Lindus

Yes it was Lance, I suppose my question is related to to long running debate as to the use of chemicals that also include acids in the polishing process. In the eighties I spent some time with a well known Japanese polisher & his English partner, they would not comment on the content of their negui, later I saw dilute nitric acid used to highlite the hamon at the early stage of polish thus allowing appropriate actions. I know that all trades have there secrets,just curious.............. Roy

Some years ago a polisher returned from Japan with a list of chemicals to be used in the final stage of polishing, this included Mercuric oxide....... (inorganic chemistry) HgO A compound of mercury that exists in two forms, red mercuric oxide and yellow mercuric oxide; the red form decomposes upon heating, is insoluble in water, and is used in pigments and paints, and in ceramics; the yellow form is insoluble in water, decomposes upon heating, and is used in medicine. Also known as mercury oxide; red precipitate; yellow precipitate. When he asked a Chemist for some of this he was told that as it was considered pretty dangerous and thus would not be available over the counter. To what purpose would this have been used by a Japanese polisher? Roy

Not bad for a man of your age Roy

Do you like it?? Take care in taking comments to seiously Roy

Scanner are very good when used with various photo shop type facilities. They are foul when trying to scan blades though. Roy

Correct young Bowen,have seen many military swords with this feature. Roy

Since my last visit to this thread it seems an editorial intervention has been made...So it seems I have to enter the fray. The translation {In rough} is............. "Shoud BW Robinson find this before the Yanks please send my sword to Lindus San who lives in Cornwall Kuni, who when studying Rugby, engendered a lust for Scrumpy,Pasties & wanton girls from St.Ives" I doubt the US will send this fathers son his rightfull possession,which he would sell to a Latvian dealer who intern will pass onto a French collector in Paris. I await the US government parcel....................coming your way Jean. Roy

Thanks Veli, so I finally find a Hizen smith that has not had twenty thousand words written about him . Regards to all Roy

Many thanks Moriyama san. Cannot find a Hizen smith of this name,a "Nobody" ? Roy

Just dug this out of the bag of forgotten,My original scribbled translation is.... Hizen Hirado ju Moriyama Suketsugu saku & dated Keo 3 year 8. Being a twit and selling most of my books would more sensible members confirm or not and give me some idea of who this chap is rank wise. Aikuchi mounted with horn fittings,Brokade covered saya with swastika mon , blade hira zukuri, all in good condition but blade would need a polish. Thanks in adv: Roy

Great range of knowledge out there as usual so my Halfpenny worth may not add much. When working on the Jones wet magnetic seperator many years ago we used a product "Stainless Iron", this allowed minerals to pass through an electro magnetic force via these grooved plates. The plates resisted rust while also allowing them to become magnets..... Long time ago but unlike short term memory failures this seems pretty accurate. Roy

As many of you will know I have always left rank tassels and Tsuka with Mon on the gunto for sale on my site,have a senior officers Red & brown with mon on the menuki & Red & brown Hanger for sale at the moment.......Sunday was an idle day spent pottering around on the web.. Amazed to find a Generals tassel that had been sold for £1500!!! a red and Brown senior officers had made £570 and a Tsuka with Mon had gone for £285. What the hell is going on?, with price realised like this it seems that I should strip down the few Gunto left and flog off in bits, worked out That with the medals {£70} Tsuka say £300,Red & brown Hanger say £200,Tassel £570 & Tsuka with Mon on the menuki £300...add to that a gunto saya £50, damn near £1500 would be made leaving a Koto signed blade.....am now seeing why swords are split up.{Not sure what the sukashi gunto Tsuba, seppa and double habaki would sell for} Not going to do this but still cannot understand just why this is happening. Roy PS. Have a kai gunto with a perfectly genuine tassel which is Green, came from a Uboat,any ideas?.

Noda Hankei started as a gun smith, not Nagasone Kotetsu.... I think that you will find that Kotetsu was as well as an armour maker also made Teppo, just how many maybe members may be able to say. Roy

Noda Hankei started as a gun smith, not Nagasone Kotetsu.... I think that you will find that Kotetsu was as well as an armour maker also made Teppo, just how many maybe members may be able to say. Roy

I remember Ron Gregory cleaning menuki on Gunto with dilute amonia,never tried it myself but seemed to work well. Roy

Just an aside on this subject. When I first started collecting I am sure I read somewhere that Nagasone Kotetsu had made Teppo using traditional sword methods for the steel and forge welding around a solid steel bar. Another was a polisher way back polished two sides of his Teppo,produced a fine hada. The gun must still be around in the UK,would be very interested to see pic's if the owner is a member. Roy

Just an aside on this subject. When I first started collecting I am sure I read somewhere that Nagasone Kotetsu had made Teppo using traditional sword methods for the steel and forge welding around a solid steel bar. Another was a polisher way back polished two sides of his Teppo,produced a fine hada. The gun must still be around in the UK,would be very interested to see pic's if the owner is a member. Roy

Split the commission GW :lol: Roy

Hi Matt and welcome No pic's old chap, check out the section re publishing on the NMB, easy stuff but remember that 900 pix is the limit. Regards Roy

Thanks Chris,are all such made so well as to be absolutly correct in every detail including Hamon?, seems a bundle of work for the purpose. Roy

Yes Dirk, the original seems to have been almost a rectangle, this now has an insert of copper??,Odd. Roy

Thank you Ian,{should have kept at least one of the books!!} Roy

First sword for a decade arrived while I developed an in depth knowledge of daytime TV The sword is confusing but that is for another day, Combat covered saya with semi civil Tsuka , the Menuki are interesting is so far as the Samurai holding a baby must mean something, any nidea's Folks??. Second is the Tsuba, never been a Tsuba man but would appreciate some comments on this as to age etc. Thanks in advance Roy

The first sent to me by an old friend with the question as to why the military Minotagawa arsenal mon should be on this Ken. Having sold my Mon books I can recall that this was also used as a family Mon as well, would some member kindly confirm this. Second is this splendidly made miniature Tachi blade,28cm nagasa,8cm Nakago,1cm sori. Signed tachi mei Tomo Uji {If correct I can find only of Shinto smith signing thus} The while thing is beutifully made with a perfectly shaped and pattenated nakago, Too small for a Boys sword??,perhaps made for a Doll?? or even in western terms an apprentice piece.... Have seen many miny blade over the years but none so well made as this,even in this condition the hamon is certainly there. Thoughts please. Roy

From the 14th of this month I shall be out of circulation for around six weeks due to the knee op:, any questions re stage payments on set aside items or potential purchase from my collection, please do prior from the site and not PM's.. http://www.collectorsloot.homestead.com Cheers pre bionic Roy