Utopianarian

Also to add if you look at the two images taken the angle it was photographed will show different effects of how the sori or curve looks from each angle. I do agree with Michael if possible in hand assessment of the blade is best. Others were present I was informed in house as well for blade viewing in person.

Christian, blade looks like 1700’s in your opinion. Really? Do others here concur with that assessment. If so I must have really missed the boat. As far as the comment on shill bidding to drive up the price of an item in an official auction is a lot different than eBay. Not only is it frowned on but also illegal. If someone would be bold enough to risk that for said gain also runs the risk of being stuck with the item if others don’t entertain the walk up in bids plus the extra fees associated with the item including buyers premium up to sometimes as high as 25% which wouldn’t make sense. I don’t know if you are familiar with traditional auctions and how they work (A little different than eBay

Early styles of ichi

Here is an example of a later style of ichi of a well known blade

Looking at the blade itself there are a lot of features that make me strongly feel that it is legit. As far as nakago there are other examples with patina very similar of the same age and era. I spend hours actually doing very close overlays and comparisons. Not all are black patina some with more build up than others depending on location, humidity how the sword was cared for etc.. this blade has in my mind was worth the gamble as well. Call me crazy but my gut says it’s legit. I’m sticking to my guns as well. Somebody dropped some cash on it. It wasn’t just me out there trying to bid heavy on it. There were others bidding heavy when the increments of bidding was hitting $1000 increments per bid. I do appreciate the views from others it makes it interesting and raises good learning opportunities going forward. You can btw see the choji densely packed in the hamon overlapping maybe it’s my foggy eyes as well. The kissaki looks like the ikubi kissaki and the curvature and high set shingi-ji with thick kasane. Curvature looks appropriate to me for a slightly cut down blade. The extra ichi at the top may be where the where the blade was moved up when cut down. It looks like areas of corrosion near that area. The ichi below is clear. Many other features that match existing Ichimonji blades. I am convinced it was legit. The ichi in later blades were more like armorer marks in the center where as the earlier ichi marked blades sometimes were on an angle and sometimes went all the way to the mune

There were in house bidders I assume they had a viewing period. Online bidders and took phone bids. I still felt confident on bidding on this one. Others obviously thought the same. Yes it is a gamble or fork over 6 figures or more for a known papered example. Most mortal men cannot afford such a blade once papered

I saw that extra ichi, you raise a good point. The blade looks slightly cut down as well. Showing the pic with the habaki pulled back and the hamon still running

Yes I agree definitely looks legit to me as well. It wasn’t even represented as an old blade. I didn’t think of that having partnered up for the bidding war. I didn’t think anybody out there saw it as a valuable blade and it would suddenly go that high. I suspect a group of investors purchased it. The same paddle number was buying up all kinds of expensive items. Rare chance that one individual is that well endowed with endless funds. <1% of the population have that kind of dough. This person or group bought up close to half a million worth of high priced top tier items from high priced Brown Bess muskets to rare Scottish sabers to documents from George Washington

Yes, I feel sick about loosing this one… I had the money and didn’t think anybody would pay a lot for it. I had to funds to go up to prob $34,000 but who knows… Mr. Deep Pockets might have pushed it to $40,000 then what? This is prob a unverified find that prob could fetch easy 6 figures once papered. Idk 😞

Bruneau and auctioneers auction earlier today in Rhode Island. I saw ww2 blade up for auction of what appeared to me like a mid kamakura Ichimonji tachi. I don’t think the auction house knew what they had. Apparently somebody out there knew what this blade was. At first it seemed like I would get it for a steal being the estimate was $400-$1200 then last minute a lot of action. I bid up to $16,000 which rose quickly up to $19,000. Someone with deeper pockets than me. I am depressed loosing out on what I think was a rare find. I wanted to go higher on my bid but I would be sleeping on my brothers couch if my wifeknew. Anyways enjoy the pics. If anybody on the board won this auction. I wish them the best.

Looks like a cut down Naganata. That looks good what are you making tuna salad 🤗

Shimada school?

Another interesting article Kotetsu Katana of Kondo Isami https://Japan-forward.com/historical-Japanese-sword-kotetsu-katana-of-kondo-isami-discovered/

You are right Brian. I think this strayed a little bit off subject of the intended thread lol 😵🗡

Yes Bangbangsan, I guess things got a little crazy over there in those days

I know there are defining characteristics and rules with passing Juyo blades based on era of blade and if mei is intact. But in the case of a famous smith like Nagasone Kotetsu what would be the case if the sword itself showed undisputed evidence that the blade was forged by this smith.

Bijutsuhin Hiromitsu Tachi discovered in California by Ralph Bell early 2003. This masterpiece was missing for 55 years. It is an immeasurable piece of history and it’s contribution to answering many questions. http://www.nihonto-museum.com/collection/exhibit/juyo-bijutsuhin-hiromitsu-tachi

Bazza Thank you, I stand corrected

Chu Aoe signed Katana in process of polish then submission- Posted here maybe 2 yrs ago and recently (Promising but who knows but worth the gamble for $1800 eBay made offer to seller) Soden Bizen Tachi over 3 yrs ago was worth a shot for $2200 ebay auction- once again waiting to paper. Both blades were in WW2 Gunto fittings. Aoe was in leather covered Gunto saya with civilian tsuba and Tsuka pretty much destroyed owner made amateur attempt to wrap and then squeezed habaki onto blade with appeared to be pliers(beautiful pattern was engraved in Habaki😔). The Soden Bizen was in very good condition type 98 Gunto fittings with Silver Family Mon crest. Blade needed finish polish. Will post in the future if they paper if anyone cares to know 🤞

Will, I am still very new as well. You definitely are not alone here. I frequently have to go back to my reference books constantly. I feel like at times I have a hard time grasping knowledge of things and often have to look up the same thing over and over again. I have gotten better. Spend a lot of time on evolution of the transition of sugata and shape of the blade Tachi —->katana. That takes many years to just start to begin to know what you might be looking at or era. Then more detail of measurement, Geometry, symmetry and relation to nakago. Original shape of blade or estimation before blade was altered or modified. The Sori or curve of a blade is something that you can always perfect on. I think to get really good you almost have to develop a 6th sense for what your looking at. As far as 500 year old blades. When I first got into swords I couldn’t believe I could actually buy a 500 year old samurai sword and jumped right in and bought it. Well now in retrospect most 500 year old blades are actually a lot more common than you think. Most mass produced during Muromachi period Sengoku wars. Condition /school and quality is what you want to look for. That’s when the books and knowledge help with all the other features too many to list. It’s fascinating to know we all can be a temporary custodian or caretaker of the long journey of a piece of history that surpasses many countless lifetimes and will continue when we all are dust in the earth. To hold that in your hand feels like what I can best describe as a primal sense of perspective and extreme humbling into our own mortality and existence. I believe that’s the smack we nihonto junkies are always looking for. Once you get a hit you can’t help yourself Lol 😆

My brother found this photo somewhere prob at some antique shop I would guess. Looks like a katana in the pic

Yes, Highly recommended and if especially high priced item get the extra insurance on top of the low standard insurance. Best way to ship which togishi recommend is registered mail. It takes forever but it tracks a chain of custody that I believe is literally under lock and key from destination to destination. once a few years ago received a blade in the mail standard USPS delivery from NY📦 in which the beautiful Honoki shirasaya was crushed like a 2000lb garage door was dropped on it. The post office should be dismantled and contract given to next best bidder with less paid holidays/retirement etc.. more efficient and faster delivery times and willing to bet I am within a stones throw of a company that gives better service that can actually handle the demand. USPS=3rd World Service. We are living it now. That’s what it seems our Government wants. * Edit Admin *

This is one of the most fascinating parts of nihonto to gaze upon a beautiful blade and wonder of the stories it could tell. Amazing to read a documented account of one!!

Smallsword is a dealer in swords and Generally knows the value of what he is selling. There are no gems and if there are they are priced accordingly. Until you gain enough experience to at least know a good sword from a bad one you will make less costly mistakes. There are rare finds on eBay but rare. In 3 years I’ve seen maybe 4 blades that were a gamble and only 2 were what I would call diamond in the rough finds. If you want to save yourself pain and second guessing and making more than a few costly mistakes that add up then I would recommend buying from a knowledgeable reputable seller such a Raymond Singer for example so you know 100% what you are buying with confidence. Ray has some interesting old authentic blades on Swordsofjapan.com he is also listed on seller on this forum. Other reputable sellers as well. Good luck

Definitely would recommend leaving kirikomi intact as to speaking to history of blade