kusunokimasahige

Haha NOPE! check the link KM

Well i wrote i would not pay more than 700 US$.... i dont know its price... and gunto going for more than 700 ... well tell tale of the market getting clogged with muck...... KM

Great pictures!! there are a lot of guns in scrolls, i have a few images of samurai using handcannon etc on my wall (replicas though) ( Sasai Kyuzo Masayasu (Sakai Kyuzo) being fired upon by Teppo) (Horibei holding a big gun) the only real print i have is one of Minamoto no Yoritomo fighting some gen-in made by Kokunimasa. BTW a funny anecdote about Eugene Collache he wrote down himself: "It was the first time a European thus crossed Japan, and everybody wanted to see him; but my hairless face, my suntanned skin, and my Japanese clothes misled the curious, who then thought that the European man was a certain Japanese officer who wore a moustache and had the uniform of an American Navy officer." Eugène Collache, "Une aventure au Japon", in "Le Tour du Monde", p59 KM BTW to my knowledge there is no Copyright on very old Japanese prints anymore...

Reading about the Shinsengumi i read about a French detachement which fought alongside the Tokugawa troops at the battle of Hakodate, one or maybe a few of them even wearing full samurai attire. Does anybody on the board have information on where to find the book written by Eugene Collache : "An Adventure in Japan 1868 - 1869" ("Une aventure au Japon 1868-1869"), which was published in 1874. ? here are two images: French and Japanese soldiers of the Ezo Republic in 1869. Back row: Cazeneuve, Marlin, Fukushima Tokinosuke, Fortant. Front row: Hosoya Yasutaro, Jules Brunet, Matsudaira Taro (vice-president of the Ezo Republic), Tajima Kintaro and an engraving of Eugene Collache himself.. A very interesting story indeed ! KM

IMHO the stamp has indeed been put on while the metal was hot.. The rim of the kanji stamp does not look like it was done on cold steel. If that was the case the rim would stand out more due to the difference in displacement of the metal. Just like you see in signatures on some blades. KM

Thanx Shan, I hated it too at first sight, and was curious wether the obvious flaws i saw were indeed ware. KM

Stumbled across this one on ebay and thought this text was rather hilarious: QUOTE: " Japanese sword makers generally ONLY placed grooves into their BETTER swords, and in the case where an ADDITIONAL groove was applied (IE two grooves on same side) then the sword was an even GREATER source of pride to it's manufacturer This highly UNUSUAL sword actually has THREE (3!!!) grooves on one side and a very large groove (Bohi) on the other " UNQUOTE looking at the pics i thought i see flaws like Ware... http://cgi.ebay.com/Ancient-Japanese-Sa ... otohosting Am i correct? KM

In the first pic of the tsuba, are there remains of a signature? KM

True, and it snaps much more nicely when you most need it in battle.... LOL KM

The rust on the Nakago and the damage on it gives me the idea its definetely koto, might even be earlier (bottom of Nakago suggests that too) The depth of the rust and the colouring give a clue to koto imho, thats also what i meant when i asked about the rust-condition.. i dont mean the actual suriage cut, though that also can give a clue, fresh/not fresh the suriage is a well done one without losing too much of the original blade and i think contemporary, or at least 70 odd years after the sword was forged.. a new polish would be well worth it, even though the blade looks a little tired.. a good togishi can make it look very nice again without taking too much metal off.. KM

Has anyone already had trouble with Ebay UK? KM

Well looking at the photos of the blade i would not pay more than 700 US$ for it myself.. if its suriage then its well done.. the chance of it being shinto is good, looking at the nakago and blade shape.. I dont think its older.. might be a hidden gem might not be.. school or smith i do not know about cant see from just those pics... KM

any more photos of the blade? KM

Well guys... I did not keep it dry... and i must say, anyone who does keep it dry with this GEM ! is a cold heartless b*trd.. It is simply one of the most BEAUTIFUL features i have ever seen and i will cherish it for years to come. I advise everyone on the board to watch it if you have the chance and have not seen it yet.... MIBU GISHI DEN KM

Simply exquisite tsunagi! the answer made me smile.... KM

Great and thorough explanation! domo arigato! KM

ah yes now i see!! my bad! LOL still the rust strikes me not as being natural... Ooh i so dislike it when people photograph swords with the Habaki still on! Not that they have something to hide, but well i just dont like it because it leaves a lot out.. KM

83 points was the limit given outside of Japan. Anything desiring a higher score had to be sent to Japan. WHY>? a sword is a sword.. what makes it worth more points if it is in Japan or not? KM

I have the same problem with the nakago.. it doesnt seem like natural damage/rust, in my view its a deliberate thing... also the way it is attached to the blade makes me wonder..... almost if its inserted somehow... KM

just noticed this in the desctription... Condition Good condition, No Chips, No Hagire, No Shinae, No bend. There is not a conspicuous wound. (after you cut yourself with it... there will be...) KM

After reading all this i am thinking of starting a collection of fake nihonto...... LOL at least thats affordable....... :lol: :lol: :lol: but seriousely, you made a mistake, and well its not that ugly a sword anyway... why not keep it??? If you dont know a lot about the various smiths or styles, this sword is a very nice study piece... and well if you like/want real swords for a real price, try nihonto.ca KM

Paul thank you very much for your explanation!!! very interesting to hear about a shinsa in action and also good to hear that if contested they are willing enough to explain themselves more thoroughly. KM

Thank you Guido for the great article by mr Benson!! Question, how long do these shinsa masters take on average to merit a blade? Do they use books during shinsa? is all their knowledge in their heads? and for instance when there are three smiths with the same name from different eras, using the same kanji, how can they gimei a blade? I mean, its not that you bring in a blade with a note saying this could be this smith, or is it? Have you ever witnessed a row between them when they disagreed on a blade ? KM

Could you make a close-up of the nakago or scan it? might help with seeing the depth of the rust.. period wise.. KM

What does the prefix "Den" mean? KM