Jim P

Hi Louis, Do you think it more about what school of togi that the particular polisher belongs to ? thanks

Hi all, I was looking at one of our swords and noted it did not have them on the habaki-moto and as it is an old sword it had me thinking do they still use them? I read that " kesho-migaki is relatively a recent phenomenon in the history of Nihon-to: It became more common after WWII " from (http://www.una.edu/faculty/takeuchi/DrT ... migaki.htm) and was also told few polishers would do them these days. Was the practice only amongst highly regarded togi-shi or did all togi-shi use them ? thanks

Hi Justin if you live outside Japan the NTHK is the only one that will issue authentication papers. and as Brian would say ""NBTHK vs NTHK vs whoever" debate. I think we all know how that will go." :D A link if you don't have one (http://yakiba.com/papers.htm)

Hi all, I thought I would post the answer to the last question I asked. I found this in( facts and fundamentals of Japanese swords- page 91) Also Micha has said that 1th and 3th generation should be switched. is that the consensus of the board ? thanks

Thank you Micha and Barry, excellent work 8 had a ? not at all like the rest also I see that hamon get thin at points in 1 or 2 of the examples is this from a lot a polishes or a trait of the work ?

Hi Stephen Now that's a Translation (nation probably will be protected with this one sword,) It always is interesting when we use a translation program its like a lucky dip as we say in oz thank you for trying

Hi All, Some Translation help please, it said something about it is ( very razor sharp sword and cut two tree trunks ?) using the Google translator. this is the link ( http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT116458.htm ) thank you.

Greetings ! Curran I am with you to my untrained eye the signature looks different the one at Ginza Choshuya does not show the mei can not tell if hamon runs off the blade I will leave that call to someone with more experience it does have that polished a lot look

Hi Barry,You are indeed a lucky man :D is it similar to this one in shape ?

Hi does someone have a Oshigata of a Muramasa 2nd generation Tanto to compare to this Mitsumune style Tanto by him. Is a Mitsu-mune a characteristic of Muramasa Tanto ? https://www.aoi-art.com/sword/sale/10425.html ? thanks.

Hi Jason, My brothers blade has Futasuji-hi engraved on Sashi-omote side. Bo-hi engraved on Sashi-ura side. thats how it was described by the seller. You dont see them that much I thought maybe to balance it, as this sword is light and well balanced hope that helps

Hi David,It seems that we are finding it harder to find in oz and as you say its not out there, (Nihonto, being a particular niche,) Do you think people still have a interest or that the numbers are slowly going down? It seemed better say,10 years ago. Thanks for your thoughts :D

Hi David, Yes it was a surprise how long ago was it when you were going? I had the feeling that I was not the only one looking. I think a lot of the problem is getting good quality swords/fittings as a lot of low quality stuff was getting around for a long time. I had a coffee with a old friend who had a shop that for years sold Japanese swords when I showed him some photos he made the comment that he does not see swords in good polish like that. You think maybe that's the case? I thought we do have collectors as we see them on the net and the shinsa and show in 2009 lets hope someone gives it a try again. I even had the thought for a moment , not so much for the money just to let people see whats out there but if you not making the fees you can not keep that up we will see how it goes thanks for you thoughts :D

Hi All, I just got back from the Collectibles Antique & Modern - Medals – Militaria -Swords- Show at the Royal Show Grounds, and was surprised that I found only 3 Japanese swords 2 from II w/war not nihonto and 1 Wakizashi and a man who makes Japanese swords is that normal as I have not gone to one for 10 years .

Hi guys, Eric I agree 100% (Sayagaki by a „nobody“ is worthless) it adds nothing to the information. I understand that they can be done as in Barry's post but for the most part when I ask for a Sayagaki I was expecting someone of note will do it.Just for comparison the other Sayagaki that was asked for but by a different dealer, he new what I was asking I did not say Tanobe san or NBTHK .So I think that dealer had a proper modern view. I did the them for the additional information on the respective swords and I think that the point is if its not by someone of note how do you know that they are not just repeating what on the T/H paper ?as in this case. (its his standing that maters) Chris I was not chasing very little piece of information. I thought it would round out the swords they had both T/H papers so I new that they were ok and I dont think I am a ( artifact collector). I think I am in the art camp also Keith, (That it adds value to a sword is a bit debatable) would you not say a Sayagaki done by a 200/300 year old Honami master does not add value ?

Hi Keith, I am not saying that the dealer was not right in his interpretation. We have moved on and speak from time to time. I was just wondering do most people see a Sayagaki as something that is done by someone of say Tanobe's san standing or as you say (the writer could have written his phone number in kanji on the saya) if that is the interpretation why would most bother? I don't think I am confused, that when most of us westerners ask for Sayagaki we think someone of standing will do it and as a lot are done through the NBTHK or others that's the way it will go. I only pointed it out as its easy to get it wrong thank for your thoughts

Hi Guido, You are right it is a Sayagaki, but I tend to go with eric's definition (Generally, a sayagaki, an appraisal written on a shirasaya by a recognized authority, must bear his signature and kao,) this has none of those attributes. I say NBTHK as it is where I sent them.Mr. Tanobe's is artwork, so I feel that if I ask for a Sayagaki it would be by a recognized authority or am I missing something is that the common perception in Japan ?

Hi Guys, Yes it was done by a Japanese dealer that posts from time to time. I could not workout how he could consider it a sayagaki ? in the true sense its just a notation ( but I did not say NBTHK ) so its a lesson by the way it cost more than one from NBTHK, it had T/H papers so was it reasonable to think that way ? now will have to send it back at some point

Eric, you can tell the one from the dealer also look at (viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8386) for 1 more pic :D sorry for the bad photos :?

Thank you so much Brian Thats is exactly, what I was trying to understand eg, was more info presented, as it was the second one I had seen lately.(not that common) I was also trying to ascertain its value (not in $) jean sorry It may be the way I post, Ill work on it, its easy to miss things if you don't understand eg,I had a sayagaki done on 2 swords one by Tanobe-sensei through NBTHK. On the first one I asked for a sayagaki but did not specify NBTHK just thought it would be them got back a sayagaki by the dealer It was my fault I did not make it clear I did not understand the difference so now I try to be better informed :D

Hi,Guys, Jean would you see them in the same light as a NBTHK leaders sayagak is there info on the hako gak that's not on a sayagaki ? as this one has both,or same thing just different container. is it Tokubetsu Juyo ?

Hi Jean, I got( hakogaki is a guarantee of the object’s value and provenience) from (http://wiki.chado.no/Hakogaki) and thought that as it was by shinsa judge Kanzan Sato maybe it was something like a Sayagaki so NBTHK. Thanks for the info

Thanks Chris,Morita san, So its a hakogaki and is a guarantee of the object’s value and provenience ? does the NBTHK do this ?

thanks guys, so would you call it a Sayagaki ?

Hi all, Can some one enlighten me on this presentation box. what is on the box ? this is the link. http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/JT988958.htm Thank you