Lindus

Like that option Paul.....................A friend had an outlandishly mounted Katana a while ago,attributed to to Satsuma work...he always referred to it as the "Satsuma gay Liberation samurai Movement" {No offence to any NMB members or in fact any......................} Roy

I think that "Joly" produced a book on Kakihan,may have it ,will try to find. Roy

A friend who had two newley polished swords from Kenji Mishina used Lighter fuel (Petrol), damn near died when it stained the blades....avoid. I find that just plain Uchiko works, if old and dry a commercial de greaser is also good {as used in the motor trade} as it has some oil, the chap, on the Kashima sisters site has some views on Choji oil worth reading..... I was recomended that the use of oils was not good, this from a chap,conservator at the V&A, he suggested that blades in polish but not recently polished be treated with Renaissance Micro crystalline wax polish instead.. Roy

Or in Cornish "arit en" :lol: Roy

Hallo Chris, apologies, the translations I have, around twenty years ago I had a friend in Japan who knew an ex colonel in IJP, Sakake Shimizu who translated as the following.... " We must do our duty so we will win" "Hiedki Tojyo" "By(or for) Matsu Tomio" Captain IJA "Hissho"= sure.win or we shall win-"Hissei" sure to Signature...Hideki Tojo.Minister of the army 1940. The second is signed by General Kawamura & a poem by him that translates as.. "Something beutiful autumn season"{Kun rei si shu} Saburo Kawamura,Major general,9th Infantry brigade. These he said were rough translations, how accurate I will probably find out soon from the NMB members aquired from the widow of an RAF Padre, Captain Ridgeway it seems was awarded a medal for carrying out a funeral while under fire!!. I just wondered how common these were and if they mass produced as gifts to junior field officers, the sript seems good and some bleed through can be seen....I think. Thanks Roy PS. pretty sure Ron Gregory had Kawamura's sword which was sold at auction when his entire collection went, would like to know who has it...would love to own it...Hint. Trade goods available,Pastys and Cornish cream as well.....

These are two fans that came with shin gunto bought privately some years ago. The question is were these produced in numbers or were they individual gifts to officers. One is grubby, the other only sligthly so. Thanks Roy

As a final to this and for those like me who did not know and were confused by the tracking system. Royal mail and Parcel force world wide have a "Two" tracking number system,the first shows transit to the Hub at Essex and at that point is shown as delivered. This was where my Australian panicked and I followed, thaks to Peter NMB member picked up as only on the Parcelforce web site was a new tracking number shown........ Ten days later it has arrived, so, even if you send a parcel abroad via RM, check the PF site for more details. PS. Even this is not 100% as I finally had to progress through 12 options to speak with a human as the tracking showed it was in Aus: but was being held awaiting sender instruction, he found that this was an incorrect input!. Thanks to all those who replied Roy

Superb, as good as the best Okimono I have seen. Have asked a friend who has a large Katana fully mounted in finely carved Ivory to photograph and as he is a member, show it as I think swords of that size in good carved mounts must be rare?. Roy

And I was just joking in that weird Breton?cornish fashion Jean Roy

Hi John Now that is quite something, the carving superb, not signed? surprised but good to see these as for most part those that come around are more scrimshaw. Are yoy certain that it is not Ivory? Roy Eric Not sure the properties of any, staghorn is a form of Hair?, I have seen some superb Marine Ivory carved Okimono , it would be interesting if any members could enlighten re the properties of these materials. Roy

Thanks for that,as you say some splendid pieces on the site. Appreciate your point, also I read somewhere that in one period flashy mounts were frowned upon and lacquered, this one is very plain and cannot see that it is either adorned or protected?. Any chance of see examples of those in your collection?. Roy

Hi Jean If your right its "Not another Kanefusa :? Had a 1st gen: kakana and two 23rd gen: Now have a 23rd Tanto and Katana,what have I done to deserve another....... The Nakago appears to be early shin shinto judging by the rust, have a look. The huge clusters of Nie also led me to think although the blade is well shaped and made, perhaps a problem in tempering stage. Wandering off the subject a little, still cannot see why you would lacquer a perfectly good Tsuba when mounted so well otherwise, the saya is brocade covered & nice Shibuichi nanako Kojiri. Roy

These two little chaps have been pointing at this for decades...any idea why? Roy

Odd blade, was not going to show it. Roy

Hi Steve Sorry mate meant to put them on. Roy

I have a well mounted Yori doshi, the fuchi by Goto Mitsunaga, the odd thing is that the Tsuba is black lacquer over what may be copper. Why would that have been done????. Roy

In the thread on the collection in the Royal Cornwall Museum, I showed some photographs of a beutifull Aikuchi with gold inlaid blade and mounted in the most superb Ivory mounts. Some questions were raised as to the quality of Ivory carving as opposed to bone. I knew that somewhere I had a blade in Bone mounts, just found it and It shows How much better the Ivory was in the other collection. For those not aware of the difference,Ivory has a grain similar to Hada while bone generally shows the signs of where blood vessels and muscle have been...{Now let an expert explains this} :? Would be interested to see other examples of mounts carved in both bone and old Ivory. Roy

Hallo John Odd that after owning and ignoreing pieces for many years that now I am selling my "Collection" it has renewd and also highlighted my interest/lack of study in aspects of the hobby. Today {Much to my wifes horror} I have spent looking through books and catalogues such as the masterpieces from the Compton collection & the three auction catalogues from the sale of his bundle of joy,Sasano,The Boston museum collection and the Carlo Monzino sales as well as a number of others. Perhaps this and the recent find of the Warabite with the feed back from Carlo will add another few years of interest......who knows. Thank you. PM sent. Roy

Just a short drive from Paris is Angers, great little museum there with a selection of arms and armour, down the stree from it was a small Antique shop where some years ago I bought a very nice Kodzuka and Tanto for just a few Francs{Happy days} Roy

Your a gem Peter,thanks. It has changed the message since I last checked. Will pass on. Roy Thanks folks,due to the space this is using up (sorry Brian) no more replies please untill I get confirmation of loss or delivery, the RM & Parcel force tracking has been missleading to both myself and recipient. Many thanks Roy

Thanks Peter Have tried but no luck so have sent email request, cant see what more can be done as the final UK tracking ended at the North Essex Depot......hopefully its not still there. The recipient who signed it in was EKO80069733GB...what the hell does that mean I wonder. Thanks again folks. Roy

Thanks Jim Roy

Thanks for that Steve, was sent Royal Mail Global express priority. Checked on the Australia post web site but does not have an "Incoming " section so have mailed John and asked he does the same. Again many thanks Roy

Have done,he replied in negative, first time for me, have to say the lack of ability to total track in our computer age is not makeing me any more secure. Thanks Roy

Hav e panic situation, A valuable Tanto sent to NSW is shown as delivered on RM page,buyer emailed to say not recieved,had to be signed for!!?. Can any member give me info on the system out there and if in the postal area of NSW2151, please PM me. Thanks and apologies to Brian for this. Roy