Fred Geyer

Ben, So the rounding of the of the corners and lack of filing edges or maybe say "hard" sharp corners first problem of the nakago -ana made to fit a sword ever seen a rounded sword nakago …. answer ...never sharp and clean....tsuba made to fit always ! also please note the that the seppa dai not clean and sharp why is the seppa -dai there ??? the tsuba it a work of art and a wonderfully engraved , inlaid , love them !!! but it had a purpose and always made for that one reason first. Fred

Ben, For me it was the seppa-dai and the nakago-ana shape both are never made to mount a sword to Fred

Ben, Stop on the tsuba buys that is a reproduction. Go to a sword show or get some books and look at dealers sites it is a great hobby and study but start off with going down the right road first Fred

Hey Robert did you get my email ?? Fred

So here I go...…... , what Darcy is saying is 100 percent true my time line was 18 years and looking at a ton of Juyo blades and also going to as may NBTHK American exhibits at shows as I could seeing the best and...... truly studying the best. When you see why they went Juyo and what it takes to move a sword or fittings to the next level you will somewhat understand the "tooth pick".... fittings student not master comment ! Many years ago I saw the best fittings and swords at a showing in Japan and held many Nanbokucho blades that looked like Shinshinto and Ichijo tsuba and Goto sets and one Masatsune tsuba that I knew I had to start over and now I have a different thought about great is ... as I saw great... always study great ! So now I hear it in the group "well I cant afford great" ...so 18 years of study and as Darcy notes just knowing what to look for my last 2 Juyo , one from a gun show $800 the other off a online site $1800 in the last 2 years. So to a person who kind of sets on the side line, its OK if you love a sword that will never go Juyo ...I have them and same on fittings you love it GREAT study , learn , read, study more ...go to shows go to the NBTHK displays study and see great anytime you can ...everyone STUDY ..STUDY ...STUDY ....you will know the lemon in duct tape and you will be.... DAMN I really see JUYO !!! OK I am done ! Happy Thanksgiving everyone ! Fred

who has the group photo I want one ! Fred

just got home, had a great time THANKS Robert!! ton of food, gallons of drink great freinds and and a surprize concert by the three tenors...well sort of Fred Geyer

Just got home, as always Fred did a great job on the show and did a really cool display for the NBTHK of "Odd Things" huge kozuka and a kogai that could have been used for a boat oar !! kosherae trhat held money and writing tools! Saturday was a very busy day ! Fred Geyer

I am upgrading so I will be bringing alot of higher end swords and fittings, so stop by my tables and take a look.... make a fair offer and take home a new treasure !! Fred Geyer

I put on a really nice boys sword and a set of 8 books all in one and a rare naval silver box Take a look ! https://www.ebay.com/itm/163140935813?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 https://www.ebay.com/itm/163140867181?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

https://www.ebay.com/itm/163100494650?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 ebay link to a rare set of swords from my collection published in Dawsons book If bought through the NMB will donate $150.00 to NMB! Fred

Are there dated items out there to see signature or construction styles to place them into the right generation ? Fred

Thanks for all the great information and your advise, that is what is great about this site ! Fred

Dave ...all i can say is WOW!!! Thanks ! So Ian and Dave's comments which I printed off.... is it worth fixing the inner cloth liner?? I have always really liked armor, know nothing about it I look for you two to point me in the right way here to the piece justice Fred

Thanks !!! Off to study this guy! Fred

Just bought this guy any help on the mei and info Has been setting in the living room for 71 years Fred Geyer

I maybe out of turn here but I understood this as "ALL" counted from the start to today Fred

Arnold please explain to us "terminal date" Fred Geyer

Yea my fault....... I acted like the teenager on his first date with the hot girl! BUT it does show how rare this stuff is in the world...Thanks Darcy for the numbers! That was all I was trying to get was a discussion about was the numbers and the rarity of these makers compared to swords Something new to discuss! Fred Geyer

I will let Darcy comment on this with his research on early Juyo papers Fred

So with 193 countries in the world that leaves 11 for us in the USA....ok yea i know a great juyo Ichijo is the GDP of some of the 193 !!! Fred Geyer

Darcy was the man here!! Koshirae 685 tsuba 786 menuki 181 F/K 99 kogai 122 kozuka 244 So as you can see look at the number of all these you have see on all websites for the last 10 years and shows and Ebay ...it would be tens of thousands and menuki 181 WOW and Koshirae was included with blades so just a raw koshirae would be a lot lower. So the number of swords through out the ages all took the above and only 2,117 TOTAL items can we say RARE !!!! Fred Geyer

Has any one ever counted the number of juyo 1) Koshirae 2) Tsuba 3) Kozuka you get the point , it was very interesting how LOW the total number of tokubetsu juyo tosogu are out there only 130 total items but to the relationship to how many Juyo are there ?? I am sure one of our members know this answer to this question. looking forward to seeing these numbers Fred Geyer

WOW there are miracles!!! After 21 days in the SYSTEM is showed up !!!! I had to make only 6 calls to the USPS, file an international claim, have our post master call his boss, who called his boss AND it is delivered!!! Fred Geyer

PM just sent to our Friend in Finland !!! Thanks Fred Geyer