My First Sword Club Meeting

[bnacorda]

Went to my first sword club meeting at the Northern California Japanese Sword Club today. What a great experience! Learned so much just listening and talking to other people who are much more knowledgeable. For todays meeting, everyone was suppose to bring in their "dogs" as in that sword is such a dog! Lots of swords to look at and for a beginner like me, it was really educational. Looked at tired blades (shintetsu), retempered blades (mizukage), hagires, etc. and just really good examples of what to look for and hopefully avoid.

 

I brought in my only nihonto, Bizen Osafune Sukesada, which I qualified as not being much of a dog and got a lot more information from Fred Weissberg about it. 

 

Its such a difference to be able to see sword examples from good to bad to worst as well as get pointers from others in this journey. Also, been reading all the posts in the message board and thank you to everyone here as well for furthering my education. 

 

Thanks,

Ben

 

 

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

It's a long road, Ben, but you've put your feet on the right path.

[Bazza]

Went to my first sword club meeting ... Looked at tired blades (shintetsu), retempered blades (mizukage), hagires, etc. and just really good examples of what to look for and hopefully avoid.

 

Thanks,

Ben

G'day Ben,

 

Welcome.  While we are on the subject it is very important to remember that mizukage doesn't always indicate a retempered blade.  High ranking smiths had mizukage in the original quench.  For an example I personally know, shodai Tadayoshi.

 

Best regards,

BaZZa

(aka Barry Thomas in Oz).

[Brian]

Attending meetings like this is a massive step towards learning. Well done, and hope you keep it up. The NCJSC is a great organization with some high level members too.

[bnacorda]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm heading to Japan next month for holiday. Will be hitting the Tokyo National Museum and the NBTHK Japanese Sword Museum. At least I have some idea at what I'll be looking at. I've also contacted Tsuruta-san since his shop is a 13 minute taxi ride away from where I'm staying. Hoping it won't be too overwhelming.

 

Its the small things that really stuck to me at the meeting as well. From the proper pronunciation of Sukesada (pronounced Skesada) to the proper handling of passing a sword to someone else to look at (hold the bottom of the nakago, blade facing away from the person) to the dunderhead realization that I need to get Nagayama's book since it is now reprinted and it looked like everyone had it in the club (felt like a kid who didn't have a textbook in class). I don't think I could have picked that up in a book.

 

Overall, having someone to talk to about all this stuff and finding that most people are willing to share their knowledge is a big relief. I think my wife was also getting tired of me pointing out all the new things that I learned while reading. John Yumato's book is not exactly 50 Shades of Gray. 

[Stephen]

Ben  

You are truly lucky to live in that neck of the woods. Youll become even more grateful come August for your show. Enjoy the adventure!  

[bnacorda]

Thank you Stephen. I was already warned about being snow blind for the August show and how often a fire sale tends to happen when guys need to scramble getting funds to acquire a particular piece. Not to mention deals on every piece that's still on the table come Sunday evening. Saving all my pennies now!

 

You're right, I can't believe this is all within my backyard. Burlingame, where the show is held, is where we go for some ice cream with the kids.

I hope to meet all of you there!  Maybe I can match the faces to the NMB posts? 

[Stephen]

Also once you get to know seller's and them you...ask whats under the table. For real eye openers!

[Ken-Hawaii]

Getting there while they're setting up isn't a bad idea, either, but you probably won't see the same treasures as attendees who are known.

[Curran]

 

Bazza said, "mizukage doesn't always indicate a retempered blade".

- Very true. That is a complex one that always brings people off the benches.

 

Stephen said, "once you get to know seller's and them you...ask whats under the table. For real eye openers!"

-Even more true. Having been in Japan for a while before attending a US show, I was a tad disappointed in my first show.

Now I go to the shows [when I can], because the private stuff people bring to shows can be mind boggling. An old friend or colleague will hand you  a box or shirasaya, and the rest of the room sort of goes away.

[echizento]

I wish I still lived in the Bay Area, I was a member back in the 80's and I learned a lot for going to the meetings.