Alex A

Anyone ever dismiss a sword (or tosogu) when you were less experienced, but then years later wish you could take a second look? Every so often I think about a katana I had in my possession for a brief moment, dismissed it, mainly because I became obsessed with owning a blade with hozen papers. Looking back though, may have been a very interesting blade indeed, signed Koto, nice Edo koshirae with a wonderful tsuba. I do wonder.

Some info here too http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/2099-kazu-uchi-mono/

As James states, judge a sword on its own merits, an interesting thread on this somewhere on the forum.

I like the story of Chobie Kiyomitsu (kaga smith) having a competition with Kotetsu (armourer). Kiyomitsu,s swords where known for cutting through helmets and it was Kiyomitsu that did the swinging in the test. (From one of Markus,s books)

If the sword has a cutting test with a testers name, but is found to be a fake, it will not pass Hozen. The better the blade, the more likely it was tested by one of the well known testers, such as Yamada etc Without a testers name, it may pass hozen, but doubt must remain as to authenticity, fake cutting test incriptions out there.

Good point Markus, often avoided banks and looked at sideboard for a speedy loan

Gary, everyone wants a BARGAIN, nail on head, too much talk of great deals and bargains, I'm beginning to think its having an effect on the market The only time I recouped all the money back on a sword from a dealer is when the dealer was offering it at a BARGAIN Sensible buys are the BARGAINS like you see in the sales section, likely to get your money back. If you buy from a dealer at "full" dealer price, then place an advert in the sales section a year later for the same price, your unlikely to see any comment such as BARGAIN, in which case it will hang around until you drop the price. When you drop the price someone might chime in with BARGAIN, and you might sell it, at a loss. (providing its not over $1800, that's when folk start to look for BARGAINS) As for buying "forever" swords, well, that's ok for a lot of people, but people like me get bored easily, and sell to move on. Sometimes I think if I had a Masamune or whatever, id probably have it a year before the novelty wears off. The majority of people in this game wont spend a lot on swords, there are those that will. Remember that those who can afford to buy fairly expensive swords can afford to take a loss, hence, probably not to bothered about a loss when the time comes.

edit.

Ignorance is bliss, blissful shine They know not what they do (sure ive read that before)

I don't know much about this hobby, but would know nothing without NMB Thanks to Brian, Jean and John, and all the friendly folk who take the time to reply constructively. Hopefully, this will continue to attract new folk into the hobby. Happy 10th NMB!

Hi Grev, I agree, it has character like an old car, Roman coin, bronze statue and so on. As mentioned, it is what it is, so why mess with it? When I say "sometimes folk worry too much", this is good example We are all picky to a certain extent, just that some folk are more picky than others. I used to collect the odd coin or two, so thats perhaps why I tend to look at things differently. You see stains etc,i see natural age. It never bothered me, and I doubt it will ever bother me, it is what is is I used to worry over small kizu in swords, not so bothered these days Judging by the number of tsuba around with very strange "antique" patina, I'm glad of natural wear and tear/age, so think on lol. Ps, the tsuba looks much better in hand than in photos.

Hi Bruce, is it my eye or is there a change in patina on the nakago towards the habaki? Also, is there any indication as to if the hamon is ending or heading down the nakago? Also, whats the nagasa? + overall length?

Impressive display Brian, I tried sort your pic but it did same with me lol

Hi Grev, as the previous owner All down to personal opinion but I would leave it as it is. Its very old and shows natural age. I think sometimes folk worry too much about stuff.

Only saw a bit of that show, to be honest I switched it off. Beeny was on another Sunday morning tv show being interviewed, they asked her about the sword. I cant remember her exact words, but something along the lines of "gastly, don't know why anyone would want them in the house". I did fancy her but that put me right off, narrow minded so and so

Interesting Malcolm, must have been a huge risk arriving home drunk at 3am back then.

Its hard from pictures (but fun), I see Koshi-zori due to O-suriage. Saki-zori before suriage. Difficult, my eyes not much better

I will take a stab at Early Muromachi.

Nice buy Greg

Hi Andreas, as for length, you worry too much, its a katana As for the activity, you want a daisho, ask yourself how long before you find a perfect match?.

I would agree with this in certain circumstances, battle maybe, someone comes running at you with a menacing looking Dotanuki, you think holy ---!!, step back, trip over someones leg (without the body), end up on your ass. The last thing your going to think about is sword protocol. Ps, no expert on blade dings, but James sword doesn't necessarily look like the one doing the blocking (dent in hamon), is it possible someone blocked (parry I should say) a strike from his sword causing the dent?

Does it make it real?, it would make the damage old damage, but not necessarily a genuine kirikomi. People have always been the same, take gimei swords as an example. Only way you will ever know if a kirikomi is genuine is to invent a time machine, or have some written account dating back to when it happened maybe. Its interesting to assume they are real though

Anyone more convinced about kirikomi on tsuba?

I think there is a big grey area. Reading starter books and looking at illustrations blade changes can get you thinking that at a certain time there was an amnesty where every sword owner had to hand in the last sword trend sword and then issued with the new trend sword. Something I have been interested in http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18788-koto-ubu-tachi-and-katate-uchi-in-shinto-times/ Ironically, started when I bought a late muromachi katate-uchigatana in Edo koshirae Got me a wondering, I suppose that's where the interest lies in this hobby, what i don't know (everything).

Hi Jason, I have a bit more time now, no fun trying sound sensible at 5am You say a "katate-uchi" is essentially an O-wakizashi, hmm, I have one here with a 59cm nagasa, just as easy to call it a short katana As for the 1450,s to 1530,s window, not too sure, this is a good read http://www.nihonto.com/abtartsuebizen.html I did say we over-catergorize stuff, but hey ho, here we go, take a look at no7 running into the Azuchi Momoyama 1573-1600 http://www.yamakawadojo.com/the%20japanese%20sword%20historical%20changes%20in%20shape.pdf Ive read on Aoi a few times (as an example), that no kazuuchimono where produced Eisho. As mentioned before, look at the sword quality before the mei, look for quality original bo-hi in these swords. As you say, katate uchi were no match for firearms (introduced 1542), they where an auxiliary weapon, but as an Ashigaru, you would be glad to have one, just in case your matchlock got wet or something