gtstcactus

I'm going to inspect this one in person on thursday, I'll try get some better pictures...

Many of the wise members here tell me nothing much can be attained from the crappy photos I've got available to me at the moment, so can we really say for sure they are low quality swords? I'm going to have a look at 3 of them on Thursday, I will try and get some better pictures in the hope of facilitating a better conversation about them.

there are pics of this sword in this thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9794

Ultimately I will do as I want.... But I come here hoping to seek information..... Again I apologise for the pictues but they are the best I have available to me at the moment.

I wondered how long the age thing would take to come up..... I am younger than many of you..... I am 31, so a baby in many of your eyes.... I find spending money on my interests hobbies stops me wasting it on more frivolous things.... yes I have a problem saving (bad childhood lessons with money).... If I hold on to money I'll do something stupid like buy a $300 dollar cactus, spend it on poker machines, drugs, alcohol, junk food, etc etc So maybe I'm just doomed to have "uninteresting / low grade swords" I'm being honest so please stop just give me a break.....

I'm inclined to go with the owner and the member who suggested it has the curvature of a shin-shinto blade..... Closer inspection might help.... Oh wait was that you who suggested that kusunokimasahige? You seem confused...

I'm sorry about the pics guys..... I didn't take them and it's all i have to go on until I go inspect them in person...

Are you taking the piss now?

I merely remarked on my doing Japanese martial arts as that is in many ways responsible for my interest in nihonto. I mention there are few Japanese sword schools in my city as one way of illustrating my point that there are bugger all sword people / enthusiasts in my city. That means I don't get to handle many/any nihonto. And really looking at pretty pictures is no substitute for holding and examining the real thing. The photos I posted perhaps do not do justice to the blades. Perhaps they are crap perhaps not. I've had private messages from members who have been here a while who fear being persecuted for giving there opinions publically. You really do need a thick skin around here!

I don't think it should be classed as military, if the nengi on the nakago with the date of tenmei, second year July is correct. that dates it to 1781..... waiting on that photo...

fair enough.... remember tho the new zealand dollar is not as valuble as major currencies $1600 NZD is only around 880 euros.

cabowen I didn't say I could get them cheaper then what phillip bid I said close to... I don't think it make them special or hold any merit. I don't think phillip would bid on total trash, which he'd have a hard time selling.....

I felt I was just trying to answer what seemed to be critisisim or plain calling me stupid... I get the jist of what people say and I understand. I've been given more advice which I didn't ask for than actual opinions on pieces which is what I did ask for (I didn't ask for opinions on what to do with my money). I know I sound defensive now and it's not how I want it to come across. I thought I did ok with the wakizashi I got in shirasaya after selling my first sword. No one here can say it has or hasn't been retempered but now I'm aware that is a possibility.... It has what I think is a nice hamon. Maybe I should just keep quiet and not bother you guys. You see I didn't say I was going to buy these swords, I said I was thinking about it. Now if from what crappy pictures I have available I can show you guys and learn anything about them, then actually go handle them and maybe not buy them but hold them look at them etc surely I'm going to learn something.... We don't have shinsa for swords in new zealand nor do we often have sword shows if ever, there are bugger all sword schools in my town. I practice karate and ninjutsu and have done for quite a long time. But that still doesn't teach me about nihonto. This is not just something I decided I'd like for my wall as a new years resolution.

I've already got one. Now I'm asking about some others available in my area. God anyone would think this is the anti-nihonto forum sometimes.

Price $1250NZD

Price $1250NZD

.

Price $1600NZD

Price $1800 NZD

I didn't give prices as I feel it sways peoples opinions on the subject matter..... but seeing as everyone wants to know how much I'll go through and put the price in each thread. I didn't say I was going to buy anything I said I was thinking about it....... I just wanted any info / opinions. It's quite remarkable the different tones and responses you get on the various boards. All the swords I've listed are all over $1000NZD

Thanks stephen, nice of you to offer info not critisisim.

The opinions I get here contribute to my desicions but do not alone form them.... That is why I ask in the first place. Is it not right to seek other opinions / knowledge / information? Isn't this a forum about nihonto? have I not been posting for opinions and info on nihonto near me? When the sellers live in the same city or within an hours drive of me I can go see them for myself, I don't have to buy them on the spot... I'd much prefer to inspect a sword in hand than by photos alone. If I decide to purchase them I can have them listed back on the auction site with a buy now price..... And no rules were breached.... I purchased a nihonto book off the seller so we talked after the auction.

I can identify quality to some degree, not as greater degree as some but well enough. The opinions I get here do not form the basis of any desicion I may or may not make. The photos are the best available to me at the moment. I deliberately did not post price as I believe that can predjudice people opinions on the subject matter. Those who actually wanted to help pm'd me and asked about the prices. I might add that when these sword were available to all Phillip actually bid on 3 of them against me.... Phillip was the only other person who showed interest infact. Funny you should mention him. Neither of us bid the reserve but now I've the got the chacne to purchase them out of auction to pretty close to what phillip was prepared to bid. So what does that say? EDIT - Yes Phillip is a good chap, I don't know his partner. I purchased a set of replica edo period tiger menuki off him to go with a tiger themed katana. Very nice guy, very helpful but I can hardly email him and say hey don't bid on that sword I want it, oh and by the way what do you think of the current selection in NZ when he is selling one of the 5 available and bidding on 3 of them...??? So I come here for opinions, not asking anyone to decide for me. Note I never asked what one should I buy.... Just info and opinions as best as could be got / made for the photos available to me.

Actually I just want any info and opinions on the swords I've started threads on as they are actually in the same country that I live in..... (New Zealand) We don't have a JSS here that I know of, it's not easy for me to travel overseas so it beats the hell out of ebay or stuff I can't go and look at first. I wanted to show you guys pictures get some feedback and then look at going to inspect the swords and then possibly purchasing them if any proved to be worthwhile. At least if I'm spending my money on swords I'm not buying booze LOL The $32,000NZD katana thats in NZ for sale on ebay at the moment is just a tad out of my price range and will be for some time...

I think the light / camera flash might be the culprit rethe looks of the nakago. My understanging is it was made by kanehisa of mino school (not sure which kanehisa the only one in my book is dated 1368, I'm sure there are more). Stephen are you saying it may have been made for the war? as in made during the 2nd world war? For a soldier cruising around in a tank? I guess that would be more practical than a katana. The current owner is quite adament it's pre 1600... or have I misunderstood you? I would have thought the 3 mekugi holes would suggest some age...