudolf Ott Collection will take place at Hermann Historica. A wonderful catalogue will be made and I think, it is a very big and wonderful collection. A few words to Rudolf Ott. But please, don’t take them as facts. It is more or less urban legend. Rudolf Ott started colleting short after WW II. In the early 1950 he went for several months to Japan. He lived there and he brought some items back. In Munich he had a pharmacy and he was very well connected. An Auction House in the same house and an uncle, who was a dealer in antiques. And so he build up a very good collection. As an example, he owned a Kiyomaro before the blade was polished and papered. Sometime in the 1970 he stopped collecting. Means, he never bought anything again, but he didn´t sell anything either. And so this is an old collection. But he was never in swords. He loved Armor, Helmets, etc. Swords were more or less a side effect. You can still find some, but it is not high quality. A Daisho by Kanemoto for instance (something for Chango). But a later generation. What can you find there: a myochin carp, a helmet with 128 plates, tsubas, books, whatever…. So, and now comes the interesting part: Hermann Historica invites us to take a look at the whole collection before anyone else. The date is 24.09.2016. A month before the auction. The plan is, that we have 4 or 5 hours. Even if you are not in for Armor or if you don´t want to buy anything, this is the whole collection together for the last time. And it is the biggest collection in Armor for a single collector. At least here in Europe. But now the bad news: if you want to come and stay overnight: Forget it! It is Oktoberfest (a.k.a. Die Wiesn). It´s the second weekend and our friends from Italy will march in. And then Munich goes from crazy to nuts. Please inform me via PM, if you want to come. We can make better plans then. Hope, to see you there Uwe Grabowski

I know, that it was unfair to give the right info away. But it was kind too easy, when you just need two or three clicks to get the right answer. Sorry for that. On the other hand: why is it DEN Masamune? What is the difference in the workmanship to a "usual" Masamune? Quality not, that´s for sure. I hope, you can explain it. Uwe G.

It is a Den Masamune. You can find the Info on the Japanese Site. My Best Guess was Shizu. Uwe G.

Another one. Uwe G.

And again. I start with 4, 15, 5, 9...And then I have to think again. Uwe G.

With my untrained eyes it looks gimei. Uwe G.

When I see a hamon like here, I get a strong feeling towards Shinto- Jumyo. Uwe G.

Hello Josh, it works very fine. I bought a book Bizen Ichimonji = 4.000 Yen. Then Tax + Jauce + Transport + Bank. All together was 85,00 EUR. More than 100 percent plus. Uwe G.

Okay. A little story about Nihonto Photography: In 1999 we had a little meeting here in Munich. Just a dozen people with the Master himself: Fujishiro-san. And somehow I had the guts (or maybe I was just dumb enough) that I asked him directly: "How do you do that?" And the answer was very short and kind of a Zen mystery: "THAT IS A SECRET!" And now you know... ..where I started. If I had to give an advice, I would give you 2. Number 1: Stop making photos of Japanese swords! Number 2: Start making photos of a polished metallic surface, that almost reacts like a mirror. Because, If you would do it that way, you would think more about the law of reflections. And how to avoid them. And to Richard´s photo: Take a very close look at the Yasuaki photo. I have never seen such a smooth lightning! Phantastic! Brilliant! Uwe G.

This is an example for a very big NAME-saiha. Uwe G.

No. Lightning is just a factor. The BLADE is the key. Uwe G.

Just a few impressions: from my personal archive: the 2 Kiyondos, a closeup from the unsigned blade, and the meeting. Uwe G.

Hello all, In October 2016 a whole collection of katchu will be at Hermann Historica. "The Rudolf Ott Collection". If you want to know, what´s coming: http://www.nihontophoto.com/#!die-sammlung-ott/ewf3g Uwe G.

Thank you all for your help! :bowdown: I´d never thought, that translation could be fun. Uwe G.

Hello all, I have here a tang. Chikushu Minamoto Nobukuni, that´s for clear and as a date something 11. I see an 8. But all the rest is too much for me and so I need your help. Thank you! Uwe G.

If there wouldn´t be the hint with the signed and dated tachi, I´d had said Meiji. Uwe G.

If you ever have a chance to get a full set, then this should be your first choice: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b855-meito-zuikan-fujishiro An english translation is avaiable. If you don´t get one I have the translation three times. Uwe G.

Hello Lloyd, The paper only says Kongobei (TH). So no name for a smith. And yes, I took the photos. But this is not HiRes. It´s the LowRes-version. THIS is a MiddleRes-version: http://daten-transport.de/?id=gs7vNxRYm25t . The Original has 32,4 MB as a JPEG. Uwe G.

So, here is a download-link for the photo: http://daten-transport.de/?id=6ABxRCbmx5Nb Uwe G.

You know the slogan: Poor but sexy! Well, nowadays it is just Poor! Or even better just poo. Situation in Berlin got worse. Last year Olaf Guhl died. He had a little shop close to Warschauer Straße. Mainly Martial Arts stuff. But he had a little corner with swords, tsubas, tea bowls and yaris. He collected Osaka Shinto. Udo Drechsel is in Korea and two collectors quit. The museums don't have any good stuff. Due to the fact that it disappered like Keyser Soze. So, you better save your money and follow Guido's advice. But you are in Berlin, so HAVE FUN! And never forget: there is something in the water. Uwe G.

Just another Kongobei. Uwe G. Edit: the photo has 2,32 MB but here only 29.6 KB. Strange.

Just to give you a figure: the Juyo Kiyomaro in Europe was estimated by the owner with 45 Mio. Yen. Uwe G.

Funny thing is: I know a Sukenao with the same letter from Tanobe san. Uwe G.

Hi Karl, I think that is just belongs to the normal Kanji and is not a separate one. Uwe G,

I would say the same: Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi. Uwe G.