kusunokimasahige

Guido and Mauro, great advice. Just one word of caution. Never kick your chickens from the boat into the sea. (Claudius Pulcher learned this the hard way) KM

A few remarks about this. If you have seen it on the site Marktplaats, from the seller "waki" from Callantsoog, do not even go near it. The man sells overpriced junk and presents it as real, in a perfect state and special. Especially his tsuba of which many are and have been fake. By all means, if he invites you go see the sword in person, and his collection, but be on your guard. One further advice, never ever buy from marktplaats. (it can be okay for some stuff but not swords in my opinion). Marktplaats is cumbersome and there is no buyer protection in place whatsoever. Many times in Dutch TV shows like "Opgelicht" which deal with fraudsters of any kind, Marktplaats shows up. Please, if you want quality, go to established dealers like for instance: http://www.japanszwaard.nl/ Or give Lody Duindam a call. KM To the rest of the members, check the site for yourself here : http://www.marktplaats.nl/z.html?query= ... distance=0 http://www.marktplaats.nl/z.html?query= ... distance=0

That is brilliant ! KM

Okay, last idea. Not so far fetched perhaps. A large order comes in, say, 500 swords. With a deadline. The Smith only signs the top swords (in his opinion) for the higher ranking, leaves the rest. No need for an ashigaru to own a high name sword. KM

A fatal flaw means that the sword, when used, might break or chip considerably. At least, that is my understanding. KM

Your wish is my command Jean : Ah, my Nihonto. Will it paper well, or not ? I need the money. KM

To illustrate what Richard Stein writes, and that some fake tsuba can have a ring to them, the following : Fake : Real : KM (sorry for the static, my mic is rather old, but you will get the drift.)

It tends to become that way does it not, when a shinsa paper is seen to be the ticket to an extra buck (read: a lot of extra bucks) you can ask for your item on the market ? Same happens with Movie prop COA's and other collectibles with "COA". Especially German miltaria. But we also see this in the antique paintings world and in several auction houses worldwide. Pity really. KM (PS Jean.... Did I already mention I love kicking in open doors ? )

Good to see Morita sensei ! KM

Indeed Morita Sensei, it was not writing the poem hahahaha I get the joke, no fuss here James Here is one of my own, in the spur of the moment xD In the eye of man The kanji spark with vigour. But what is written ? KM

I use a bag like the second one you posted. Perfect for the swords and you can lock it with a padlock to prevent the Law from hassling you. KM

I agree Jean, hence the stating of my opinion in lieu with what Kunitaro san wrote, since I do not at all agree with removal of a sword's history with as main reason: Paper=monetary value of sword. KM

A truism it might be Jean, but disregarded by many if I read a lot of the things about swords and papers on here these last few years. KM

He said....

The official organizations could of course attribute a gimei sword to the name on the sword if all points are compared and found valid and then state on the paper that it is ato-mei or gimei. When a sword clearly does not fit the Gimei name they can still refuse a paper and ask for that mei to be removed, and then it is to the discretion of the owner whether or not he wants to remove that part of the sword's history. Simple solution really. KM (kind of like polishing is it not ? The polished sword loses a lot of metal throughout the centuries. can one still say it is original ? Or does it still have it's original essence..... ? [i know, silly ZEN question] )

I have seen some broken blades offered as garden utensils to prune plants with on ebay. So there are various reasons to buy one. Some even collect these nakago, that is a fact. To these collectors it is the artefact which matters most likely. KM Nice for the garden : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanes ... NA:NL:3160

What is important is that the story is preserverd with the blade. You could make a document telling the story and keep that with the tantō for posterity. It might not matter to those who only value NBTHK or NTHK papers, but there will be a lot of collectiors who will value the story and history more than the paper. Personally I do not care for papers that much because they only represent a very educated guess by the Shinsa team of experts and no definitive proof. Even though many will disagree with my standpoint, that is what I think of it. Disregarding variations which can occur naturally in a mei (for instance the smith did not feel well when signing or whatever other possibility) in my eyes is not very clever. Not even when a blade is gimei. Gimei is part of the sword. And for instance, if a blade is gimei but the shinsa team sees all the correct reasons to attribute the blade to the gimei smith's name, why at all take it off ? That also is part of its history in my opinion. KM

So if this was a bundle sword could it not be predating edo ? But then again, bundle swords might have been produced well into the Edo period due to equipment needs of the Shōgunate. KM

Thank you for the compliment Am interested in Morita Sensei's view on how I did. The meaning that mount Fuji and its slopes is a treasure to Japan I understand. It was more whether or not I translated the words correctly in the literal/literary sense. First character of that mei looks to me like the one for Kin (gold), or Kane (money) So Kane ..... Would be my guess. KM

Morita Sensei, how did you like my translation of the poem ? KM

I am not certain. This is how far I got using Denshi Jisho. Maybe Morita sensei has a slightly other interpretation of the text. The part I am unsure about is the two people becoming enriched since there is no particle which states the meaning [by] or [because of] the wooded slopes of Mount Fuji. Though the sentences futatsu naki and for instance Fuji no shibayama have been used in other well known poems, one even by Emperor Meiji : Azuma ni to isogu funaji no nami no ue ni ureshiku miyuru Fuji no shibayama See also : http://books.google.nl/books?id=VMuPzoc ... ma&f=false

Translation : Filling the sky, In The island country of Yamato, Two lives become enriched, (by) the wooden slopes of mount Fuji. KM

Thank you Franco !! KM

I think Andy should mention that he got it from NMB since he names Kunitaro san. KM

Or: http://stores.ebay.com/World-Armor-baig ... 7675.l2563 Though he rarely has swords. It is the ONLY Chinese seller I have come across who has quality items. Sadly his website often is unreachable. KM