Vermithrax16

This thread is inspired by member Darcy's excellent blog "The Cutting Edge" which I do hope allows comments soon as I love it! The post was titled "Low and Wide or High and Narrow": https://www.nihonto.ca/ha/?p=132 I guess one can only share their own story along their nihonto journey, so I will start with mine. Last January it started, in brief: - wanted a "hand made" sword and was looking at modern Chinese forged swords to order ( I know, it's funny to me now too) - Someone on another forum brought up authentic nihonto - I looked into it - !!!!!!!!! - Now I have the fever, the love, the appreciation Sadly I did not stop (collaborate and listen) and really make a plan, I bought a katana (authentic nihonto, but has some issues I did not understand at the time) about immediately. As I learned more and more and studied 100's of swords on listings and references, I fell in love with a school. I then made another mistake Darcy also discusses ( https://www.nihonto.ca/ha/?p=147) and bought a gimei sword that is so the school I love, I could not stop myself. Pains me because to have it in hand for study, magnificent. But, yeah, bad sig. Since then I have really been disciplined and calm. My "unicorn" sword is out there, right now, and even though it's a stretch I am working on ways to get at it. I only offer my tale as I think many newer nihonto lovers will go nearly the same way. I don't want to go low and wide. But let's be up front, high and narrow is a relative term. For most mere mortals even 1 Juyo sword may be impossible cost wise, and even if it's not, may well be impossible wife relations wise (you wanna spend what for a thing that is on the wall????). So what's a collection process for a normal person? Let's say $10,000 up front and another $10,000 yearly? Maybe medium and wedge shaped? 2 - 3 / Hozon blades from favorite school OR 2 Hozon blades from 2 different schools one likes or best smiths/sword quality available at time of purchase 1 - 2 / Tokubetsu Hozon blades of collectors favorite smith, school, era etc 1 / unicorn sword (not Juyo, but a top flight example of favorite school, era, or smith) Just thinking out loud and feedback is appreciated. Aside; have bought a yearlong lottery ticket for Powerball. Wish me luck!

This is becoming the best thread of all time! Great information and thoughts all!

Bruno!!!!!!!!!!! Love it! Thanks!

Great point Barry, for sure. I will start another thread about this. Think it's important or if it's been covered someone post that thread here.

Chris, I don't know about all that, I am only a molecular biologist, not a physics/metallurgy guy! I think about the ikubi kissaki; short, stubby, great stabbing end. But if anything happened to the end, it was a finished sword. So they moved to longer kissaki to enable repairs? Maybe the hamon size increase allows repairs after use? Just thinking out loud.

Fascinating thread already! Agree, I would figure a tight suguha hamon would be most resilient to damage, but I also know the smith's had great love for making works of art. Interesting.

Ed, I think if you read what Ken has posted in no uncertain terms a few time, you will see the advice. As a newer nihonto lover myself I can only counsel slowing down and really knowing who you are dealing with, and what you are trying to buy. I should have done both. Know better now.

Wonderful Rich! Thanks for the picture!

As Darcy's work is seen it's not going to need any promotion, but I really want to have a discussion about this post, which I think is fascinating, wildly important to all collectors, and very open for debate: Low and Wide or High and Narrow https://www.nihonto.ca/ha/?p=132 Read the whole thing but this is a concept I am thinking about very much as a newer collector. Could I buy one wildly expensive sword? Yes. Would that satisfy my nihonto love and craving to collect swords? Maybe, maybe not. Medium and Wedge shaped is what I am working out as a plan.

Yes, good point. I used to run a popular blog and yes, the bots and crap need to be excluded.

Hey all, I don't have any sadly, but I would LOVE to see solid silver fittings if anyone has some. Especially a tsuba. Show them off if you would like to share. I appreciate it.

Haha Ken, yes I did that and was notified an email was sent to authenticate my log in and it's not in my email or SPAM folder.

I tried to sign up but it does not seem to be working.

I will be looking Dracy. I learn so much for your posts here and already devoured the blog, LOVE it!

It's wonderful, on my top bar for everyday stop in. Tried to sign up to comment, does not seem to be working.

Beautiful!!!!!

Each to his own but I so do love Shinto era swords.

Not on a thumb drive?

Resurrect older thread to say: The struggle is real! Struggling right now!

Well done! I have to admit, as a molecular biologist when I saw the title of this thread I was all ready to do DNA to RNA transcription then to protein translation work and was all excited......

You always find such cool stuff man! Congrats!

Good question!

I only have one and it's nothing special, but it's Friday so here it is:

We should do this more often! Loved following along.

Now that it's been nice out on weekends I often sit out on the deck and read stuff as my wife reads the Game of Thrones books (she is a slow reader so it's taking a while ). A weekend or two ago I was reading some book or a web article that described a sword whose nakago actually said something to the effect: "Made From Old Hoe" Now of course I cannot find that anywhere and cannot remember which reference it was that I saw it. Did I imagine it or has someone else seen this description in their study? Any help would be great, it's driving me crazy!