Part two

[simonjbinks]

I know we are way off topic and perhaps should move to private email, I always have mine posted and available.

 

Mr Moss, your kin Ian is a fine man. He testified at my MVA trial as to me being one of the top three guitarists in the country. It's a standing joke/banter. I always say he is Australia's best, he says I am. In truth, there can be no 'best,' as there are so many ways to interpret and convey on a musical instrument.

 

I got the impression from you prior email that you are English, yet your reference to convict lineage would seem to imply Australia. But then you would know of Ian Moss. Yet you claim to know of my former self. How could this be?

 

Could it be from our tours of the UK?

 

I am only 1st generation Australian. My mother came from a long, complex line of British aristocracy, Breighton Hall and the Lords of Breighton in England and Calder Castle in Scotland with the equivalent Scot titles to go with them. MY mother was famous for helping the poor and afflicted. A wonderful woman. She was disinherited by my Grandfather's sisters.

 

My Grandfather, though, was purportedly a wonderful man, died eventually in the 1950s from wounds received in WW1. He lived long enough to see his daughter marry a man of whom he clearly approved, as he had him inducted into the Masonic Lodge. My father didn't care about such things but would never divulge the secrets of the Masons to me. I was later to find out through my own research, but that is a long, private email)

 

My father was an intelligent, wonderful man from a working class background, came all the way from England flying torpedo bombers off HMS Glory, sank the Scharnhorst and then accepted the Japanese surrender in Rabaul. I have photos of him on the deck of The Glory with a table supporting a number of swords, the defeating Japanese, Generals and Colonels it would seem, across the other side of the table, looking a little disgruntled. Many a time I had my hand around my father's throat screaming "Why didn't you pick them up, you were an officer on duty standing right there with the Captain of the 'Glory,' with swords of Generals and Colonels right within arm's reach?".

 

With one parent from an 'Aristocratic' background and the other from a working class background, from Stockport near Manchester, I feel I had a very balanced and privelledged childhood. Wonderful people both.

 

Drbvac, I think I have explained my perspective on swords as investment and the conundrum this brings to a lover of that collected, but if you find yourself with no heir to whom you may confidently bequeath your collection, I am available for adoption. I am a wonderfully affectionate and respectful child. I don't collect any other militaria by the way. My love of Japanese swords is purely because of the art. I find all Japanese art of great attraction. Most of it was disposed of by my former wife, but I still have two Sharaku prints, one a later reprint but the other from the National Museum, given to an Australian diplomat during the mutsukashi Jidai (sp?), with the seal of the Tokyo National museum on it as proof. My mother found it in a local antique shop and neither seller or buyer knowing what it was, would have paid very little for it. She only bought it as it is 'The Actor Ichikawa Omezu in the Role of the Servant Yakko Ippei', where Ippei is holding a sword.

[moss]

Simon,

I think the good Drs comment is pertinant,

 

Retirement planning and swords or any other collectible for that matter really don't go together, other than to have something you love when you do finally cease work. I have been at this for 40 years with various edged weapons and it always seems any appreciable change in prices always take quite a long time and only for really top of the line collectibles. There is usually a 30-50 % mark up on collectibles when sold so in order to make any real money you have to hold it long enough for the market demand to come up to the sellers price and then wait for another time for it to increase!

 

Good luck in your future endeavours

I shall not bother entering into any further discussion other than swords with your good self, as that is why I am a member here.

We all know who you are, what you had, and who you know, so lets drop the FIGJAM and proceed with the business at hand.

 

Cheers Moss

[simonjbinks]

I did not take offence at your original reply to my post as you thought but responded in kind, admitted to being off topic but curious as to the matters discussed.

 

I do take exception to suggestions of self-importance (arrogance is the height of ignorance) and being told to drop the FIGJAM, whatever that acronym means.

 

I merely relate the story of a touring musician, of whom I doubt very few on this site will have heard, as an anecdotal tale of the unusual circumstances that allowed me to tour around the world collecting swords whilst getting paid for it.

 

Being somewhat confused as to how you can know of me and yet not the more famous Ian Moss, who shares your name, seemed a polite aside

 

"We all know who you are, what you had, and who you know, so lets drop the FIGJAM and proceed with the business at hand."

I find offensive and uncalled for. As stated, I doubt any but a few on this site would know of me. There must be some latitude for related asides, particularly when admitted to being off topic but having been led to that point by pertinent sword discussion.

 

I think the story of my father accepting the surrender at Rabaul, with the photos of Japanese Generals and Colonels handing over the swords in pictures I have, of interest to members on this board and entirely pertinent. I am a writer. I enjoy writing, so if my sword-related tales are embellished by my whims as a story-teller, I would have thought it all the more interesting to the board.

 

Please feel free to not reply to any more of my posts.

 

I would be happy to post the photos I speak of if other members wish, if I can find them. They are extraordinary first-hand visuals of how we all came to be collecting in the first place, in the West at least. My heart does go out to those Japanese officers handing over possible family heirlooms never to be seen again, but I wonder how many collectors feel the same sense of loss/gain/responsibility when purchasing such swords.

 

How many have tried to return a sword to the family from which it came? I have but to no avail. It is extraordinarily difficult.

 

Simon Binks

 

Simon,

I think the good Drs comment is pertinent,

 

Retirement planning and swords or any other collectible for that matter really don't go together, other than to have something you love when you do finally cease work. I have been at this for 40 years with various edged weapons and it always seems any appreciable change in prices always take quite a long time and only for really top of the line collectibles. There is usually a 30-50 % mark up on collectibles when sold so in order to make any real money you have to hold it long enough for the market demand to come up to the sellers price and then wait for another time for it to increase!

 

Good luck in your future endeavours

I shall not bother entering into any further discussion other than swords with your good self, as that is why I am a member here.

We all know who you are, what you had, and who you know, so lets drop the FIGJAM and proceed with the business at hand.

 

Cheers Moss

[John A Stuart]

I am interested in family history as it relates to Nihonto and would like to see the pictures and hear more about the Glory and this episode of its' history. It seems, Simon, you are very forthcoming about your family history and personal life, more than a lot of people would be or are accustomed to. Nothing wrong in that, although, perhaps the bits that have a closer tie to the pertinent subject matter would be more comfortable. BTW, I don't know what Figjam is either, besides what fills Fig Newtons, which I like, it doesn't sound horrible though. Perhaps when an aside, such as this has, doesn't fit a sub-forum, like this in "Translations', it could be moved to 'General Japanese Discussion', which is to where I shall split this. John

[doug e lewis]

personally, i enjoy your stories. they add character and color to a sometimes dull iron nihonto discussion limited to patina on tsuba and sori of katanna. tho i like that, also, as that is where the real learning begins. i agree with John about maybe too much your life history, but everyone has there own style and way of getting to the point. since this General forum is the least restrictive on NMB, i can't see the harm. if it annoys me i can jump somewhere else, i am not forced to read every post.

 

i don't know who you are .... but i don't know the names of all of the Beach Boys, Who, or Eagles ... or Three Dog Night. hope you get back at it, even if only at the local pub. rockn' roll will keep you young.

 

more of your father's WWII experiences, please.

 

doug e

[Goldy]

FIGJAM: F**k I'm Good, Just Ask Me

 

No, not me, just an interpretation....Heard it all the time in the military. Usually used by snotty nosed young officers just out of training, 10ft tall and bullet proof in the pub...something less elsewhere....

 

BTW, Mossy should have stuck with Jimmy, he would've done better.....

[george trotter]

Hi Simon and all,

A strange topic to be sure...but I think I can relate a little story that applies to investment/swords here in Australia. The parallels with your situation seem close.

A family member had a a small number of good nihonto (10...6 were gendai) collected in Australia in the 70s-80s (got them for virtually nothing). In around 1980 the two best of them had almost identical quality examples by same makers come up to auction in America...one went for $US 25K and the other for 71K...call it 100,000 even. I saw a slightly lesser example of the 2nd one for sale in Tokyo in 2006 for 7.2 mil yen (which means less by negotiation)....about 90,000 dollars then. It seems that swords haven't gone up that much....not a great investment based on just this small example (I stand to be corrected of course).

HOWEVER, the family member sold the 10 swords locally for $25,000 in 1985...he invested the money in property which was cheap then...he just sold 1 property in 2007 for $1 million and retired...he still has the other property....what would you say is the sounder investment strategy?...just a thought.

BTW Simon, in your first post you mention the "mutsukashi Jidai"...what is this? "Mutsukashi" as I understand it is Osaka ben for muzukashi...Tokyo ben for "difficult"...do you mean the starving post-war years of the Occupation?

Regards,

George.

[Brian]

Looks like I came in a bit late for this one, thanks John.

Folks...let's get back to the topic at hand, and stay on it. Too much said already for me to cut and paste and edit to death, so I'll just caution everyone and hope we are able to get on with "business"

Moss..

Simon, I enjoyed the stories, but out of necessity we have to remain on track and back to Nihonto.

Personally, I wouldn't count on those swords being shoshin. Too many buyers who know things, and spot bargains. If swords remain unsold, there is usually a reason. I learned a long time ago that the internet means falling prices, more choice, more buyers and fewer real bargains.

 

Brian