gankaku Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 Hello everyone! My name is Andrea and I'm new to this forum. I would like to ask for your help and take advantage of your patience. I'm going to buy a tanto shinto but I am a beginner and I would like to have your opinion. These are the photos. Thanks Andrea Quote
Mark Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 i am glad you are interested in collecting Japanese swords. Maybe this sword has special meaning to you, or possibly it is very inexpensive. If other than those reasons it may be wise to read, study, and compare a number or swords before settling on this tanto. Quote
sanjuro Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 Hi Andrea. Depending upon your budget, these are things you must take into account with this particular blade. Whilst the koshirae is in good condition it is not original to the blade. So very few koshirae are, and it is adviseable to divorce them from the blade for the purposes of this sort of assessment. A pretty koshirae does not indicate a good blade. The blade in question has a very badly decayed nakago for its age. The red rust indicates it has not had very careful owners. The blade is quite tired. By this I mean it has had a few polishes and has lost in part its original sugata (shape). I would expect a shinto blade, if it is a shinto blade, to be a little fresher. The blade is out of polish and has nicks in the edge. There is also some evidence of rust pitting just above the habaki moto, all of which if removed would further reduce the hamon and sugata of the blade. You have not mentioned the price, and indeed it does not really matter. There are better blades out there. If all you want is a tanto that looks nice on display the koshirae is OK but that is as far as it goes. I suggest you look at some of the tanto available from reputable sellers and compare them with this example and you will see what I mean. Just my initial thoughts Quote
gankaku Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Posted November 20, 2012 First of all thanks for your answers! For the price, I say clearly, is 650 euro. This is the most I can spend for a blade. And I thought it would be a good deal considering the price, but since I'm not sure, I decided to ask you before buy the blade. So you do not advise me to buy? Quote
J Reid Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 Don't buy it. You can find a lot of nicer tantos for 650 euros. Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 In order to begin developing an eye for nihonto it is essential to begin ones training by looking at the best possible examples. A place to begin is newer blades, ones that have not been polished down and are virtualy new in their first polish along with the best, healthiest, examples of older blades. Then at least you have some frame of reference for comparison. Newbies are strongly encouraged to attend sword shows and join study groups before making their first purchase for this very reason, open their eyes so that they can begin to see the differences between levels of nihonto. Don't worry, don't fret, there will always be plenty of swords you should NOT BUY out there waiting. Quote
gankaku Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Posted November 20, 2012 Ok you have been very kind! I must admit that it is very difficult to find channels to buy. Do you have any advice for me on this? Quote
almeister Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 Hi Andrea , If it's the smaller blades you like , I would suggest considering Kunitaro San's current posting in for sale & trade ( currently sitting November 16) Spend that bit more for better quality , as resale value needs to be considered as a collector . All The Best ! AlanK Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted November 20, 2012 Report Posted November 20, 2012 I must admit that it is very difficult to find channels to buy.Do you have any advice for me on this? Actually it is not difficult to find channels to buy. The difficult part is defining buying objectives, and once they are established then the buyer can begin looking at and pointed in the right directions. Nihonto buying objectives should be established based upon Kantei principles, age, quality ( http://www.nihontocraft.com/Nihonto_Shinsa_Standards.html ), tradition, school, swordsmith? Quote
gankaku Posted November 21, 2012 Author Report Posted November 21, 2012 I had not visited the forum well and I think it's really well organized, I've also seen there are sections for buying and selling! Thank you again for your valuable advice, I'll read the multiple threads trying to learn a little more! Andrea Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted November 22, 2012 Report Posted November 22, 2012 Andrea, in your browsing of the forum, please look for suggestions that have been made on study materials. For less than US$100, you can buy three books that will make your understanding 1000% better! Welcome to the forum. Aloha! Ken Quote
gankaku Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Posted November 22, 2012 Well! Thanks for the advice! I have a book in Italian (because I'm Italian) very interesting, is called Nippontò (author Sergio Magotti). Do you know? Andrea Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted November 22, 2012 Report Posted November 22, 2012 I'm not familiar with that particular book, Andrea, & my Italian probably isn't up to getting much out of it, anyway. If you will check on this NMB thread, http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=12325, you will find the three books I mentioned. I'm assuming that your English is a darn sight better than my Italian, BTW! I think these books should form the basic library of anyone seriously interested in Nihonto, & I also think you should study them in some detail before choosing your first blade. You will certainly buy a better blade & probably at a less expensive price with the knowledge you gain from them. Good luck! Ken Quote
gankaku Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Posted November 22, 2012 Thanks for the compliment for my English, I hope I don't make write errors! I will look to buy these books! However, if you are interested, the book that I mentioned is also available in English. There are many detailed images and is also suitable for beginners! This is the link (http://www.spadegiapponesi.com/eng/index.html) Andrea Quote
Brian Posted November 22, 2012 Report Posted November 22, 2012 Andrea, You are lucky to also have an Italian Nihonto forum: http://www.token-tosogu.com/phpBB3/index.php Regards, Brian Quote
Jacques Posted November 22, 2012 Report Posted November 22, 2012 Brian, Don't forget this one : http://www.intk-token.it/forum/index.php?act=idx Quote
gankaku Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Posted November 22, 2012 Yes, I know! In fact I am also registered in the forum INTK - Italian Association of Japanese sword (for more than one year), a forum attended by great experts of the Japanese sword, but unfortunately they don't like make assessments of economic... It's their choice but I personally feel that it's very important to speak also about prices, especially for beginners like me, who risk to spend money in the wrong way! Andrea Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted November 22, 2012 Report Posted November 22, 2012 Umm, I don't think any of us were making economic assessments as such, Andrea. Rather, we were indicating that unless you spend some quality time learning about why you would like a specific blade, you're unlikely to get as good a deal as if you understand a bit more. Ken Quote
gankaku Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Posted November 22, 2012 It's true, but in your forum for example, there is a section for sale announcements... I wish you had not misunderstood my words, I have the utmost respect for the Italian forum! Andrea Quote
Brian Posted November 23, 2012 Report Posted November 23, 2012 Brian, Don't forget this one : http://www.intk-token.it/forum/index.php?act=idx I knew there was a huge one..but couldn't find at the time and thought I was mistaken. Sorry Italians...I know that is an impressive forum. Brian Quote
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