Lindus

This man has tried all forms of fraud and succeded many times, check out the web... example below from a martial arts site.. ........................................... I just got this email. I suspect many on the board have. I just thought I'd post it just in case. If your a regular here you probably would avoid it anyway. But you want to advise new students and others who may be tempted; ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hello: I am an independent archival research and I have Japanese sword (katana) with the blade from XVIII century and I would like to sell it for the reasonable price. If you think you could have an interest in such antique item, please keep me inform. I also have a tanto from XIX century. I am waiting for your answer. All the best. Pawel Shipwrecks.Research@yahoo.com We old guys know but occasionally we should remind newer members. Roy

PM sent Roy

Not new and think only maybe NMB related as you do have an email contact on the board , the seller would then of course be a member. A few years ago when I built my web site a chap called Pawel Novak emailed me from Poland with a similar offer, always the cynic I asked him to let me have his address as I had a friend who lived just outside Warsaw who would bring the money,view the swords and if OK pay him in cash. Emails went too and fro for around a month but finally he no longer replied, later found that he had contacted a number of UK collectors, luckilly as far as I know no one took him up. Second came via ebay way back, a collector in Spain bought a Tachi from the seller who's address was in the Island of Jersey,money sent via Western Union......no money or sword, asked me to check it out and of course it was a scam. May be genuine, if you ask for photographs you will no doubt get some,ask to visit and view, see what the reply is. Regards Roy After thought, do you sell on ebay?.

While sorting a bundle of old photographs I found this, taken in the late 80's the swords was inscribed minamoto Amahide & dated 1941. Seems the smith punched the blade every inch the entire length of the blade to produce this,unusual???. Roy

Think this is known as a "Bitsy", made up from Officers & NCO by someone. Apart from that I like the "Blitzed" bit, have a Gunto with bullet hole in saya. Roy

Since my web site started I have a regular number of emails from companies in India offering everything from the full range of tassels to shoulder boards. Never bought but if the items are as good as the photographs it would be difficult to tell they are copies. Roy

I offer a Set aside on items & in some case's a discount to NMB members. Please read this section.... http://www.collectorsloot.homestead.com/payment.html No charge and six months to pay but require an agreed monthly payment, do not want to withdraw this for obvious reasons but some NMB members have not complied. If you like an item & can afford over this period PLEASE make the 25% deposit as in future unless this is done, no "HOLD" will be applied and after one month I will consider this a time waster. Thanks to those who abide by my simple rule & have bought from my collection...SeE "Happy buyer page" www. collectorsloot.homestead.com/buyer.html Am not a dealer, when its gone it will not be replaced although my Knee will be Regards Roy

NICE, always wanted one, but a word of caution, seems it is only to easy to engrave......so as the value rise's!!!! Roy

Any pics of the blade??? Reminds me of an inscription on a decent Japanese blade, it was to a Chinese general engraved as a presentation, visited the area in Chong ching but their lack of English & my poor Japanese/Chinese & English helped little....... Recently saw a collectors new purchase from auction {not ebay} genuine IJP gunto mounts with a rusted but sugata wise nice katana, mei similar but the real give away was the hada the looked like a map of London underground {Subway for colonist readers}. Roy

Having had both Dragon and Ho tachi of decent quality, the Dragon head had shakudo cloud formations on gilt copper with the dragon emerging the whole saya length. Gold Tokugawa mon on red nashiji , while the Ho tachi had plain gold lacquer with gilt mounts etc, both sets of mounts were similar to those shown but one had a good gendaito while the Dragon head tachi had a decent Shinto blade. Probably all produced in the meiji period and like any tourist bring back, come in a vast range of quality & price. Having said that I think way back I read that these were dress tachi for events such as Hawking ???. Roy

would be good if new members added their continent,eg Europe, even better the country. Roy

Automotive paint,masking tape and various mineral powders, not rocket science and can produce splendid reults, await the thunder of crits.... Roy

Not sure if it still exists but in the UK at one time there was an Auction watch system built around stolen goods, perhaps you should check out if similar exists in the US. Roy

Would the member who bought my Muramasa Tanto in Australia please let me know how the polish and shinsa went. my curiosity is killing me. Roy

Splendid Peter,Piers & David, all valid and serious considered replies, thanks. Just a couple of replies, one re changing the shop front,assume this was aimed at my chaotic web site cannot apologise for it as over the eight years it has been up over 500 items from my collection have gone {only 25 edged weapons left from a high of just under 200!}. People are irritated,Amused or in some case's love it, but, the real reason is I am a luddite who managed to avoid computers all my working life and still not to sure its not a passing fad!!!!!!> Peters thoughts are so interesting and the logic of his argument cannot be contested. Just seems odd that I have never sold anything cheap {as in monetary value} all ways as far as possible checked out the dealer market and where possible put a retail price. Maybe My stuff is cheap by todays standards or possibly that it is not a dealer site, that all was collected privately and is pretty much untouched, one chap thought the "added value" items such as medals,photographs etc was a lure. None of this really matters just curious re this increase in sales to a different buyer brigade. Thanks for your thoughts Roy

Of the last 12 sales from my collection, just one has been bought by a collector while the others have all gone to European dealers...... I have tried to price my pension scheme within the current value hoping that forty years of accumulation would goto others of a similar mind.... Can any explain this anomoly to me as the money is of course important but if a dealer see's the item as a good deal...why not the collector?. :? Roy

Well said Rick, with chaps such as Mr Hallem who has a great talent and knowledge as well as Mr bowen who has a depth of knowledge many of us will never attain, the last thing we need is a little red star or banner as it will lead to another damned religion .... BUT, as with the UK Knighthood scenario, should one be offered.................. Roy

Appreciate what you say but of those that I have had,most polished, they are realy boreing swords. Have a good feeling that these like many are promoted beyound their real worth by the dealers in the sword market. Roy

That could be said for many and include Yasakuni, Having said that I had six,two were excellent . nagamura Kiyonobu, had a few, one was superb with pretty much all the things ,Utsuri etc, that it should in theory not have had. Never understood the price of NCO swords, used to buy for £40...........except the copper hilt one which I sold for £70 which now make in excess of £1000. Mantetsu blades in old days described as made from Manchurian railway lines were frowned upon, now not so, easy to rubbish these and others based on the old "it has to be Koto" scenario. Roy

Tim, goto your local Jewelers, the cloths they use are perfect. Roy

Comment recently made that due to harsh laws in Japan {early days} few swords with false signature were dated. Probably not so true as stealing anything could bring about death in various unpleasant forms {list pleasant forms }, would though be interested if a grain of truth exists in this. Roy

Excuse this question Brian but the paypal thing, dont understand where the "raffles" issue comes into this, surely it is only a matter of club members either supporting that club and/or paying for items from other members?. Roy

PM sent John. Roy

Why to NMB..... Have had email asking why contribute to NMB. Consider this, where else can you ask questions on pretty all aspects of Japanese art forms and get an almost imediate reply for free................................................................ Translations Opinions Offeries world wide even cabowen snickkerine at your thoughts.... I, a througher anti person respect 80% of the opinions an 95% of all translation think this site worth supportmwith some cash at some time. As an ex banker {pre huge money should add} YOU WOULD MISS THIS SITE IF NOT SUPPORTED. Limping off to bed, grumpy,UK Roy

John, please excuse my replying in this fashion but as a non profit sitution I am sure you will understand. My chaotic web site {due to me not being under 20} has this under...... http://collectorsloot.homestead.com/art.html If you have any interest let me know. Roy