Arcived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.com): Darcy Brockbank Bio
About Me
By training I am a computer programmer, and I have been studying Japanese swords since late 1999. I became interested in Japanese metalwork as a waypoint on a path of slow and steady exposure to Japanese culture throughout my life. I am also a self taught precious metalsmith, and occasionally I create a new design on behalf of friends who seem to keep getting married. This site gives me an opportunity to put up some swords for sale and meet new people interested in the same things as well as experiment with interface design.
Japanese swords and sword fittings are at an intersection of my interest in Japanese culture and in metalwork. To my mind they represent an art form that is forever above my capability, and embraces an aesthetic that I hold dear. As purely functional objects, throughout their active time in history they were peerless. It is the pursuit of perfection by people who would not accept limitations that made them so. This kind of desire to produce the best possible craftsmanship is something I deeply respect and revere.
I try now to be a student of the Japanese Sword, which means a lot of research, participating in discussion groups, and travelling around the world to see collections and fine swords that often are beyond mortal means to purchase. I maintain an interest in trying to broaden my knowledge by writing articles, and experimenting with photographic techniques, and maintaining a correspondence with Robert Benson who bravely puts up with my endless email and questions.
Every sword has some things to teach, but a good sword I find is often like a full library. No matter how many good books you are able to buy and read, there is no substitute for a sword which displays what the books reference. Similarly, a good sword without reference material, or even better, the teaching had at the foot of someone with good knowledge, will not be able to tell you its full story.
I am always glad to chat about swords, and am willing to dispense free advice within the limits of my knowledge and abilities, so feel free to use the email links on my site. I am also glad to recommend anyone interested to a sword polisher, or to a full service shop who can take care of their restoration needs. I do not perform any kind of brokering or sales of restoration and papering services, but am glad to refer people to those in the field who are honest and reliable.