Pete Klein

Yes - first post pictures alternate before to after. I didn't see that until Steven mentioned it so thanks much for that. I agree totally the restoration is excellent. The brightness of the silver will take care of itself with a bit of time if left to it's own. Great job Ford!

GROUP PARCIPITATION TIME! Please think of the vilest, nastiest, absolutely most non-printable descriptive you can in whatever language you prefer and mentally insert it into my description below: In my opinion, this is nothing more than an absolute piece of ' -------------------------- '!!! Thanks for playing along and have a wonderful weekend! PK

I have a funny feeling this might not be as much of a gamble as it seems... edit: :Morita san posted whilst I was typing...!

Such sad and unfortunate news. To loose a loved one is always difficult but especially for a parent to loose a child, no matter their age.

And then a number of years ago someone in Europe apparently had Harry's books copied/republished without his permission. And then all went quiet. I was aware of the original issues as discussed above but the later issue seems to be either unknown, unrecognized or unmentioned...

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b758-nihon-toko-jiten-koto-%26-shinto-full-translations

I just want the koshirae...

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/c106-masterpieces-randolph-b-caldwell-collection http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b422-Japanese-sword-fittings-rb-caldwell-collection http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b106-tsuba-r-b-caldwell http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b299-book-sword-10-monographs-Japanese-swords

Luis - the Chicago shinsa was held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and I believe part of Sunday. You might wish to re-calculate.

I had a GREAT TIME!!!

Ron - I couldn't find anything specific in the meikan or the Studies in Kyo Goto book but it very well might be Goto Enjo of the Waki Goto Saburoemon and Shichirobei lines, Haynes 00475. He also went by Mitsuyuki with these kanji. The first two kanji are a variant of Goto seen in some of the side branch schools. If you can please bring it to Chicago as I'd love to see it. See you there, Pete

Aoi might have been moving the computers to the new address. Out yesterday but was working again this morning. Ray - I noticed the other day NBTHK-AB wasn't working so thanks for the link.

Why not just rent a car? Probably about the same price as the Uber and you'll have a way of getting around when you get to the show. Probably a lot safer than taking the CTA as well. (I'm from Chicago originally).

Mei is Sadanaga aka 'Teimei' and is Owari area so stylistic sharing. There was so much cross-over 'copying' in Japan it's best to never assume that because something looks like another that it is equivalent. In the case of 'Yagyu' it is not a specific tsubashi but designs from a school of swordsmanship so tsuba cold be by any of numerous makers of the area but mumei.

Barry - I believe if Mel Brooks was to re-make, 'A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Forum', he would change the ending and reward Pseudolus with a wife of that name. So much for 'FREE"!

and for those without any sense of humor, just watch this:

"Best piece in this whole thread, in my opinion. " Steven -- ready yourself for me in San Fran:

Fuchi Kashira by Ichinomiya Nagatsune, by mei would be middle term work ~ 1750. NBTHK TBH origami (not yet in hand). One of my most favorite acquisitions: These are scans from the Ichinomiya Nagatsune Sketchbook, part of the Kano Natsuo Taikan.

BTW - no name on post.

You must work on Broadway...

"This set has been professionally restored by Ford Hallam". Ford, in all sincerity, although I most often eschew attempts at restorations this work of your hands absolutely attests to your abilities. BRAVO!

Clarification - In my post above I mentioned the 'Shinsen' Kinko Meikan which is the edited version of the 1974 book revised because errors were found in the older publication. The later edition is often used in conjunction with the Wakayama texts at shinsa because there are a few mei included which were not a part of the much larger and more comprehensive Wakayama texts. When making decisions on the validity of mei for purchase it can be in one's best interest to utilize the texts used at shinsa as they will give you the best chance at validation. One error in purchase can easily cost the equivalent of the total cost of all these texts so it can be well worth the investment. having said all of this, one still needs to learn how to discern the subtle variations in reading mei which is a study unto itself. I have found it to be quite fulfilling in itself and actually can be a lot of fun.

The text set used by all the shinsa teams is the 'Toso Kodogu Meiji Taikei' by Wakayama. I also recommend the 'Haynes Index' to use with it as it gives a lot of information about the makers and also gives you the reference book page in the Wakayama three book set. Second best is 'Shinsen Kinko Meikan'.. These are the only books to go to as they have been vetted and used for decades by the shinsa teams.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ema+Japanese&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJs8OMzpnaAhXLzFMKHfVlBawQsAQIQg&biw=1920&bih=930 Arnold might be on to something.

This is from 'The Art Appreciation of Japanese Sword Fittings' by Shigeo Fukushi, page 50 and I believe it is the theme Ford mentioned: Sorry for the distortion on the left page but scanning this is difficult without damaging the binding.