Alex A

The Samurai handbook may have errors but what it does well is let the newbie know that all swords are not equal.. Those that are experienced know that well but many new to the hobby just looking for an antique Samurai sword will be oblivious to it. Remember looking through the valuation pages as a newbie and being determined to buy a sword with a smith rating of at least 15 lol Really did get me thinking and working out why, actually exchanged a sword with a dealer for a better one. It does its job. Another book that seldom gets a mention is The Sword of Japan by J W Bott, that's usually quite cheap and worth the price for a basic introductory book. Well done to anyone wanting to buy books, still get surprised by how many swords get sold to people that don't educate themselves

Market looks stable to me but lots of variables. For the UK, there has been issues for a while that have suddenly become more obvious. I was talking to a dealer here recently and he stated "i just cant get them polished". Then on the other hand you have places like the Lanes Armoury, checking their prices lately and i think they are at least 25% (or more) what they were several years ago. You can pick up Katana quite cheap, but they need a polish. Seen a good one in koshirae for £1500, signed and dated, Edo. Jo-Saku There is the gent in Scotland and also someone else. I don't know who they are or whether they are responsible but someone is ruining blade after blade and wish they would just stop. On that note, you look to Japan, sometimes the US. Going back 10 years ago when it used to be 1.5 to 2 $ to the £, that was the hay day for shopping with US dealers (for me) Some good deals in Japan at the moment, just never the right one about when you have the cash, it seems. As mentioned, shipping issues put a cloud above lately. Its kind of swayed me a bit from Katana and now seem to be more interested in Tanto and Wakizashi. Often, if looking for a sword by a particular smith, it can take years to find something worth keeping , that's key. When looking for keepers you look at the work with more scrutiny. Gone are the days where just have to have a Katana, now if a wak comes up by the same smith which is far better quality, then that's what to go for. (for me). You make these rules though but sometimes full impulse power takes over and you buy something ok, ok don't last. That's how it goes.

Was supposed to be going to meet up with a guy selling a Katana but as always something else cropped up. Be good if they kept up with this to see what's about. http://www.birminghamarmsfair.com/gallery/?prevevents/

In any collecting hobby you reach a point where you have enough knowledge to work out what matters to you. As i head towards retirement i don't want lots of swords with ??, just some really good signed examples. I suppose it depends where you are in the hobby and what you like. It does not need to be a permanent quest for knowledge, we not like the wise man that gets to sit at the top of the mountain, one can be happy with what they have learned and what they have attained. One day, the family might have to sell, would like to think il make it as straight forward as possible with good stuff that will sell fast. lol

Forgot to mention, many signed blades out there where you still cant get it down to one smith. Remember facts and fundementals had a few pages on the subject, just pulled it out and had another look. These paragraphs are relevent to what has been talked about above, folk will always have this discussion. Its not about just buying a sword because its signed, its about buying a good sword and knowing who made it. For some, like me, not knowing exactly who made it becomes a tiresome niggle.

Hi Paul, yes, its all a matter of perspective Become tired of "ifs and maybe" swords, no matter the quality. There are enough signed swords out there to keep me happy, no interest in owning any more swords where i cant get it down to one smith. Even if i could afford mumei swords by the highest rank smiths, i wouldn't be interested. Spend enough time in an hobby and you just come to your own conclusions at one point or another, narrow the field and buy less swords. Owned enough ? swords, sick of em lol That wont stop me admiring the work of any mumei sword, just not for ownership. Sometimes you come across something different that's appealing, rarely though. No disrespect to any collecting choices, we all differ and change as time moves along.

Taking in all of what has been said above, hammers home this thought that keeps reoccurring over and over again. Ruling out a lot, i know, but no longer interested in unsigned swords and swords which are not definitive in type of work for the smith, oddballs. Would not want to end up with Sayagaki to this and papered to that, hate it. You own it but your not sure what is, a massive minus, especially when you need to ask a shinsa panel.

That's a tough one, dont want to end up with junk. For the money, this is by far the best deal for anyone on a budget, ive seen lately. Sadly, its over budget but i think it would be a great gift. Actually, with its dimensions it may well be a gift sword for the birth of a child. Reminds me of Yokoyama, the hamon. Blade has 2 different sides and 2 types of hada which is interesting/eductational. Koshirae has issues but ok, blade has a small flaw. Sometimes you got to push the budget for something decent, i don't consider this a killer https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_ja_tachi&katanaA031219.html PS, i saw a cheap wak in koshirae at an arms fair and thought that would be a nice gift for my lad, i brings it home, gives it to him and he turns around and says "its rubbish" He was the same age, even at that age they can just know!

If you send really clear pictures of hada, hamon, nakago, kissaki and sugata and full dimensions, then you might get a better idea, should it be a definitive example.

Tend to disagree a bit there Jean. Wont add any value but with some blades its pretty straight forward working out whether they are genuine or not.. Some blades don't need authentication papers. Steve, you wont do this just looking at the mei or from bad images, compare the blade to that of existing examples and literature. You can send blades to Shinsa and not be any wiser, they might not be able to narrow it down to one smith.

Jake, don't put yourself out, was just curious. Can be surprisingly heavy, such swords, the kind that don't brake in battle Cheers

Good spot Okan, uncanny Ps Jake, would you know the weight of this sword?. Someone should buy this before someone else does, great opportunity!

Now that's a war sword!, very nice.

I remember looking at the works of Enomoto Sadayoshi and Son. Habaki were the same on many swords though think these were later swords. Whilst i don't have a clue whether they made their own or not (wouldn't be surprised if they did), smiths do get into habits of using the same version. Some here from both smiths. So, in a way, Habaki and smith can be linked. http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords/tanto/st2.htm http://sanmei.com/contents/media/A72895_S8890_PUP_E.htm https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/modern-Japanese-sword-shirasaya-katana-gendaitosigned-by-yusuishin-sadayoshi/

Hate the way you have to declare the value on a package going overseas, think in this day and age that would be information only available to customs, its not rocket science. Open invitation to attract thieves.

Such a worry lately is shipping. Not talking about anyone in this thread but when it comes to shipping an expensive antique, will avoid like the plague sending it to anyone i do not know. If that means getting an antiques dealer/trusted person involved as a middle man, at cost, i will do it. Seems crazy in this day and age putting items worth £1000s in cardboard boxes and hoping for the best, without insurance. Payment also!, if buyers/sellers don't agree terms, you got to wonder why.

Looks good Grey, glad to see you have kept your sold pages.

Should these have a nengo Jacques, do you think ? https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-osafune-kiyomitsu-nbthk-kicho-certificate/ https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-bizen-osafune-norimitsu/ https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-bishu-osafune-sukesadanbthk-hozon-certificate/

Lots and lots of swords out there made by obscure/low level smiths where there is very little references. (for us) Not just Koto, Edo too. References that only the likes of a shinsa panel may have a hold of. No doubt they come across swords now and again where even they scratch their heads.

John, as Johnny pointed out, maybe one for Shinsa to sort this. Just having a look through Takada swords, surprising variation. See some smiths at a certain time producing running itame with masame in the shinogi-ji whilst others a Ko-mokume etc etc etc.. As said earlier, known for copying other schools. The hada did not shout Shinshinto to me, but who knows. Its a tough one, without seeing it in hand and using the available images. Cheers.

Sometimes, a horse can be so high it puts the riders head in the clouds. Another line.. "Sorry, but when I see that someone declaring a nakago machi-okuri on a simple photo (without having had the sword in hand) it is the proof that he doesn't know much." Yet Jacques does not have the sword in hand either and come to the conclusion it is less than 150 years old and gimei. Nothing of certainty can be said about this sword yet, as not enough good photos and we do not have it in hand. Jeez, first time i saw the picture of the hada i thought Sue Mino Looked at the hamon and thought Bizen.

Not wanting to jump in but feel this point has to be made for the sake of any newbies being sucked in by Jacques “everything in boxes” way of thinkng. Seen some swords with NBTHK, dated to the late Muromachi where the mei looked nothing like other examples, you would just look and assume gi-mei. NBTHK have more resources and Knowledge than Jacques, and are obviously a lot more open minded. The mei is the last thing you look at! This has gone way of mark, would advise owner to study hamon and hada closer, look for a school. Anyways, leave you to it

Jacques, i was making a point, i stated gift tanto. Done my best to be polite and friendly with you, but your intolerable You really are making this an awkward place to be, and I'm the troll No wonder some REAL educated GENTS don't post so much lately, i guess they are all tired and bored of your constant desire to be confrontational Anyways, I'm out of this thread too, before i say something that gets me kicked out.

Jacques, again, not spending all afternoon on the internet to please you. From memory, have a look at Eds sold page or the other, cant remember off the top of my head but the name Moses comes to memory. Dealers are not as pedantic as you on such matters as these type of swords are not so desirable and sell for low prices, so they dont want to spend money and time on them getting them papered. Spoke to Tsuruta San the other day, he confirmed what i just said. An example, see any papers for this gift tanto ?, even made by the guy that started Yokoyama Bizen. https://www.aoijapan.com/tantoyokoyama-ise-kami-sukehira/

Pretty sure i saw one on a US sold page not so long ago, 45cm Another same size. 44.3cm http://nihonto.us/BOYS DAY SWORD CHI 17.htm