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Hi Fred,  I’m sorry to take so long to reply.  I got the handle as I was leaving the office for a long trip to Europe. The handle looks great and fits up solid.  It’s a shame the new piece of same' is not the same quality as the original but I appreciate having this fixed up.   I’ll be posting some pictures on SFI this weekend.  Thanks,  Walter



Hi Fred.  The sword arrived safely on Monday, I've been sick so haven't been keeping up with e-mail, a beautiful job, as always, and the owner is very pleased indeed. Will hopefully have more for you to do in the near future.    Thanks again,     Ted Slawski
 


Hi Fred,  Kenn (    ) here.  I just saw my teachers sword that was recently redone by you guys.  What a compliment to a beautiful old sword you did.  Very nice work and I must tell you he was using it last night during practice and was as proud as a peacock, with nothing but compliments to you in it's restoration.   Just thought you would like to know.    Thanks,  Kenn
 


Dear Fred,    I wanted to write you to let you know how much I like the new Tsuka, Tsuba, and fixtures that you crafted for me. The "Blood Red" Tsukaito is wrapped very tight and precise around the black-same and is finished with a beautiful knot. The Tsuba, Kashira, and Fuchi look great as well and I appreciate the matching Sageo that you tied to my Saya. I'd have to say that it makes my entire sword look unique. Please feel free to use me or my words as a reference any time.   Thanks again,    Dennis Biehl
 


Hi Fred,  What a great surprise to get that finished sword on my birthday. I hope my wife didn't badger you too much! It's just perfect, it's half the weight of my other one, while being longer, has excellent balance and is beautiful to boot.  The Habaki came out very nicely and I like the design also the Shitodome in the horn Kashira are a nice touch. I am very pleased with it and think this is one I will use for a very  long time. Thanks again for your efforts. I now own four swords mounted by you and two others in fairly recent Japanese mounts and of  the many local martial artists and sword people who have come over to see my swords, no one has ever assumed they weren't all mounted in  Japan. Well, many thanks, and hope to see you in San Francisco later this summer.     Regards,  Ted Slawski
 


Fred,   It arrived today.  It's BEAUTIFUL!  I'm very pleased, although I had changed the wrap to gold, it still looks good with the green.  Very well done and I'm surprised it was able to be polished as well as it was.  As for inspection of the tang and inscriptions, how do I do this, by tapping out the dowel and pulling back the handle?  I don't want to screw it up.    Thanks so much, it's something I'll cherish forever.      John
 

Hi Fred    Just wish to say thank you for the work you did on the handles I sent.  They arrived yesterday and look absolutely amazing.  Once again many thanks,     David



Fred:  Sorry I did not get the chance sooner to say thanks for the great job you did on my sword, I just love it, I would recommend your service to anyone.  Thanks again,     Catherine G.
 


I received my sword today, and I am still in shock over the difference. Any concern I had regarding the unity of the furniture is gone. The polishing on the blade makes a world of difference—I can actually see the Hamon now! You don't know how many times I heard from knowledgeable people that the blade was not worth the restoration work and money. You have exceeded my expectations in every way and have transformed something that I bought from a gun shop for $200, a sword which was underestimated and undervalued, into what will become the family heirloom it deserves to be. Thank you so much for what you have done. Sincerely, Chris Corey


Sir:   Just to let you know the shrimp Kojiri arrived today and I'm really pleased with it. The casting is lovely quality and with a bit of careful work, it should fit perfectly... it's a shame you don't do a Higo Kashira and Fuchi in the same style!   Regards      Sam

Fred:      Picked up my blade at the post office this morning and it looks great! I’ll post pics of it soon on Sword Forum Int’l under the home improvements tab to give your work a plug. Thanks again.      Phillip



Mr. Lohman,   I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thanks for your work on my katana.  It came out exceptionally well and the blade looks fantastic.  I will be sure to pass on any comments about your company to anyone looking for the same kind of work.  Once again, thank you very much for your work.  Jordan S. Pyle

Hello Fred ,  I just got the handle with the new scarlet red wrap and new Menuki. Wow !,  looks great once again ! Thank you for the fast turn around and the good work . I will be sending you more work as time goes on . Thanks again .  Patrick Donahue , Sensei  www.brattleboroschoolofbudo.com


Fred,  Thanks.  The Tsuba arrived and even more beautiful than I imagined.   I have a question regarding mounting:  Is the dragon's head face out towards the blade or inwards towards the Tsuka?   Thanks,   Chris



Dear Fred ,   Today I received the leather Tsuka ito samples :) Thank you Fred for your excellent customer service !  Cheers and all the best Fred .  Yours respectfully ,  Brad Griffin     SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Dear Fred,  I just received the Tsuka, and it is beautiful.  Thank you very much, and it was a very quick turn-around indeed.  I will be returning as a customer for more restoration needs, including perhaps a polish and further Koshirae parts for two Koto period blades, but it will be at a later time when more money becomes available. Again, thank you very much, and I will be in touch in the near future.   Adam



Fred  Just got my Katana back and it is wonderful!  It really looks great.  I am going to recommend you to everyone in my Iaito group.  I am planning to have a few other pieces I own done soon.  I will let you know as soon as I am ready (have the money saved). Thanks Again for all your help.  Warren,  Tucson AZ
 


Dear Mr. Lohman,   Thank you for present!  Everything is ok. The shipping was quick and perfect, and the items of remarkable quality (in particular the Kogatana's: very better that I expected).  It's a pity I am so far: I would want take advantage of your services as Kantei in Japan and custom made Habaki. I hope to have the opportunity to be again your customer. Best regards,    Franco Toscani,  ITALY
 


Mr. Lohman,  Picked up the handle from the P.O. this morning - it looks GREAT!  Thanks so much for your help and patience with all my questions.  Wm. Hill
 


Hey Fred,  I got my Heianjo Tsuba in today.  It's a beauty!  I just wanted to thank you again for your time and patience with me.  I hope to do business again.   Sherman
 

Hello Fred,    Just thought I'd let you know the sword arrived today. And boy does it look great!   Please thank your handle maker/wrapper for the excellent job. He's definitely a craftsmen in his own right.    Thanks again.    Jon Manning



Dear Fred   I just receive my Sword this noon time! It turn out awesome, I never saw a Sword that real and beautiful! I will do business with you again!         Thank you very much.  Sincerely,  Tewha

 

Dear Mr. Lohman & Co,  I have been an avid collector for many years now and I am very picky about the work I have done to the swords I collect. It is without a doubt that the Fred Lohman Co has gone above and beyond my expectations. I will not hesitate to send my remaining swords for restoration directly to your company.   Works of art, my visions realized.  Thank you ever so much.  Rayhan Perera.  London,  England
 

Well, after a little Post Office attitude and then a half apology, the sword is in my hands.  Other than the black ito instead of the purple, it turned out exactly as I wanted.  Actually, I believe the black looks perfect with this piece.  So the final product exceeds my expectations.  Truly an excellent job and masterful wrap !  Feels great on both the Tsuka and Saya.  Much thanks for all the correspondence and custom work.  I've got 4 more eventually and would be honored if you (et al.) could help me with them also.  Thanx again,  Joseph Pitts

Lohman wrote:     Joseph;  The ito is not black... but darn near.  If you recall, I told you that purple was not available and I had to dye the piece of ito myself that was used for wrapping your Tsuka and Saya.   It IS purple but I must admit, very dark.  Take it into the sun light and you will see.  I tried my very best but the color did not look right until it got very dark.
Let me know your thoughts.   Fred

At 03:59 P.M. 11/17/05, you wrote:  I noticed it was purple after I photo'd it with a bright flash.  I think that the almost black look is great!  Very nice wrap especially on the Saya.  Great grip for my practice.   Much thanx!


 
Fred:     The new Shirasaya arrived today. I am so impressed with the quality of the product !   I just did not expect in 2005 that excellent workmanship like this for the price I paid was available or even possible.   I will definitely be a repeat customer!  I thank you!      To you and all of your employees, have a wonderful Holiday Season.    Vic Diehl ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fred,   I received my sword today. I would like to thank everyone that worked on my sword. The sword looks amazing more so than what I thought it would look. You have a very satisfied customer. Once again thank you.      Best Regards,  Ryan  Bellegante __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
----- Original Message -----   Hey Fred!    Just received the Katana Stand. Just beautiful! Just beautiful! Great workmanship and attention to detail and finish. Well worth waiting for.   All the best.   Albert lampasso
From: E-mail Us.com" href="mailto:lohman@ E-mail Us.com"> lohman    To: Albert J. Lampasso   Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 8:12 AM   Subject: Re: sword stand 'A' black lacq. with M14 mon       Albert;  I welcome opinions about my products & services and would like to have your approval to post your unsolicited comments on my web site.   Fred
 

At 03:17 PM 12/10/2005, you wrote:      Feel free to do so-once again: A real quality product!!!!  Best around by a long, very long shot!   Sincerely,   Albert

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Hi Fred;    I am just back from Canada where I had some computor problems. I arrived in Paris 1 hour ago and found my sword at my mother's... It is great... extraordinary work ; Thank's a lot.    I'm sorry I didn't take care of the payment yet... things were difficult in the Canadian forest.  I will take care of everything this week.
Could you please sent me the total of what I owe you (sword work + Tsuba from July 2005 + shipping) ; everything was is my old computor...
Thank's again for you patience and for the excellent job. Regards,  Fred Evrard   Paris, FRANCE _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Fred,      The swords arrived today after being held up by customs for over a week.  What beautiful work you have done!  I am extremely pleased with all 3 swords and they were well worth the wait.  The daisho set is absolutely gorgeous and the tsunami wrap far exceeds any expectations that I had.  It feels really great to grip and looks like top quality suede.  I must admit to being a little hesitant to use it having never seen it for real, but any doubts that I had evaporated the moment I opened the box.  It’s very authentic with a Higo sort of feel to it.  I will certainly be using it again for another refitting project I have in mind. 

As for the other Katana, I am absolutely thrilled with it!  The Higo wave Fuchi-Kashira set (no. 13) is exquisite - the waves are in much higher relief than they appear in the photo on your website and compliment the Tsuba I sent you so well I could almost swear they were made for each other.

I really must praise you on the quality of your fittings.  I understand that the Fuchi-Kashira sets are all cast, but you would never be able to tell by looking at them.  There is no sign of casting mould lines and they are so crisp and sharply detailed they appear to be hand carved.  Very impressive!  I have 8 katana in antique fittings, One in World War 2 Gunto fittings and several other sets of antique Fuchi-Kashira and yours are by far the most detailed (granted some of the antique ones have rusted with time and have lost some of their original detail).    

The black same on all 3 looks great and the quality here is also apparent with large prominent nodes on the face side of the Tsuka. 

Whilst these were “only” Bugei blades (no offence James if you ever read this, but they’re not antiques is what I mean) remounted, the fit out you have done makes them prized pieces in my collection.  This has also served as a dry run before I sent you any of the antique swords I have that need remounting and polishing.  After seeing the top quality work you have done on these 3 swords and your attention to detail, I have no hesitation in entrusting you with my more prized swords.  I’ll be in touch regarding that soon once I finalize my ideas and decide which one needs your attention first.   Please pass on my compliments and thanks to everyone on your team who worked on my swords.  You certainly have a team of true craftsmen in the Japanese tradition working with you.     Love your work guys!        Kindest regards,  Andrew Barram      AUSTRALIA


Hi Mr. Lohman Sir!!!      I got my Ujiyoshi back. You work miracles on old blades!!! Just imagine if you can work your magic on old women!!!  Your workmanship is as fine or better than if I had sent the blade to Japan to get "the works!!!" I am very very very pleased!    I'm going to write you up in BANZAI.
 Thank you very much for the miracle!!! I'm going to send you a couple more blades!!!     HENRY SAKAIDA 
PS: You can add me to your testimonials!!!

 

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