Shuko

Thanks BaZZa Any idea on the age of the bronze ? This stolen bell of Miidare tale seems to fit this bronze quite well. The actual temple bell is huge and no mortal man is ever going to be able to lift it up himself.

I am happy to mind it for you, have a dark room or two here to help preserve it

Yes, this would be a very helpful guide for a newbie like me and others who join this year. As Jeremy pointed out, it would save the knowledge experts a bit of time too.

I got an email response from Kelly. Unfortunately he can't post blades to Australia because of some silly Victorian state law. I live in the state of NSW so this is so frustrating. Anyone in Australia encountered this issue ? I will see what his prices are llke for tsubas, tsukas etc when he sends me an electronic copy of his monthly sale list.

If anyone can help clarify what period this medium sized bronze is from and the subject matter I would be grateful. It is 19 cm long, 30 cm high and weights a bit over 2 kg. I only know a little about Nihonto and almost nil about Japanese bronzes (except I like them). My guess is this is a late Edo or a Meiji period bronze of a warrior monk holding up a temple bell for protection. Thanks in advance for any information.

Thanks for the information. Is there any link to Kelly Schmidt and what has been your experience or understanding with this type of purchase ?

I was wondering about this site: Japan Sword Wakizashi / Dagger - Art * Sword * Specialty * Auction! WINNERS (winners-auction.jp) which is one of several listed. Can anyone advise if a buyer outside Japan can simply register and then bid on an auction item? Or do you need to go through a 3rd party to get items from this site (and all the Japanese ones listed) ? thanks

My two Bengal girls eat armored mice as an entree.

I think the prices for all types of Japanese swords, armour etc has steadily gone up in the past year from what I have seen sold on eBay and auction houses around the globe. My aim is to preserve and save as many of the cheaper items as I can manage to buy; thus stopping the owners from just letting them don't rust away. I have never sold any swords except a WW2 naval sabre styled one and an old European bayonet, in fact they were traded in to help get a katana. Unsure if my son will keep the collection intact and preserve the items or just sell them at auction to pay off some of his home mortgage. Collecting Japanese smith's works of art is a real pleasure and you sure get a lot of "bang for your buck" with Nihonto when compared to art and sculptures etc.

My two Bengal girls eat armored mice as an entree.

Did the swordsmiths make their own chisels or were they usually made by a blacksmith? What method was used in the Koto period to make the mekugi-ana? e.g. the tapered style usually found on an old nakago Thanks in advance for any information.

Hello fellow collectors, Have always had a Japanese thing (feeling of a past life in Japan) and my father bought me a few Nihonto when I was about 9 years old. Never damaged them but never knew how to preserve them either so they were wrapped up and kept in a dry place in my wardrobe. Now I have had the time to add a few items to my modest collection and have been busy reading books etc to understand a bit more before buying a few more bare blades. Over the past 40 years I was playing igo (go) and Western chess. Now it is sword time Happy to be here and learn, especially about tanto blades which are my favourite. Clive Sydney, Australia

Only a little way to go ..............................

Until he sparred with Ernie Shavers for a film part. He told Ernie to hit him normally; result was a left hook that put Rocky in the bathroom spewing before he was carted off to hospital

I have three nakago with 3,3 and 4 distinct notch cuts on their edges, often wondered what they were for. These notches are all on the upper right hand side only a bit higher than the mekugi-ana but well below the habaki area. Have one tanto with three very distinct circle chisel punches high up on the nakago which I assume is telling the generation of that smith. There is an awful lot to learn and I feel like a tadpole in a vast Nihonto pond.

I also had a very unhappy experience with this Japanese seller. I bought the katana in shirasaya (extremely cheaply) on eBay and got an invoice from her which I promptly paid; then waited for the item to be posted. An email procession followed where it was described as "a sample item" and that this sword was not going to be sent. She offered me a discount on two other swords which I refused and as she had obviously made a pricing error on the katana I offered to accept a tanto in any condition instead of that katana; no response to this alternate solution. After two months was given a full refund of the purchase price. Will never deal with daimyou54eb again.