Lindus

Not sure on the fake side,tsuba looks right with the cut through sections,worth another look before discarding. Had a collector down on Saturday,brought several swords one of which he thought may have been a fake as the Seppa,tsuba & Fuchi were screwed together. I had never seen this in forty plus years,but it was a 100% genuine Japanese Gunto mounted shin shinto sword. In this game it is allways worth another personal Kantei'ish Roy

Due to a need to replace our transport system, I have dropped prices by around £500 on most swords and one Naginata,also a decent Iron Fuchi and Tsuba. Have a look when time allows. Cheers Roy

Refer to an earlier post and would add Yamanaka's news letters.

Wish you had not pointed that out!!Now our governments will organise an invasion of Japanese Forests to eliminate those "Weapons of minimal destruction" TREE'S.......SAS attacking chop stick factories and Mr Blair embarking on a well paid lecture tour of the US on the dangers of terror groups importing Honoki for dubious purpose. All your fault Martin Roy

Think its called a router,bought at a car boot sale for £3. and some sanding disc's.

I mentioned that for the first time I have commisioned a shira saya,wood cost from Japan was going to be £50. Had an email on Saturday from the shira saya maker saying that the two piece's of Honoki had been impounded by HM Customs and that he had had to pay a £20 handling charge to the PO . So, customs find the need to check out a parcel,thats ok,it has a declaration saying "WooD",..... ex ray the bloody thing ......... I cannot send matchlocks,Swords well damn near anything,now put a huge % when they make a mistake

Have had a few,this was the best.

Hi Adrian Would do if I had any,took the basic design from an original stand,made a bundle of the base sections from off cut floor joists. The rest was made from any decent wood I found so each on was a one off. Only templates were cups,paint tins and the like for curves,cheap plastic drawing set so nothing perminant. One suggestion,after the first I was not happy re the joint section so went to my local Vet and got some used syringes, fill with fine flexy polyfilla put a thin amount along every join. This really finish's the job well. Textureing is again with a watered down filler and stippled with a damp sponge, this works well but needs to be well dry before applying paint. Allways under coat with a matt red primer,if you want an aged look with black lacquer cut back with say T'Cut untill the primer begins to show, with a little trial this can look good. Simple Mon such as the Hoskawa,can be made with 'fablon' but should say here that none of this was made to fool anyone,just for my own pleasure.{Add that before am deluged with accusations} most of the stands made were either given away or sold for charity. Have a go chaps,can be fun and you do not need a vast range of tools,mine are a jig saw,circular saw and a few cheap chisels. Roy

Hi Doc Odd thing about us Humans,we think we can't so we dont try. Also a generation thing I suspect,back then if you could not afford something you had a go at making it. I remember wanting a radio controlled boat,could afford the basic control system so bought some model makers marine ply and a bundle of Meccano ......great fun when the banks of oars on the strange Bireme took to the water. There are things that I find for me impossible,binding Tsuka well,being sensible at Auctions and understanding my child bride after 46 years together

Found two other,made for small Tanto,but also look ok with a Daisho.....

All stands if you cannot afford an original are pretty simple to make,providing you have a basic wood working ability. Three below are stands made with only basic kit,some I made were far more fancy but cannot find the pic's.....have a go, not rocket science.

Hi Folks Have started to clean up my web site,added some items including a Nanban Tsuba and an old iron Fuchi. Remember that NMB members can make an offer on anything left on the site plus when possible I will make a contribution to NMB. Those who have won items that I donated. Posted via RM Air mail,standard post with no tracking,should they go astray I will claim on the basic insured amount,£50, and when & if paid out,send to the winner. Regards Roy

In the same vein as the above,I would add Betty to those now missing from our collector world.We spent many happy hours with both Ron & betty Gregory way back. Both were collectors and he an author of several books such as the "Oshigata" series with Richard fuller,Betty had a fine collection of Tanto,Tsuba & Ceramic's. Sadly we had intended to visit them but my medical problems prevented this and when solved it was too late,Betty died in a splendid retirement establishment who mailed us and confirmed that she passed away in her sleep. I know that over many years dozens of Nihonto folk visited and were,like me,able to benefit from having free access to his vast collection. I remember seeing and handling the rack of General officers swords,the rack of Daisho..{Seethis link:}etc http://collectorsloot.homestead.com/ori5.html Lovely couple and although not a student, a great guy .

Thanks for that chris. Sadly when I sat in an auction of militaria and edged weapons recently,I would estimate that the age of the buyers was around 60. Seems the younger generation will not care about Yamanaka or even Yumomoto,web and games may well see the end of our passion.............hopefully not, but I fear it is on the cards.

Just found a box of what appears to be a full set of the above,how valid are they today.?

Well thats going to cheer up owners of Holland & Holland as well as Purdy owners,not to mention Silver gilt collectors and I suspect the odd colt45 hoarder. So I would guess from your comment that lacquering shira saya is purely decorative or to cover inferior wood?.

Have seen a few over the decades,one at a To-Ken Taikai with gold attribution. Just curious as to the reason for lacquering and how common it is?.

Well done old chap,perhaps a little work with a fiber glass pen will improve ,but,good job.

Sorry mate but have to agrre with all, this is a duffer{English term}

I have only ever seen two hira Zukuri katana,the first was offered to me by that great old dealer Chris Shewen in the 80's. Mounted in Kai gunto it was spectacular but he was asking £500, mad money at the time. Second Peter Yorke bought {as he did all the damn time} at a local auction,mounted as a Tachi from the Meiji period,even then £700 was way to much for me in those days. Would still like to own one.....so.........in mind that have a big birthday at the end of February,address any offers to...."She who rules",bottom end of Cornwall,UK. Roy

Thank you Lance,I would like to think that he signed this after an evening soaking back too much Sake....does not look so good, but will ask my old friend ,No1 UK polisher to work on it anyway. Cheers Roy

Kao or kakihan that is what it is,had an early book by I think Joly which had many translations,if right worth checking out. Roy

Some become ken Roy

Have just acquired a blade signed Shinano no Kami Minamoto Nobuyoshi,mei looks a little odd but have spent a couple of hours trying to find some oshi of the genuine without luck,link please folks. Blade is ubu and only 60.5cm,can I assume that this is uchi gatana?. Roy

Just clicked John, 'Buddhist Rosary' and of course Namban. Found my old Tsuba cleaning kit inherited from a onetime big collector of Iron Tsuba, Dave Leggett. Yes I can see signs of kinzogan although sparse,any hints on cleaning ?. Roy