by Caliban » Sat May 15, 2010 8:14 pm
A mate of mine has been in the military antiques businesses fo years, sold Ceasar his first sword !-) He is one of the countries proclaimed dealers and experts for collectable Japanese weaponry. He got me into collecting them years ago and as discussed above yadda, yadda yadda,to my deep regret. But I digress.
I was in his shop one day maybe fifteen or twenty years ago when a ladof about 18 or 19 came in. Scruffy dressed, typical looking scally, carrying something in two black bin bags. Seems he was cutting his teeth on making his way in buying good stuff from flea markets and car boot sales. He Unfolds the bin bags and a blanket to reveal something he had bought in a car bootsale in Brirmingham for £15 ($22) the biggest fucking tachi that either Bill or myself had ever seen. Filthy with gunge and dust and some surface finger acid rust but otherwise an untouched and tidy blade. But it was no fancy ceremonial dress sword. it was a real deal, no nonsense heavy blade made for a mounted samurai to go cutting enemies in two. 14th or 15th century blade as I recall. Can't remember whether it was signed on the tang or not. Bill needless to say snatched the lads arm of with a price both were very happy with ! That was cleaned up and went straight back to Japan for nice coin.
"If you sit still the birds shit on you, even Buddha, life's short so get out there and do something"
"My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?" Snoopy