Lindus

It is some years since I did this type of thing,should still have the bone and fiber glass pens around some where. Tell me about the school john?.

This poor tired beastie has come my way attached to an equally weather worn sword,yup,used as a garden hedge trimmer for some years. Looks beyound redemption and of little merit,having said that I will admit to having little interest in Iron tsuba. Your thoughts Gentlemen?. Roy

What a man,thanks Grey. Roy

Had a rubbing sent to me,as you can see it is not too good but I have "Shinano no Kami ?? Nobu Yoshi". Any help confirming or other would be most appreciated. Thanks Roy

Good Morning Malcolm As usual thanks for that info: Seems parcel force got on the wrong side of the CAA by allowing forbidden items through such as case's of perfume,so have as usual in the UK gone over the top and blanket banned. Within the UK they do not have a problem with pointy things as long as well packed!!. Also interesting to note that they now will insure collectables providing not insured above purchase price..............................................

Hi Peter It is via a Plymouth company called Mailbox. mbeplymouth.co.uk Seems they are used by all our local auction houses. Roy

Spoke with my local auction house who directed me to a group who will ship edged weapons world wide with no problems at all,tracked the entire way from collection to point of delivery. Example given was a katana to San Diego in the US,140cm x 13cm x 13cm and weighing 4kg would cost around £130. Delivered in three days this seems like the problem solved although a couple of days may need adding as the courier has to collect and I live way down the end of the country. For swords other than those consigned I would be happy to cover the cost for the time being. Regards Roy

Several members have asked when the sword will be sold at auction. Friday 1st of February,at Martyn Rowe Auctions,Truro,Cornwall. Any wanting to bid please contact martyn via the web. Regards Roy

I suspect that many studious members have read this book,I had not and would recommend those interested in the development of Iron & Steel mainly for swords ,should try to get a copy although it is rare. Slim volume but makes fascinating reading. The Development of Iron & Steel technology in China.Joseph Needham,Pub: by the Newcomen society,Science Museum,London,1958. Here a section to wet your appetite.......

Well done young man,actually built to hold matchlocks,just hope you have some giant swords Regards Roy

Thanks for the link. Although it contains 82 pages it is well worth the effort to read this splendid document,it certainly enlightens the reader to some aspects of both Pre & Post war Japan. Thank you Kunitaro San Roy

All has come to an end,interesting ,but cannot give all detail as this is for our other member to do. Roy

OK,getting mixed reviews.. (1) sword owner will take what he paid for it some years ago..£950 (2) NMB member suggests it would be good to return. (3) Translated by the above and contact made. (4) The member asked his polisher and he agreed that it would be a free polish & Shira saya (5) From my end it is a consigned sword,any payment for that sword could be made directly to the owner via paypal (6) From the time it is paid for as well as postage, Assume that would be to the EU for work to commence,I have no further involvement. Appreciate all you chaps have said,it will goto auction in the new year if no interest shown. Is not expensive and am sure MC will make more at auction but the offer is out there. The Member who originally made the suggestion may wish to join the debate at some point and explain the details from his end. Regards all Roy

Although the NMB member who translated and contacted the family would not agree for his name to be published,and should add that this is not one I own but the owner has agreed to accept priced paid for it. The member has arranged both polish and shira saya for the blade but cannot afford the cost. {see MC1} http://collectorsloot.homestead.com/book2.html The price is way less than shown on my site,any interested in this project and would be prepared to contribute would be able to send the buying price direct via paypal to the owner,I am prepared to cover the postage cost. Odd I know but would value your thoughts on this. Roy

Had totally forgotten that,sorry folks.

Would be interested in opinions on this hambo. Roy

All else aside ,the first sword is like the first woman{Exclude girl},enjoy and learn. Roy

Found it,was pretty sure that it had gone into NMB at one point,this was one of my early record sheets when we 'Smoked' all oshigata. viewtopic.php?f=50&t=8607

Thank you for that,you PM comments re the return of the sword to the family are noted,have spoken with the owner who is prepared to accept what he paid for the sword as a special deal. Let me know if this is an option,have put "Hold" on the sword untill I hear from you. Regards Roy

Having read your comments I took a look at the swords in question and spoke whith the chap who has asked me to put them on the site. Both mentioned seem to have some age and are a little damaged & appear to be silver,Murray says they were on the swords when he purchased them from a dealer in Plymouth some 15 or so years ago. Mon have never seemed to make a difference in value from my experience and have had many over the decades,I like character mon in particular but again it is the sword not a mon that has either biased my buying or priced the selling. These three in particular seem honest untouched blades at a reasonable price {Open to offers if sensible}. Also should say that this is a facility for friends on a non profit basis. So,accept or deny the "Mon" but one member has suggested that the gunto with name and address written inside the combat cover be returned to the family,not my sword but would be interested in the opinions of forum members. PS On the subject of 'odd' Mon'ish,some years ago I had a Gunto with a parachute holding a cherry blossom engraved into the kabuto gane{Feel sure that I published it here,have never seen another in the hundred or so gunto I have had. made no difference in the buying or selling price but was a great curio at the time.

Of course.I could name at least one member who via my 'Scatter gun' form of collecting became a real student of Nihonto. Will allow him if he wish's to add to this debate. What happens in Japan seems not so important,profit potential....? is this pointed in any direction??. At the end of any collecting life be it Georgian silver or Nihonto,it has to return a pension pontential surely?. Roy

Rubbish dear sir,were it not for the "Treasure Hunting" aspect of all archeology {of which we are part} life would be even more grey. You are a great bonus to us all,sensible and full of knowledge but be assured that you also hold back many young collectors who may read your posts and retreat from our world. Your most interested follower. Regards Roy

Some years ago a dealer in Nihonto stated that the average collector retired around twenty years into his/her hobby. Have thought that the Internet was both the boon and doom of collecting,it inhibits reading and communication. In my early days we were thrilled when a friend phoned to say that he had found something,often drove hundreds of miles to meet up with like minded folk....the first Token Taikai in London was like the joy of loosing ones virginity in an orgy . Sadly both the internet and its off shoot such as our beloved NMB have thrown the fun of wild collecting into the rubbish bin. Gone the days when you read,Bought/traded and failed to gain a national treasure,now the younger generation{If any} are told to buy in polish,with papers to be assured that what they own is "Good". If you take the Fun and adventure out of anything it becomes futile to the young..... Are we becoming similar to those Georgian silver collectors??...I fear we may well be.

On who's part Moriyama san?. {Oops,your next comment Kunitaro san came as I was writing} Not rare I know but it seems we have the name and address of an IJA officer who survived the war and surrendered his family blade,how often do we see into the near past & if possible how would the family of that officer view this find???. Will look more closely at the blade over the next few days and try to take some picture although this will not be an easy project due to the polished state. Thank you all Roy

Correct gentlemen,now the Rank,age and regiment please Hint,came from Thailand.......................... The long section is a problem,great fun as I am sure it is the first time since 1946 that this has seen light. Thanks J & T Roy