FAQ's
Here we'd like to address some of the more commonly asked questions concerning a wide range of topics and services we offer. Please take the time to read them carefully and, of course, Contact Us for further explanation or clarification. Go straight to the Answers.
In the photos, why do some pieces appear to be different in color?
Why do some tsuba's centers appear incomplete in the photos?
In what colors do you lacquer?
Must I send my blade when ordering a new handle or Saya?
I have a sword I want some work done on, but I'm hesitant about sending it out?
My tsuka needs re-wrapping or some pieces refit, do I have to send the whole blade?
What is the turn-around time for restoration?
If I order now, how soon can I expect delivery?
Do you ship internationally? What does it cost?
Do you work on or restore Replica swords/blades?
What kind of guarantee do you offer?
What payment methods do you accept?
What is Herculoy?
In the photos, why do some pieces appear to be different in color?
Why do some tsuba's centers appear incomplete in the photos?
Are all the pieces replicas?
What color is Silver?
Do you polish with stones?
How are your handles made?
How are the Saya made?
What are they made from?
In what colors do you lacquer?
Must I send my blade when ordering a new handle?
I have a sword I want some work done on, but I'm hesitant about sending it out?
Then, when shipping, we recommend insuring your blade for at least twice the value. We remain in contact by email or phone throughout the time your blade is with us.
My tsuka needs re-wrapping or some pieces refit, do I have to send the whole blade?
What is the turn-around time for restoration?
If I order now, how soon can I expect delivery?
Do you ship internationally? What does it cost?
Do you work on or restore Replica swords/blades?
Do you BUY swords?
What kind of guarantee do you offer?
We do still require all orders to be shipped insured to guard against any damage during shipping.
If you are not satisfied with your order, we will replace or re-do your order at NO EXTRA COST up to 90 days after the customer's receiving date.
Do you do online appraisals?
Herculoy is Yellow Brass without Zinc. It polishes like gold and after some time darkens into a beautiful aged/antiqued look. It is both strong and flexible making it durable for any use.
As stated above, herculoy can appear different in different states of polish. The pieces photographed on this website are in varied ages and states of polish. Most of our recent pieces are taken in full polish and therefore appear very shiny. In order to get the detail of each piece, we shadow many of the photos to enhance this detail.
We try to custom fit each tsuba to your blade. Therefore, we often leave the center hole incomplete until we fit them. HOWEVER, when ordering tsubas alone, we usually cut them to a generic size to fit most blades.
Yes and No. Each piece in our collection is cast from Original pieces, not catalogue-ordered replicas. Each is a detailed "Reproduction" of original pieces. So yes, they are reproducitons, and No, they are not replicas!
Silver.
Absolutely. We use 10 different stones ranging from 250-3400 Grit to achieve a "Semi-Polish". This means that we do NOT go further to produce a "Full Polish". This way we our customers can polish their blades to a beautiful, sleek, and presentable state without bourdening the extreme cost of most Full Polishes. See Costs for pricing.
Carefully. We hand-carve each bevel and curve of your Nakago on thier respective sides. Making sure the Mekugi-ana are aligned, we glue the halves together and sand it down to the desired shape and thickness. We ensure MAXIMUM security using this traditional method.
In much the same way as the handles. We hand-carve each bevel and curve of the blade down the length and put it together like the handles.
Our handles and Saya's are made from Poplar. This wood is very similar to the tradiational Ho-wood of the Japanese. It is light and strong not as difficult to obtain as Ho.
Black. If you want a specific color, we can paint it if you supply the paint!
Of course!! We can't custom fit a handle or saya without the sword.
We understand. We suggest taking digital photos or scanning pictures and e-mailing them to us BEFORE you ship. That way we can give you a basic estimate on the work needed and save you time and money.
No. If all the work done is to be on your tsuka alone, you do NOT need to send your blade. However, if a fuchi refitting is required, without the blade in whole, we cannot guarantee the Mekugi-ana will line up exactly.
We can complete most orders within 60-90 days.
Other than restoration (which takes 60-90 days) we ship most orders once payment has been made and cleared, usually the very next day! On parts orders, the sooner you send the money, the sooner you get your order!!
Of course!! Customer is responsible for Shipping costs. Therefore, we'll ship wherever you want.
Generally speaking, No. Though we have made some rare exceptions in the past, we generally deal only in authentic nihon-to blades.
Absolutely!! To see our requirements for purchases, see our Buy, Sell & Trade page.
We guarantee that you will recieve EXACTLY what you ordered. We also guarantee that everything we send out will be complete and secure when it leaves our hands. That goes for our everything from our Parts & Pieces to our complete Restoration.
No. The multiple intricacies of each blade are too varied to be captured accurately in a photograph. All appraisals require the blade in-hand, no exceptions.
