Peter Bleed

Friends, I am requesting advice and guidance on how to get rid of collected swords. My hobby has been searching for, finding, and researching Japanese weapons. I have not kept everything, But I have a lot of stuff. Early in the winter I was contacted by an old friend -- about buying his collection. And just recently I got another call. And I might be getting ready to down-size. I cant hope that parting with stuff can be nearly as much fun as acquiring it was. But it is where I am... Let me ask for advice. Is there a good way to break up collections? Are there good strategies for getting fair value, finding good homes, or helping the hobby? Are there things to be avoided? Have people been happy with NMB as a market? Peter

Gene, I am jealous of your interest and curiosity. I wish you well. The reality is that there was great export of antique firearms from Japan to the US and the world beginning in the early 20th century. That dumped thousands of guns over here. There was another - smaller - wave after WWII. American collectors were attracted to Japanese hinawa-ju because they were cheap and fit the evolutionary thinking of the times. Everybody wanted to show the evolution of guns. But there was a return wave - back to Japan - starting in the 1980. Dealers bought those cheap Japanese guns and got them back to Japan. Once the guns sent BACK got to Japan, they were sorted, tricked out, and repaired - oh, and marked way UP. THAT'S what is in Japan now - nice, clean well assessed guns. There are still matchlocks available on this side of the pond - where they may be rather poorly maintained . They are not well-assessed, but they are priced at 40% to 50% the Japanese rate. Given where you are, I'd urge you to buy local, buy books, and develop skills of restoration and maintenance.

The export "process" might be interestingly explored. Maybe anthropologists or political scientist would find that interesting. But, from a collecting point of view, it seems worth asking what is in Japan that cannot be matched by pieces already here. What are you looking at? Peter

IMHO, the tool that got this thread started IS (!) a cartridge reloading device that was designed to re-set the primer in the base of a cartridge. It looks very 19th/20th century to me Peter

I agree with the "Mino" call, but it is not Showa - and if the nakago was cleaned ( as it looks to have been) I'd say it is late koto. Show usthe tsuka... Peter

I am interested in "collections and collecting" so I am finding this thread interesting. Thank you! Japanese sword collecting in the US was basically "treasure hunting" for a long while. I think that era is over and that the sword "market" has become "rational." At least the distribution of 'good' swords is being rationalized. Excellent stuff has gone to Japan where it is appreciated and rationally valued. If we want it, we have to pay for it at that level. Along with good stuff, a bunch of bad stuff also went to Japan where experts have seen and rejected it. There is not much of a market for 'bad' stuff in Japan so it is washing BACK on toward the US and world market. I think we have to assume that anything leaving Japan - without papers and at anything like a bargain price - has to be considered to be "bad." Peter

You're throwing money away. Find a local collector and go visit them. Be polite, bring the kid. Ask advice and look at what you are shown. Bring cookies and make an appointment for a follow-up visit. Be interested and nice... Peter

Thank you, thank you! Morita-san. I got the "yari" part but the rest was beyond me. We are truly lucky to have your expertise! Peter

Wow! Thanks very much Trystan! Swords like this used to be common, but I have not seen one in a while. I am impressed that this blade retains enough of its "old" polish to suggest that in addition to s seriously good hamon, it looks like laminated steel. I could easily be convinced that this sword was made before later 1941. Again, thanks! Peter

It is in the second image, the lower one, in the first message. It is quite faint. P

I have become the owner of what sure looks like a "nice" very early shingunto that is signed Ishihara Yoshisada with a faint Seki stamp. It retains its original polish (along with scratches and stains) so it looks like it was a well forged blade. But the smith ain't in Slough's list. This experience leads me to ask how "complete" our listings are?

Sword collectors love rules, categories, and lore. "Green Papers" were what was available for years and years. Then SOME were besmirched. That does not make them "worthless." It certainly doesn't mean that they are ALL wrong. Enjoy the sword! P

Moriyama-sama, you are a treasure! Thank you! Can you make anything of the saya-gaki on the other side? P

In getting ready to explore the sales potential of the NMB, I got out an old Kikuchi-yari that ended its career as a Yoroi-toshi. I bought is YEARS ago after it had lost it tsuka and retained only a saya with faint saya-gaki. As far as i could see, that gaki said something about Kikuchi yari and the Meiji era so I treated it like a solved problem -polished and new shirasaya. But as I got it out today, I recall that years ago, I happened to show this blade to my esteemed sensei, Serizawa Chosuke who cared nothing about swords (or my interest in them, thank you!). As he looked at this blade, tho, he said something about "It says it killed a ghost." So, take a look at these snapshots and the rather faint bit at the top of the saya-gaki. What am I missing? Peter

Carved bears are a common and popular souvenir from Hokkaido where they are generally considered to be "Ainu" art. Airports and train stations in southern Hokkaido are full of the. BUT, this one is wonderful. It really is better than the usual ones to be seen. I assume this one is "AINU" but it is outstanding! The "signature" is tough. I agree with Pietro that it looks like it says "GUTO", but I wonder if it might not be like a Yago which combines pictures with kana and kanji. In that case it could be a name or a shortened abbreviate like "Yama To." Peter

You guys are tough! Indeed I doubt that this image says much about Japanese blade in Western America, but this TOPIC seems to really grab at the hearts of the Western crowd. This image seems to be making a small buzz so we will hear more about it. I thought it was worth noting in this august forum! And, yes, several years back I did write a bit on the two best images of Nippon-to in the hands of Native Americans. “Indians and Japanese Swords on the North Plains Frontier,” Nebraska History 68 (1987): 112-115 P

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Thanks, Thomas! Now I have sympathy for the visitor who ask for help with pictures of nakago upside down. Peter

Here's the banger. I will take this opportunity to make the point that "collecting" Japanese arms used to involved searching, ie looking for stuff. It was also a large part of the activity. That phase of American history and sword collecting is largely passed. Nowadays, stuff is more organized so the hobby involves more interaction with dealers and experts. Heck, in the old days there were no experts! Peter

Glenn, rip down more walls!

Well, friends, you have to kiss a lot of frogs. Today I intersected with the fellow who had offered me a modified “Japanese” firearm. I would like to ignore this matter, but Bazza asked for a reveal, so… I was offered what I think is a locally a produced SE Asian (Thai??) shotgun It is “embellished” with brass inlays. And there are some impressed marks – which I am sure are NOT(!)Japanese. If Brian approves, I’ll post and image, but I am sure that it is not Japanese altho the purveyor assured me that the previous owner said…. Sorry, gang! Peter

I write to beg the advice of this fine community. I just got a call from a fellow who will be bringing a Japanese firearm for me to see tomorrow. He described it over the phone as a converted Japanese style and embellished caplock that looked to him like it had been further converted to a “tubelock.” Obviously, I am eager to see this thing (tho it ain’t a Sendai Shinto), but what should I be ready for? I am personally interested in mid century conversions, but what is the – ahhh – market for them. Can they get into Japan? Does anybody collect them? I do not need more stuff to put in the back of my closet! All the best! Peter

I think it is a 4, as in 1871

Thanx, Piers. In a couple of weeks I will be co-teaching at National Park Service class on the archaeology of guns. In that context, I have once again been thinking about how guns fail and how they are treated. Failures are, and always were, very common so I am sure that Japan HAD lots of little bunches of odd tanegashima parts. And, of course, you are right, those bunches have always tended to go toward guys who knew/know how to use them. When I was going to Japan, I foolishly spent too much of my time hanging with academics. I wish I had found the gun guys. Now I am interested in preserving - and enjoying - guns that need attention. Peter

Recent posts about tanegashima move me to ask – once again – about Japanese matchlock “parts.” A while back I asked for help in trying to find a couple of lock replacement parts. That inquiry got me in contact with few people, but no parts. I am sure that there is a market for antique gun parts in Japan, if only because I saw old guns that were/had been repaired. I also recall having seen incomplete matchlocks being bought by Japanese dealers, “in the old days.” I take that to mean that repairs could and can be handled in the land of the Rising Yen. None the less, what I heard was that matchlock parts are not to be had in Japan. Dixie Gun works USED to sell replacement parts for their matchlocks, and they still sell a couple of pins and springs, but they are sold out of Hibasami and other external bits. I take that to mean that somebody has been buying those things and doing work with them. There may be a market out there since there seems to be some demand. Peter