Benjamin

45 years old I'm a young one year collector I would be interested in the average age of first acquisition

4 first 3 just near (that okissaki catch my eye) 2 last

Hello Maxime, Where exactly is the scar ? If it's near the tip and on the flat part. A trivial hypothesis could be an unfortunate shock against a door frame wearing the sword in hand at 45°. Parrying cut should be on the center and on the edge of the saya. Benjamin

Hi Lukas, Times ago, I saw some spot on catawiki. https://www.catawiki...gen-reservasjonspris maybe contacting the seller could help. I found this as well. https://larongemarti....com/vintage-bokuto/ but never trade with them. Regards Benjamin

Hi All, That's a passionate debate, allow me to introduce a neophyte opinion but I think seeing multiples bias to take in count : 1) not including each one purpose and point of view of the nihonto field : Nihonto is a fascinating object because it exceptionnaly cross multiple ways of appreciation : Nihonto is at the time an art object, historic witness, artifact, weapon and warrior item, martial art tool, religious and spiritual tool, object of knowledge field, legendary and fantasies pretext, exotic item (for non Japanese), expensive and resale thing with an existing market. Some collect to resell, some collect to protect, some collect just to collect, some collect with historical interest... and maybe some collect with multiples purposes. I don't think there is dogma and none is superior to another... but your purpose on collecting will drastically change your point of view on gimei. What would be an hollistic point of view on Gimei respecting all of each one purposes? 2) comparing Nihonto with what it should not be compared : A Rolex watch is not a weapon and it's not a craftmenship product : each nihonto, even a Gimei is unique!! At a point there is people that plays a game consisting at recognizing them without seeing the signature... (don't do that with authentic rollex produced the same day, they are the same). I would say there is nothing more similar to a Nihonto than another Nihonto BUT there is Nothing more different to a Nihonto than another Nihonto. A Picasso is not a spiritual object that we salute before appreciating it and in other hand owning a Picasso don't allow you to modificate it, that's a bit different in nihonto where we saw owner doing... you've got more exemples than me. Have you heard about the second "La joconde". a picture with strong doubt about it Da Vinci authership. What yould you say if the actual owner changed it signature to enhance it theory? Another question, If you bow before examinating your sword, do you do it with Gimei the same as mumei or Shoshin? 3) Applying an occidental point of view on an oriental object : There is an honesty matter or what you judge honest or dishonest in YOUR reference where as in Japan it could be more an Honor matter. There is a reality conception or what you judge true but Japan is also a shintoïst country with a different conception of what is living or inert : We could conceive that swords are living : they grow old, take scars, are modified, one day will disapear... 4) Applying a modern point of view on an antic item : Judging a 300 old gimei item as dishonest? So why not judging Oda Nobunaga himself? (And he wasn't a cool guy like you all). Why collecting historical war item and "murder tools" if it's an ethical problem? An old modification should not be judge as a recent modifcation. Hoping my english (and opinion) is not hurting your eye, I am more on the side of the "respect it like it is even if it is Gimei" but I want to thankful all participant to this great debate that provided me much. Benjamin

Hello all, Forgive my opinion, I'm a totally beginner as Jone, but I wanted to say : don't be to rude to beginner purchasing gimei nihonto. First of all, a gimei blade is still a nihonto (if I understood correctely), it's still a piece of Japan history forged handly by a craftsman, hold for defense, cultural, social and mystical purpose. It is still, at it level, a desirable object. And, more pragmatically, valuating a gimei sword automatically increase value of better pieces. It serve all the nihonto world, even collectors and sellers of fine pics. The value of an art object is in proportion with the number of peoples wanting to own it. More people interested is more value for each blade. But obviously, it must be presented as it is really. Moreover the first steps in this world is very difficult : the large amount of knowledge needed is intimidating, the prices of item is high, even for for a basic one. And as said, out of Japan and USA, and a few capital city, there is very few opportunity to look at one blade (and I don't say hundreds of blades). In my first step, I would not invest in a 30K € item as first purchase even if I own the money. Except very rare opportunity of specific item. I would not feel legitimate to appreciate it, and I would fear being in a transitory fad. And learning without even handling and taking care of a blade can be boring on month (years? decades?) of studying. I've bought a maybe gimei wakizashi but I'm still happy of it and observe it frequently with pleasure, that's my first step. And one day I intend to appreciate a real fine sword with the taste I don't have already. Finally it is advised to go from the bottom to the top. So not acquiring a top sword before even desirating it. IMO enhancing all types of Nihonto and encouraging all types of learning necessarly serves everyone, preventing to close the "discipline" in on itself in some sort of elitist world. And forgive also my english if there is mistakes. Benjamin

Very interesting, so there is a third generation. Is it possible that Inoue Dan'emon forged this blade under the authority of his grandfather (or father when he was still signing Izumi no Kami Kunisada) and signed as daimei for his father or grandfather? here is what i'm thinking : Inoue Dan'emon necessarly learned smithing in the family workshop before having his own mei, it is said Kunisada had an eye disease in the end of is life but forged until near his death in 1652, and his son (Shinkai Kunisada) forged lately under the name of his father. The mei on my blade doesn't seem to imitate the first or second generation mei, it frankly sign Izumi no Kami Kunisada with it own kanji (I compared the kuni kanji for example that drive a vertical ligne in my sword, whereas it's more wavy on original mei). Imitation would be more linked with the original with small mistakes (or the copier never saw what he was copying). The JTK appraiser is also a knowned polisher and is based in Osaka, so here is an Osaka appraiser and polisher judging an Osaka style sword with the name of one of the most famous Osaka smith... and would fail... I hardly figure, or it would ruin JTK reputation (but maybe..) And this sword, that is really nice, seem to me to match the kunisada family caracteristic with the Osaka yakidoshi (thanks Kirill for the term I didn't know), this wide hamon in notare, ko-nie-deki and wide nioiguchi, kaeri boshi. If it's Gimei, it would be Gimei from the smithing process until the mei. My automatic generated traduction of the token speak about "Dan'emon, second son of Inoue" that became "samurai of the domain obi in Hyuga" after having forged a small amount of blade until there, but I'm not sure if it's correct, is there someone here to translate the token ? Do not hesitate to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm learning and... I'm trying hard there. Thank you very much all of you for your responses. Benjamin

I greatly appreciate all your comment. Thank you for that usefull link. I'll save it. I'll be more suspicious on token.. more to study... great!!

Here the other side of the token

Hello all, I'm a beginner in study of nihonto and decided to buy my first wakizashi from a non professionnal seller. I know it's risky but the price seemed pretty fair and there was a NTHK kanteisho. The seller said he bought it few years ago at Nihonto Australia, that seemed to be a good reference. In other way I'm not sure he really took good care of it, there is a little split on the shirasaya on blade side (he didn't hide it in the announcement). I have also a doubt about the habaki because it doesn't fit well on the blade (jangle a bit). That would be from Izumi no Kami Kunisada, from the third generation if the translation I have is correct but I read this post that say third and fourth generation didn't exist : https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/4897-izumi-no-kami-kunisadawhich-one/#comment-44293 And I read this interesting article https://www.nihontoc...mi_Kunisada_mei.html about first and second generation but didn't really recognized their style of mei on that sword. So here my questions : is it a genuine nihonto ? If yes, is it gimei ? And at any rate what could you say on this sword ? (era, quality, appraisal ?) Is it worth a polishing ? New shirasaya ? Here are caracteristic and pics : Nagasa : 53.6 cm Sori : 1 cm Kissaki : 3 cm Saki kazane : 2 cm Saki haba : 0.4 cm Moto kazane : 2.8 cm Moto haba : 0.6 cm Nakago : 14.6 cm Thanks for all. Benjamin