waljamada

My first foray into a lone koshirae and fittings and went out on a limb purchasing a Wakizashi koshirae (no tsuba and some missing inlays) because honestly I like the look of it and do have a blade that would be a great upgrade for it if all the stars align to have it fit. A Google search didn't provide anything on Matsuyama Junin TOSHINOBU whom signed the koshirae. I also ended up getting a Kozuka lot (one will just be a shelf or inside drawer decoration) to work towards completing some Koshirae I already have I would classify these as "beginner" pieces, and you get what you pay for, but thought I'd share a humble little haul and of course always open to hear thoughts/feedback and if anyone knows the koshirae artist that would be amazing. *the photos got uploaded in a weird order but koshirae description is in between kozuka images.

This is one of my problems....I collect a lot of things. Original comic book art (https://www.comicartfans.com/galleryroom.asp?gsub=200036), old paperback book original art, Mark Twain 1st editions (I don't go for pure 1st printings as they get too pricey and they are the same books...just not the first off the press), bronze statues, antique political cartoon art, antique lithographs, other random 1st editions of books I enjoy, Uncle Sam art, Lady Justice art, Mark Twain/Lincoln busts and any bust by Robert Berks, certain graphic novels, Weird one but statues or medical models involving hands or eyes, scrimshaw but I've only come across one piece I felt was actual art rather than touristy, some folk art, antiques regarding John Law the Scottish financiers and gambler from the late 1700s, don't know why but Napolean III coins and really old theater tokens, Don Quixote statues and books, used to collect and still have lots of old video games but those got expensive so I moved on at least 12 years ago....there's more and I might start collecting something new tomorrow for all I know.

Still have my first mumei kanbun shinto 27.5" nagasa in early type 98 higher end gunto fittings with rust damage on the top 3" of the blade. Has a name carved onto the tsuba. I will always love her. Its got an amazing blue hue to it's metal and carries its flaws decently well. But that's me looking at it with a "parents" eye. I will keep it as long as I collect nihonto. Got to the point now where, kind of like Gakusee, I will probably make a rule to sell one if I buy one. Will make for some tough choices down the line.

Found a NMB forum on the blade so this can be deleted. Sorry mods. Appears an authentic blade and it was fun reading about the smith and the other last yasukuni shrine smiths.

Aoijapan's Masuda Yasuaki blade

Gendai blades are an area I have spent the least amount of time on. I did see one that I found interesting and wondering on opinions. Masuda Yasuaki forged blades in the ww2 era and after the war did not return to making swords I believe until the 1970s. He was a Yasukuni shrine Smith and I read somewhere there are not that many examples of his work especially at the shrine. This blade has no papers or any documentation with it so can only go off photos. I attached photos and wondering what people's thoughts are on this smith and if this appears a genuine work by him? I also attached one photo with another mei from an aoijapan blade sold by him for comparison.

Here are some screenshots I had kept.

Well...this I would like to see. Feel free to post pics here or DM me. Just googled Ujiyoshi and will read up on him.

Received the statue and I do believe it to be bronze, but you can tell the casting wasn't done to an extreme quality. Did not find a signature so my opinion now is it may be from the 50s/60s...could be Meiji but seems newer than that to me. The detail is good but you can see evidence of its casting (missing a few finishing touches of high quality pieces) and some areas where it seems like it was done after the mold was older and a bit worn down. Still for $250 bucks (not a steal but didn't get burned either), bronze and 17" tall I'm happy with it.

Here is the sword its to. The "authentication paper" attributes it to Kaneyoshi Mino Muroumachi era. That's all I know. I'm tempted by it bwcause it's katana length (25" nagasa) and mostly because I have two wakizashi with the same bohi design and same-ish time frames...so I can put together a poor man's daisho. Price is about $2.5k. Any opinions? We'll pretend the 銃砲刀剣研究会 (Jūhō Tōken Kenkyūkai) Guns and Swords Research Association (thanks Steve M) "authentication" paper doesn't exist in the deal.

Steve, When I Google both the romanji and kanji of the group's name I don't really see any references or direct website. Is this kind of an island group of dealers and aficionados? Know of any credence is given to the groups papers? If not thank you for identifying the group. Makes me curious actually about the politics and factions of these types of groups. The drama of it if you will.

Could someone help me identify these papers? Is this an independent shinsa paper? From an organization? Just an older design? I don't recognize it's format/style from my small circle of known authentication papers.

Geraint, Thank you for your response. I've once before seen what I thought to be a crack/hagire that runs parallel (can hagire run parallel or are they only perpendicular?) to the boshi in a blade. I see what looks like the same issue in this sword and I'm still not sure in either case if it would be a "crack", scratch or simply clean hairline opening. This blade happens to have the line on the boshi and a correlating mark on the other side in the same spot. Could just be coincidence, could be two separate mostly cosmetic issues, artifacts from photography etc...not familiar enough yet with flaws and their many iterations.

Thank you so much Steve! I really appreciate your assistance to myself and others! While looking at the pictures closer, does this appear to be hagire to anyone else?

Hoping to understand what this is/says on an edo period blade and also the mei translation. Thank you for any answers in advance, it is much appreciated. Edited to add this pic of the kanji. Saw it after I posted but underneath the photo it did say this is a torso cutting test inscription. Is that accurate?

Started going through my sword photos and screenshots folder. Here's some more "odd in a good way" examples. *Both the o-kissaki and nagamaki naoshi katana had this naginata style bohi. Not sure of the correct term for it. (The naginata-hi, thanks Francois!)

John, The classic faux attribution into fawning sale pitch. Yeah, I would agree, they rolled with the laquer bohi and religious symbol on tsuba. The concept and existence of religious swords or swords decorated with purpose are definitely "odd in a good way" so if anyone has one for sale.... This reminded me of this other example of "odd in a good way" wakizashi I saw sell like 6 month back. I just found I took screenshot of it and it's one that I think back to sometimes as a missed opportunity. Some may find it gaudy....

Piers, that blade was a mumei and not in the best of shape. Still a blade with some character but doesn't seem any kind of specific high quality note. It's mounts are also pretty basic. That blade ended up selling for $645 plus $100 shipping so $745ish. Here's the YouTube video of it and I'll post its description below if you're interested. The honoto or "votive" concept is pretty interesting to me and sounds like beyond some kind of clear documentation there would be no way to identify such a blade. Perhaps blade decoration could signal such a blade?

Saw this one with the term votive sword as one used by a shrine for religious purposes. No idea if that's accurate for this sword but a votive sword is an example of "odd in a good way". Any votive blades for sale out there? Adam

John, I am unsure and truthfully I had to Google spelter bronze to learn of it. It very well maybe, and the only test I read to determine so was a scratch test. I don't own this statue but was tempted by it as it's under $300. I have other statues that have a thin layer of bronze but for all I know those are spelter as well. Don't really want to scratch them to test....but the photo below is an example of one of the thin layer bronze statues (or possibly spelter). That's what came to mind for me as its all I knew. The bronze statues I have that were made with the "Lost Wax" technique are thicker so wouldn't match the damage that occurred in the statue above.

Wondering if any bronze statue wisened eyes can gleam anything off these pictures. It's a bronze coating rather than pure bronze. Is that typical or evidence more mass produced piece? Not sure if okimono bronze statues are tyoically pure bronze. Has some damage under one of the arms shown in photos. I don't think it's a high quality piece and no evidence of a signature so I'm guessing tourist piece? Here's its brief description: Weight 9.5 lbs. Includes removable sword Meiji Period - 1868-1912 Lost Wax Casting Still tempting just as decour but would like to learn a bit more about this branch of Japanese art collecting.

Coming into the market when I did (past two years), prices to me seemed affordable and reasonable considering the amount of blades in existence. There are of course as in any hobby or "collectibles" markets tiers of blades/makers/eras/quality etc...that command throughout the price spectrum fairly and accurately. I am in a few collectors markets (including one in a boom right now) some of which I've I've navigating for a decade and there are certainly trends shared amongst all collectible markets. I have seen the prices of blades "rebound" like 10 to 15% already in my short time collecting and still believe the current market to be fairly priced. I myself have purchased at least 4 blades knowing that the seller had purchased them for much higher prices years before and to be honest that made me sad. But I truly believe the older market was inflated for lower tier blades (bottom half of the "quality" spectrum, and this is important to note, the large majority of available existing blades fall in the lower half). I also see many sellers, especially experienced but non-professional ones, over pricing their stock of "bulk" swords. Bulk meaning swords on the lower half tier blades of the market. For example, in general, a sword out of polish, mumei, shinto, stains but still decent shape in basic or even type 98 gunto mounts is not worth 2.5/3k. But I know people holding on to blades like that waiting for someone to pay that price...along with in some cases literally hundreds of blades all overvalued by at least 20% if not more. So in my opinion the market for blades accurately priced over say 8k have enough established facts that the prices are secured and the buyers are willing to pay the prices based upon the attributes and history of a piece because everything in this hobby is so well documented these days (makers,skill levels,eras,histories etc...). To me its a pretty safe market in the top half. However, whatever way I do the math I can't see a way to make money as a current buyer in the market on the top half buying through traditional means such as dealers etc...you'd have to get a deal from a collector to collector transaction. The dealers are already charging the very top prices of the current (and I suspect future) market. On the lower half of the market a seller needs to be realistic on their asking prices to sell and on the top half of the market the blade needs provenance (good maker, papers etc..) to support/command/protect price/value. If those two things are in balance the blades will sell as there are absolutely active buyers in the market currently and in my opinion willing to pay fair values. Even when in balance in this current market though I don't see it being a money making opportunity for the majority buyers. With all that said I could still see the potential for a 5 to 10% increase on investment if navigated well and good timing for the casual collectors. Either way, buyers are currently buying. Everything written above is my subjective experience trying to peer into the objective market. Probably missing the mark on a lot of things. It also assumes that the collector pool won't have any dramatic increases in numbers over time.

Was a cool blade and did tempt me but ideally looking for something katana length. So still searching!

Steven, My ebay spidey sense was correct. That description was the exact style, terminology and an exact showa22 listing description copy. Glad to hear it didn't go far enough for you to be out any money or further complications. I'm also a huge fan of lacquered bohis. Have one already and it's easily my favorite blade even as my collection has grown after buying it. Still hoping this post may have the chance to buy one enter my messages/life.

Love being a fly on the wall for this tale.