ChrisW

Such a pretty blade. Its a real shame you have to let it go!

That was a really informative read Gabriel, thanks for sharing!

This is seemingly inconceivable how this blade could have came to be.

This guy (the eBay lister) is known for selling put-togethers and fraudulent pieces to begin with. If you want to buy a piece that is much more likely to be what you want, watch here and wait for a fellow board member to put one up. You're a lot less likely to be disappointed. It might "cost" more, but you won't get burned with something that is not what it says it is. Being that there's experts here (or what I'd call experts), things that get put up for sale here are seen up close. If you put out for a description of what you want and the price you're wanting to pay in the "Want to Buy" section, you might get a reply; especially if you want a gendaito. Honestly, the best entry level blades are going to be your shinto/shinshinto mumei wakizashis. Yes, they're no signed koto katana, but its far more affordable and allows you to study much of what you need to know to wade out further. Plus the people here are the friendliest on the net, bar none. The sheer amount of knowledge available here is truly staggering at times.

I think we all wish we could find something like this. Its the stuff of a nihonto enthusiast's dreams!

I know we are all thinking what I am about to say: let's hope this lucky find gets proper restoration and doesn't end up back in a dark safe or closet! I sincerely hope you'll get in touch with Markus or Darcy and allow them to be your guide. I know they would not steer you wrong. This is quite fortuitous that you've come here. Best of luck to you and your new find. I hope it turns out for the best!

Huh... that is *quite* the coincidence. I am inclined to say you've found something there! I wonder what Bruce will say? I am sure he's encountered these if you've managed to run into three.

Yup. Ultra fake.

I think I'd want something with a phoenix as the primary theme.

That's crazy! I was just eyeing that and thinking "its terribly thick" about an hour ago.

I feel like sword thieves ought to be run through with the sword they steal. If they want it so bad, they can 'have it'.

He does pull mei out of the most unlikely of scratches.

The old game of 'whose is bigger' never does end.

I bought the other one at that price! I am excited to get ahold of mine as well. I was hoping to get the one you got, but the one I bought is just as nice at that price!

Sheesh! Its massive. Perhaps for dismounting samurai on horseback or just pure intimidation?

That nakago is really aesthetically pleasing.

What are its dimensions? Looks pretty good to me.

That's a heck of a story! Poor blade, but at least it has a story that still is known.

Alright, thanks John.

You wouldn't take trades for this, would you?

Not an expert by any means, just a novice here. And I get that the price you have there is to dissuade buyers for the time being. But you have what appears to be a rather large fukure (open carbon blister) where the steel has delaminated on the cutting edge (aka hamon). Anywhere else (and smaller) and this isn't as big as a problem. But on the edge where the hardened steel is, that'd be called a fatal flaw meaning that this blade is essentially dead to serious collectors. It appears there are a few such fukure. It appears the blade is suriage (cut down) which isn't a problem really; it happens over the lifetime of older blades due to the changing laws in Japan, preference of the owner, or for repair purposes. However, the older the blade is, generally the more forgiving collectors are when it comes to fatal flaws. As for translation, you'll have to wait on people better versed. I cannot read any Kanji at all and rely on the good graces of those here that can. Those are my two cents. And of course, I could be (and likely will be shown to be incorrect), but its rather hard to tell from the photos of the blade provided. You should take several more of the blade itself up close and as well-lit as possible to really get the best opinion from the experts here as possible. There are guides located in the How To section that ought to help with that.

That naginata is certainly both very elegant and brutal. If I were to buy one, that'd be the one too Brian. It certainly checks all the boxes.

So essentially, the entire population of T32 and NCO exist in countries that took them as war trophies. I wonder what percentage of them survived the war to this day?

I think I'd want a high ranking family blade in original Kyu Gunto mounts and a high quality tanto from the Sukesada line.

Pictures speak a thousand words!