Zeroaltitude

Jean, my collection today is very modest indeed. I once had a rather big collection of US Civil War era percussion revolvers (30-40 guns at times), most of them in NRA fine to excellent condition. But for a bunch of reasons I sold off most of them some years ago. Today the only noteworthy percussionrevolver I have isn't even an American made one, but a Belgian made (good quality) "Colt Navy Brevet" in NRA excellent condition. My interest has shifted a lot, the percussion revolvers feel a bit "been there, done that". I have not lost the interest, but I have lost the urge to own every single variant, or even the need to have a smaller but representative collection. The interest in these American revolvers is now more aimed at helping beginners in that field, because I still have the knowledge and interest. I just don'need to own them. Instead, I now buy objects that interest me on an individual level (these handguns from major American makers were massproduced, nothing very individual about them). Also, I have developed an interest in better quality Belgian handguns from the mid to late 19th century. But I am starting from scratch in the Belgian guns (this percussion pistol is the second object). The Japanese swords are a longtime never realised interest. But I will probably never own a large or very organized collection of those either. I can se myself with 3 or 4 blades in total (tanto, wakisashi and katana), but I may trade upwards towards higher quality pieces, rather than expanding in quantity. I will most certainly visit the section. I have a lot of reading to do just on this forum! By the way, the guy who I made the trade with for the tanto called to say that he was very pleased. He also promised to look what litterature on Nihontos he had hidden away, he seemed willing to let it go. So I may be able to aquire a modest referencelibrary too within short. Best regards! Anders Olsson

It's sickness allright! But one I don't want to be cured of... Auction went well, though not quite as well as I hoped. I was hoping to get Wakisashi object# 48 and thought I had put in a silly high bid, but somene wanted it even more and it went about 60$US over my max bid. Included auctionfee it went for roughly 3150$US, so it might be for the better anyway. I did get Wakisashi object# 53 for just under 770$US including fees. Not sure whether that is a good or even reasonable price. Your input would be aprecciated regarding that and a lot of other aspects once I get my hands on it and can take better and more detailed pictures. I did get one percussion pistol by the way. Very happy about both purchases! I will start a new thread regarding the Wakisashi once I have it in my posession. Again, thanks a bunch! Best regards! Anders Olsson

Today I got confirmation from the auctioncompany that my bids were registered for items 48 and 53 (plus a boxed pair of rifled percussion target, better known as "duelingpistols" which is wrong, and another similar pistol). Now there's the looooooooooooooooooong wait until tomorrow evening to get confirmation on whether I can go to Stockholm to collect a Wakisahi in the near future. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I am happy to say that this one of the friendliest forums on which I have participated (in particular as a raw newbie). This says a LOT, because due to the nature of your (I don't have the stomach to write "our" quite yet) collecting interest (foremost the knowledge needed just to START learning!) this is one the most elitist subjects I can think of. To then find that the collectors with all this knowledge does not have an elitist attitude, despite being an elite in the true and most positive sense of the word, really says alot about your character! Thanks again, and I will report how the auction goes. I'll probably do it in a separate thread though, since I've pushed this one waaaaay off topic! :-D Best regards! Anders Olsson

Stephen, you're waaaayyy over my head now, but that is probably because when it comes to these swords, I don't have a leg to stand on. Best regards! Anders Olsson

Thanks Barry and Ron! Yup, definitely left instructions for them not to bid on the second sword if I get winning bid on the first one. While I'm sure that Ramen noodles are good for me, I'd prefer being able to afford other foods too, even after this auction! :-D Ron, thanks a LOT for the effort. That is great info even if nothing is carved in stone. Best regards! Anders Olsson

Thanks a lot Stephen and John! Okey, I will most certainly heed your advice regarding which swords not to bid on (disgarding my own previous selection). I'll be placing a ridicoulously (in relation to my meager income) high bid on 48, and (compared to the starting bids) an even more ridicoulous bid on 53. Since I can't take part in the auction myself (neither in person, by phone nor online), I'll leave it to their bidding-service. It'll be a surprise tuesday evening to see whether I have purchased another sword or not. :-D As you see I added nr48, even though I didn't have it on the list before. Reason it wasn't on the list is simple, it stuck out from the rest as far as the design of the blade, which made me unsure. Thanks for reassuring me, because it is a beatiful blade in what appears to me to be excellent condition. Again, thanks guys, this is a GREAT place! Best regard! Anders Olsson

Thanks a lot for the help Jussi! Let me be clear about one thing, whether this blade is worth half or double what i traded it for really makes little difference (well..., one alternative is nicer than the other, but not critically so ). Whether the smith can be positively identified or not has little or no bearing on whether I feel good about the trade either. What does matter is that what I have is a genuine antique Japanese blade. It would also be nice to be able to attribute it to a period (that is, was it made in the early to mid 1500's or the late 1800's). Anything beyond that would be a bonus. Hopefully we can find out more about the blade, it's fun to find stuff out! Jussi, I think that Stephen has a very valid point regarding my bidding on the Probus auction. Have you allready, or might I persuade you, to take a quick peek att Probus november auction (www.probusauktioner.com). If so, could you provide any quick insight on object numbers 46, 47, 51, 52 and 53? You can reply here or by e-mail. If any of the objects are "fake" or dubious it would be good for me to know. Also, it could be useful if you might find it in your heart to give me a clue on how high it would be prudent to go. I'm talking about an estimate, and I'm not buying with the intent of reselling so it needn't be cheap, just fair. Best regards! Anders Olsson

Thanks Paul! Yes, I think we are both happy with the trade. I'm actually considering bidding on a couple of Wakisashi. Swedens/Scandinavias premiere antique weaponry auction is actually taking place in Stockholm this tuesday. There are a couple of blades that look like decent entry-level purchases. Sadly I won't be able to check them out in person, but I know that this auctionhouse stands by its listings as far as authenticity at the very least. So I may take a chance and bid by e-mail. Anders Olsson

Thanks for the replies guys! Francis, feels like one could study these blades for a lifetime, and still remain a "beginner"! :-) Brian, I traded for a fairly early m/1849 Pocket, 5-shot 4" barrel in NRA "Fine" plus condition.I hope neither one of us did a bad deal (I consider the guy a buddy of mine), but at the very least he knows a lot more about antique Colts than I do about antique Japanese swords! I will most definitely try to meet up with Jussi and the others in Stockholm to let them check out the blade and for me to learn. Andreas, thanks! I needed the clarification to sort things out. Looking back I am pretty sure that the guy I got the blade from did NOT at any point claim that the papers stated a date, only that they authenticated the blade. That the papers would put a date on it was my misconception of how it works. I'm sure he once went through the same process as me when he got the blade (it was his first), and got it dated and attributed to a smith, period and region that way. He even told me what he once paid for the blade (which was a bit more than our trade-value now). Again, thanks guys! Anders Olsson

Thanks Jussi, that would be great! I live no more than 200km from Stockholm, so it's not far. I'll shoot you a PM right away. Any further info you can find in your reference library would be greatly aprecciated! Best regards! Anders Olsson

Okey, thanks Andreas! When you say that the papers "do not give any further clue about the age", does that meen that the information I´ve been given (that the blade is from the 1540´s) is incorrect or unsupported, or does it meen that it can´t be narrowed down any further than just that. Is there any dating on the signature of the tang? Anders Olsson

Well, solid confirmation of the information that I allready have is quite satisfactory. Right now I know nothing but what I´ve been told, by a person whom I trust, but who himself does not read Japanese and who thus has the information second hand. So as I said, confirmation of what I know would be perfect. Anything more than that would be a bonus. Anyway, I´ll sit here, calmly awaiting someone chiming in who is able to confirm or dismiss the information that I have so far. Best regards! Anders Olsson

Thanks Stephen, I hope (and think) so! - In economical terms, it may not (or may) have been the greatest of deals, but I think I´ve at least done allright in that aspect. - In historical terms, this tanto is more than 300 years older than any percussion revolver (if the dating is correct)! :-D Add to that that it is a true work of art, and I´m very happy! Looking forward to getting more info on what the documents say. I do understand that translating them may take a while. Anders Olsson

Hi! I´ve been an admirer of Nihontos from a distance ever since youth (which was waaay too long ago!). Why "from a distance" you may ask? Well, to tell the truth, I´ve allways had too many interests, and to trying to add even a fraction of what´s to know about Japanese swords simply hasn´t been practical. Today however I aquired my first true Nihonto in trade for an antique Colt percussion revolver (my main collecting interest). The blade is complete with documentation, in shirasaya mounting. The description (freely translated from Swedish to english) reads like this: Tanto from the 1540´s. Mei Kanenori, overall length 41 cm, blade (tang excluded) 31 cm. Shirasaya mounting 50 cm. Habaki in silver, Blade in good shape, shinsa performed (smith and mei are okey). Blade has been polished over the centuries by which the double bohi on one side is gone, but there are remains on the tang that shows it´s been there. Blade has a slight twist noticeable under close scrutiny. Documents from the NBTHK are enclosed. Since I do not read a single word of Japanese, I would greatly aprecciate help translating the documents and explaining what it meens. Pictures of the documents and the blade are posted below. Best regards! Anders Olsson