Jeffnyc

Jamie thanks. Is there a list of upcoming sword shows posted anywhere? Jeff

Haha ok ok I will forget about swords as investments and financial appreciation. I just prefer to not overpay (get ripped off). Jeff

Is there a correlation between price and origami? In other words, is it fair to say that a hozon sword will cost between X and Y, and a juyo token sword will cost between Y and Z?

Also, is it a bad idea to buy a sword without seeing it in person? I guess I could convince the wife that we need to vacation in Japan....

Rayhan - I am curious about the process you described with your sword. I take it you bought a sword with Hozon papers with the expectation that it would pass the higher Juyo level? And once it passed it was (on the open market) worth considerably more? Jeff

Thank you all for your informative responses. I appreciate all of the advice. I will contact Darcy and seek his counsel. I'll try to learn as much as possible prior to making a purchase. I saw the website for NY Token Kai and I will try to attend their next meeting (although, as Groucho Marx said, I would never join a club that would have someone like me for a member). I think I want a sword in koshirae - is this the way to go? Given my extremely limited knowledge, I want a sword that is old, historically significant, expertly polished and beautiful. And of course sharp enough to carve my Thanksgiving turkey (joke). Jeff

Now that I have realized that life is unbearable without owning a katana I am hoping for advice on where/how to purchase one. Unfortunately I missed the auction at Bonham's last week (only 4 days into this) so I am wondering What if any web-dealers can be trusted? Are the prices listed negotiable? Are they fair? Do I get a 2nd or 3rd opinion and if so who from? Should I avoid buying online and just wait until the next local auction? Are there any online auctions that are worth looking at? I am looking for a Koto sword in the 10-25K range which will hopefully hold its value (so that when my wife sells it for my estate she won't be too irate)

Hi friends! Well now that my full-time job as a softball dad is coming to an end I need a new hobby (obsession) and nihonto seems like an excellent tmesink. I am hoping that it will keep me off the streets and cost under a hundred grand. My first step was to read a bunch of online articles and watch all of the forging videos. Today I thought I would walk over to the Met and actually see an actual sword in person. I was kinda hoping that I would not be overly impressed, and that I could instead turn my attention to stamp collecting....but WOW...I was fairly awestruck. I will be asking a few dozen newb questions and I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. As an aside, the exhibit at the Met also had a bunch of European swords which looked like sharpened shards of junkyard metal - how.is that stuff "art?'"