Kronos

Works fine for me.

I believe Stephen does this. I take it you're in the UK and can't bid on swords?

The Jigane doesn't look Naoe Shizu, it could be but would need better photo's.

PM sent.

If you kept it amd offered it again next year I'd most likely take it. No money until then I'm afraid but someone should really jump on this.

I'd agree with Kozori or Omiya.

English: Looks like 16th century Sue-Seki, no idea about the mei.

The short answer would be yes. Katana size tsuba seem to be more desirable to collectors unsurprisingly.

Did you email Paul directly or use the contact page on his website? If it's the latter he may not of received it as when i did the same it went into his spam folder.

There's a couple of Ito TeruYoshi's in Markus Sesko's index. Teruyoshi (英吉), Bunka (文化, 1804-1818), Tosa – „Doshū Kōchi-jū Teruyoshi“ (土州高知住英吉), „Tosa-jū Teruyoshi“ (土佐住英吉), civilian name „Itō Jōsuke“ (伊藤丈助), he studied first under Ozaki Suketaka (尾崎助隆) and later under Suishinshi Masahide (正秀), we know blades from the Kyōwa (享和, 1801-1804) to the Bunka era Teruyoshi (輝美), Kaei (嘉永, 1848-1854), Tosa – „Teruyoshi“ (輝美), civilian name „Itō Jōsuke“ (伊藤丈助), he studied under Tosa Teruyoshi (英吉) and lived in Tosa´s Kariya (刈谷)

For the record I was never arguing for or against falsifying declarations, simply stating it is what it is. To bring this back on topic I've noticed since I emailed royal mail they've updated their "prohibited items" list to better reflect that it only includes illegal weapons so there shouldn't be any more problems at the post office with ignorant staff that immediately think weapon when you mention the word sword. This should help those in the UK sending swords both domestically and internationally.

No it shouldn't, but in the real world it does otherwise we wouldn't have the criminal justice system. The law essentially works on the basis that if you break it you get punished as a disincentive, however without punishment then that law for all intents and purposes does not exist as it relies on the individuals morality which may or may not encompass the thought that a given law is wrong as not everyone agrees with all of a societies laws. There's been many laws throughout history that were completely repulsive to modern democratic societies, the right of women to vote for example and with 50% of populations women then that clearly did not reflect the wishes of the population. There's quite a few laws in Britain currently that none of the population voted for or agree with that were put through by parliament. 1) I agree but lack of perception of ability to enforce is generally present when a law is not actively being enforced. Everyone who breaks a law takes a risk vs reward standpoint and if they think their chances of being caught are low then it depends on other factors. 2) I'm not sure how often you get audited in Canada, but here without owning a business the chances are effectively zero making it a mute point. Drug traffickers aren't exactly known for their intelligence and it still requires you to be breaking another law so it's a very weak argument you present. 3) Good luck with that, enforcing the internet is practically impossible as China shows. Yet I would wager you've broken many laws in your life, whether it be getting a parking ticket, speeding or littering even if you are a "law and order type".

That looks remarkably good for something made in China. As you say still plenty of issues but thats close enough to fool a lot of people.

The population demographics of Japan throughout most of the Edo period was 10-12% Samurai and nobility, 80-82% farmers & peasantry, 5-6% merchants and artisans. Considering it was customary for practically all Samurai to own a daisho and the merchants were only half their number (not even the merchants, thats including all artisans as well) then it's quite preposterous to assume even 1/3 of all waks extant today dating from the 1600's onwards were owned by anyone other than samurai. If you take a look at Edo, the population in 1720 was 1.4m out of which 500,000 were samurai so it's pretty safe to assume most waks produced in Edo around that time would of been for samurai. The whole waks = merchants thing seems to be a bit of a myth alhough there may be other reasons as to why they're so undesirable. The other alternative is the farmers were buying a load as well... Source: Mikio Sumiya and Foji Taira, An Outline of Japanese Economic History, 1603-1940

I don't subscribe to wakizashi's having less value purely because they 'may of' been used by merchants. Lets not forget merchants could have Tanto as well yet they are priced higher, like-for-like than Wak's while the Daisho for samurai was enshrined in custom by that point so almost all samurai would of had one. At the end of the day if the quality is there is it not the 'art' that is desirable above all? Different people have different priorities I guess as Darcy eluded to.

Laws are only laws if they're enforceable.

Big name, but would someone from Japan really of sold it on ebay without first trying to get it papered, or at the very least taken it down to try and sell at their local sword shop? 99% gimei and tired so the question becomes what does the workmanship show?

The difference between what me or Chris would pay as collectors and what a dealer would pay may be vastly different, also if the OP is just a dealer looking to profiteer then it's a complete minefield with restoration costs and very long timeframes before you even get around to trying to sell. Even then the best 2 ways are through auction where you have no idea what the return will be or via an already established dealer who's going to charge 20% commision. So unless the Op's thinking about taking up collecting Nihonto then without first reading books even at $3k they could get burnt without good decision making.

I'd agree with Chris, $4k would be a good low number you couldn't go wrong with as long as there's no fatal flaws and would look to spend maybe $5k myself (if I had $5k currently ) . They both look quite interesting and I'd like to see better pictures including the tangs if you were to buy them.

Pretty much any Japanese sword can be classified to be under 9705 as Darcy states, whether customs who are a law unto themselves accept that is another matter. For someone running a transshipping company it should be free for any VAT/taxes if it's only a temporary import, just like sending a sword to Japan for restoration.

Thanks guys, ¥12,000+ each for over 40 volumes is a little much but I may look into the index as it should still be quite useful.

Lacquer.This is when the Hi isn't polished.

I had a few quick questions about these books if anyone can indulge me. I was just wondering how much they cost from the NBTHK each year and if they offer reprints of past years? A link to where to buy this/last years would be good. Also has anyone ever done English translations/indexes?

I'd hardly say you were offered it seeing as it's been for sale the best part of a year on a Japanese dealers website and was even in the for sale section here at one point. The papers seem genuine but do not mention Naoe Shizu. Maybe the full size images off the dealers website would help...

Uk: 5% Vat on antiques and ethnographic items (so you can include Gendaito/Showato and Shinsakuto) and no other fees. We have special trade rules with Europe so don't pay Vat when imported from the EU.