The Blacksmith

Here is a wakizashi (short sword), with the kozuka in place in the scabbard as it would have been used. I also found these for interests sake.....

My copy of the book The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing arrived this morning, and after a fairly rapid glance, I must say that I am very impressed so far. This is an aspect, one of many unfortunately, that I know precious little about, so the book is all the more welcome. I presume that many members here have the book, does anybody have any thoughts or comments on the book? My only negative comment at present, is that it might encourage amateurs to 'have a go', and I dread the thought of that!

Amongst the blades that the V&A have is a Masamune (M20-1912). They also have some outstanding armours, uncluding the fabulous Doi armour. But, as always, possibly not much is on show. Masamune blade V&A The Doi armour.

The Wallace Collection have a couple of swords and a couple of kabuto, but noting much really. That said, if you like European arms and armour, then the Wallace Collection is an absolute must......and its free! Their collection of old master paintings is absolutely mouthwatering too! It is well worth a vist, and is just behind Selfridges in Oxford Street. As for the Imperial War Museum, well, like the National Army Museum at Chelsea, they have a few swords, but they are not displayes well and are probably more concerened with who owned them rather than the quality of the item itself.

Like Jean Collin, I do not think this is actually Japanese. Any chance of seeing the complete blade please?

The British Museum have a good collection, though I am not sure how many items are on show there these days.

Could be wrong of course, but the mei does looked stamped to me too. It doesn't show anywhere the tagane no makura.

Nice find, well done sir! As it is, the mon looks sort of Tokugawa(ish) to me.

I heard back from the dealer regarding the bayonet that I am buying from the UK, and the UPS price was also just £20.

I wouldn't object to owning this piece, and it is far better than either of the two that I did own forty odd years ago! I haven't fogotten my first Japanese blades, and they certainly were not of this quality, however humble it may be to some people!

I certainly wish that I was in the UK then, but alas........................... I have never been to the B'ham Arms Fair, though I have attended and stalled out at the London Arms Fair. Have a great time at the fair, and if possible, please post some photos. Russ

I have just ordered a bayonet from a dealer in the UK, who informs me that he has only been using UPS for a while now anyway, without any problems. Though I still have to find the total cost of the shipment. My last parcel via Parcel Force was just £20.

A book that I recently acquired and which I can thoroughly recommend is Cutting Edge, by Victor Harris. Victor Harris was Keeper of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum for many years, and was widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable people outside of Japan on Nihonto.

The problem is Mat, that 'plod' in the post office will probably just see an edged weapon and act accordingly. Many of them don't know their own rules unfortunately. They tried this before, but bayonets were not included, but 'plod'in the post office didn't know this, and threatened to destroy my parcels! The parcel with the two bayonets that I ordered from the UK, arrived this morning, safe and sound. These were posted on the 3rd of May. Now the interesting bit, as there are two more that I am after from the Uk.............. I'll keep you informed.

A fake 95, but a much better quality one than many that we see!

Looks to me like it is perhaps the bonji for Shaka (Shakyamuni).

A beautiful blade! Shirasaya are good Klaus, nothing to distract from the beauty of the blade! This was one of the reasons that I collected mainly Shin-Gunto swords, though back in the late 70's and early 80's, not so much was known about all the various different fittings. Do I see slight utsuri in some of the pictures?

The business account idea gets round any possible problems with shipping to private address I suppose. many dealers already wouldn't ship to a private address in the UK.

They seem somewhat reminiscent of kuwagata* to me, which as the tsuba is a Myochin piece might just be a possibility perhaps? ......................................................You can stop laughing now But I think Damon is thinking along the right lines. * For the those who may be unfamiliar with Japanese armour, kuwagata are the ornamental horn fittings on a kabuto (helmet).

If that was the UK Piers, they'd be wanting to ban trees now!

That is like saying that if someone dies in a road accident, it is obviously the fault of the car manufacturer!

Many years back, I lost my, legally held, pistol as a result of some nutter going into a school and shooting people with a pistol. Result: All pistols banned in the UK! Had he gone in throwing Molotov cocktails instead of using a gun, would they have banned cars I wonder? I very seriously doubt it! I have heard that the two bayonets that I have ordered have now left the UK, so that is good. However, I am after a No.4 'spike' bayonet also from a dealer in the UK. The bayonet is only £39, but wonder what UPS or DHL would want to ship such a small item? Far too much to be worthwhile I would imagine. Also, we have to pay customs on the carriage too as well as the item!

When I was collecting Nihonto, many moons ago, I heard about curses being wrapped into the handles of Japanese swords. One person I can remember shuddering as they told me about this! They wouldn't have anything to do with Japanese sword because of this! Fortunately, I knew a few people in the Japanese sword world, long before the internet!, and eventually managed to find out that it was an old wives tale, born of ignorance in the late 19th century, when all things oriental were in vogue, and large collections of Japanese swords and fittings were being formed. Evidently, as the kashira and menuki were cut from the tsuka, the little paper triangles would fall out, and as not many people in the west could understand the kanji, the myth of the curses was born. They would often use any odd bits of paper under the tsuka ito, flyers or even old prints. I presume that others have heard of this fable?

In the interesting post by Ynot, it states at the bottom, Royal Mail will now continue to carry “any knife or knife blade, including cutlery knives, bread knives, knives that can be used for hobbies and trades, butcher knives (including meat cleavers), felling axes and razor blades” Isn't collecting classified as a hobby? I have just had two bayonets sent to me today from the UK, which have been collected by Royal Mail and is in the system, we will see what happens...........

Isn't sarashi a form of wrapping? Possibly 'Sarashi Kitae' is another term for kobuse saku? Just a guess admittedly.