29 Nov
1999
29 Nov
'99
9:45 a.m.
At 01:53 PM 11/29/99 -0700, you wrote:
they're
This one was 650 years old, made by one of the best, and used in some major
ceremony. My friend estimated it will sell for 4 times as much in Japan.
One wonders where your friend got the thing. I was under the impression
illegal to export from Japan. (not sure where I got
that impression though)
I asked one of the sword dealers about this and he said that many were
captured during WWII and brought home as souvenirs. Also that when Japan
de-militarized after WWII that many swords there were collected up and the
blades chrome plated for looks and then they were sold as tourist
souvenirs. Evindently that's how the ones that I had ended up being
plated. Also the previous owner did say that his father had brought them
back from Japan shortly after WWII.
Joe
--
Jim Strickland
jim(a)DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
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