Baba Yaga

This particular sword has already been presented, looks like it received a new polish.

Nice! I wonder why the 2 Mekugiana?

Let me offer another road to travel . Go to this site http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm and memorize a lot of Japanese sword terms. Most of what's on this free site is in the elementary books. The seconded step, find a sword club in your area, "if available", The 3rd step is purchasing books / swords / tsuba / ect which advanced club members will guide you. If $600 is your price point and you want an Authentic Made Sword without getting yourself in a highly academic and expensive hobby then it's not a bad purchase at all.

Extremely interesting paper. Either way countries tend to cleave towards politics and religion over facts and new science.

"The blade appears to be in decent shape apart from one small spot that I assume is a rust dimple that was polished out-- is this a big deal?" That polished out rust spot may not be a rust spot at all. It could be a battle scar. Without getting all technical with wording and assumptions, have a qualified polisher take a look.

Maybe the "mausoleum" just wants you to see them $ physically.

Some people have lost all empathy when it comes to poor judgement. In the Art World there is enough poor judgement to go around. You're a crook if not blunt and a jerk if you tell someone the baby is ugly. It's a no win situation. Some of us have seen people buy a lot of high priced junk from very well known dealers, the list is long. When a bunch of us learned what Koch bought and from who, we were all horrified. Not one person said anything and everyone plays nice.

I get your point. If it was easy everyone would be doing it.

I tell people the same. But people are people and want to know everything without learning.

Start with an easy one and most resent, "The World is Flat". Then we can progress into bleeding people, taking hot baths with infected people and not ever being able to reach the moon. Many people still believe the world is flat and the moon landing was rigged. Group think "Scholars" have been wrong as many times as being right. You can look up the talking heads quoting "Global Warming" and New York flooding up to the Statue of Liberty's elbow,,,,Neil degrasse tyson. Science facts are changed by debate crying fowl. Nihonto? The obscurity and "myths" cry fowl. Sorry about the rebuttal, but logic is logical. BTW I'm not the person who downgraded you.

"You use citations out of context to support your opinion, but in fact you lack the very basic knowledge and understanding of many subjects you are dealing with. You post a crude hypothesis - far away of what is known and agreed upon by experts - and are happy to create a turmoil." I don't understand why people participate in a put down of contrary group think observation. Didn't everyone learn from all the main stream C19 BS? Progression is about contrary of thought. If you don't like someone, put them on ignore. I have! BTW, why does 2 active accounts come up under a the same person I put on ignore???

Ya, I read that. Hilarious! Good quote.

I have a Naginata that's in good polish, Ubu, signed, papered by the NTHK. No gripes at all, but it was done some years ago when standards were entirely different. The good ol-days when Naginata provided a 35% premium.

I can tell you've been around when I see an honest post like that. Be careful, a lot of collectors haven't and will argue the premise. No-One knows, but everyone knows everything, especially Google. I would make this statement, much is intentional. They know what they don't know. It's a hobby of obscurity and disinformation much like any science.

Juyo / top smiths has been and i assume always be an exception to the quick paper rule. Those swords are few and far between for "start up collector" Chinese reproductions: The business model is make it cheap in mass and trick the new treasure hunter. No need for putting a lot of time in trying to trick the experienced collector when a sucker is born every minute. With that said, savvy collectors sometimes get the blunt end when the heart overwhelms the brain.

Look at the restoration prices. They're very close to the costs 35 years ago. It may seem information has changed, but very little has. Japanese Shinsa has actually been watered down over the last few decades. You'd have to submit a blade with the right polish to be considered for papers.

Inflation has taken it's toll with the younger generation and limited discretionary funds. Young people have a 5 year job expectancy and have to move around. Phones and electronics are also a budget expense. Not much money left for expensive hobbies like Nihonto.

I knew a guy who had #2 Vin number on a Shelby Cobra that always had it for sale. He never intended to sell it for any amount of money, because he had more money than he could ever spend. He just liked to brag about how much people would pay for it. After 40 years of knowing that guy, he still has the car.

What's common is most probable, or is it profitable.

“It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” -Rocky

Despite all my knowledge, I'm just a rat in a cage.

I don't understand the many generalities. 30-40 years ago, or recently? What sword became Juyo? Was the hadori pronounced camouflaging the blade? I think we're talking Apples and Oranges. One will find exceptions in anything especially Nihonto.

It's been an interesting thread. On the light side, Hadori is a commercialized polish for the masses. What the masses want, the masses shall receive. I would ponder, the Purist- Shinsa of yesteryear would scowl at the idea of Hadori. Nowadays this has become common practice with the mid and lower class swords.

Yep, you got it.

Are you talking about the issue at 6:00?