mei help

[peter]

Hi Guys,

could anyone help read this mei,

this may be a tall order but i know some of you are a wizz with a computer and able to zoom and blow up and such on images so i hope this images are good enough to work with,

many thanks for looking at least,

628_0007.JPG (537.1 KB) , 626_0004.JPG (469.8 KB) , 628_0001.JPG (484.3 KB) , 628_0002.JPG (459.4 KB) , 628_0003.JPG (483.0 KB) , 628_0004.JPG (439.9 KB) , 628_0005.JPG (455.3 KB) , 628_0006.JPG (469.3 KB)

peter

[peter]

Sorry guys i hope these may give you something to look at,

peter

[peter]

few more images,

[mdiddy]

Omote: Koa Isshin Mantetsu Saku

Ura: Showa Mizunoto Hitsuji Haru (Spring 1943)

[John A Stuart]

Hi All, I am asking everyone, not picking on you Peter, but, your pics illustrate my point, to please orient your pics properly and post the ones that show what you want us to see the best. Out of focus pics, unless the best you can do, waste space. Improperly oriented ones make downloading and rotating them our problem. Thankyou. John

[peter]

Hi John,

i did half expect a telling off, i do understand and apologise , this blade is up for auction shortly but is in a bad state so wanted to know if the smith was known or if it was worth restoring,

many thanks for everyones help on this,

Peter

[Jean]

I agree at 100% with John. I was thinking that to myself seeing your pictures.

 

In fact it is because most of the time people are trying to get a close up while they have not a macro objective. With autofocus it is not aproblem any more, respect the minimum distance in respect of the lenses, use the highest resolution as possible, and the highest sensibility (ISO 1200/2400). You'll get a clean picture. Then you can do the rest on photoshop.

Select one area, crop the picture, re-orientate it and you'll get good picture.

 

Now, when I want to take picture of the hada/Kissaki of a blade this the way I proceed.

 

I have a D40 Nikon with a zoom 18/200.

I put the camera on a tripod, the bare blade rests on the katana kake on which I have put a white sheet, The tripod is at about 70 cm from the blade. I shut the light (easy in winter - it is pitch dark at 6PM). I make the focus on the part of the blade I want to picture. On the left hand, I have a LED torch light, the automatic flash (incorporated in the camera) is on. ISO 1600 or choose automatic. I ligthen the blade at the best angle with my torch in the left hand and when I have the right angle with the right hand I take the picture. The combination of the flash coupled with the LED torch light gives this result, (the flash helps eliminating the blue tone of the LED light). It is very easy

[bone]

Excellent information! Thank you very much!

[peter]

Thank Jean,

i will try that and keep practicing, if its the same theory with a compact, 12mp

peter

[PKDA]

Peter,

Coming from my limited knowledge, here is some food for thought on the Koa Isshin. First, go to R. Stein's site and read his article on the Koa Isshin blades. For that matter, read the whole site. The article indicates that a good example form this group of blades would have some definite value. I know of a few instances of martial artisits using these blades for Iaido and Battodo and being very happy with them. I own one and it is a beautiful, well made sword and one of my favorite gendaito. That being said, the issue of whether or not it is worth restoring has alot to do with it's current condition and what you want to achieve. I believe these blades are going for $1,500 on the mid-low end to maybe $2,500 if it is in excellent condition with the original koshirae. You could spend at least $1,250 for a decent polish if the blade is not too badly rusted. Then you have mounting costs if you wish to use it for practical use. So is it worth purchasing? Possibly, but you'll need to provide images of the full blade before that can be even guessed at.

Thanks,

Kevin P.