Rule Number 1 When Buying Swords is

[Marius]

Alex,

 

As to gimei - please assume that anything signed but without papers is gimei. As simple as that.

 

As to reliable dealers on eBay - I know only two (there may be more) and of these two I can ask one about a blade and get 100% honest information, including all flaws etc... Neither of them is selling high quality items, but pretty good entry level swords are to be found.

[Alex A]

Hi Mariusz, ive seen a sword recently with a shoddy blade, shoddy signature, shoddy fittings, no papers! and a price tag of $10000, this wasnt on ebay. Arther C Clarke couldnt work it out... :? Its just proof that for a sword to sell it just needs to be in a posh website and attract a clueless customer with money..

 

Alex

[Marius]

Its just proof that for a sword to sell it just needs to be in a posh website and attract a clueless customer with money..

 

You are right. Idiots abound. I think you might have seen this (sorry, admins, this is a shameless OT in order to infuse a little bit of humor into this thread):

 

http://www.tachisword.com/

 

[hxv]

I'm a late comer to this thread, but here is my take on things. As most people on this board know, prerequisites for shinsa are a polished sword and shirasaya. For a standard length daito, if one were to purchase a "project" bare blade, one is looking at $3000 for a polish+shirasaya, and an extra $400-$500 if one needs a new habaki. In comparison, the cost of the "project" blade is more or less inconsequential. So anytime one contemplates submitting a project blade to shinsa, don't get bogged down in the actual cost paid for the blade. Rather, think of the $3000-$3500. Even of one were lucky enough to get Hozon, the monetary market value of the sword will then depend of the attribution. A daito in shirasaya with so-so attribution will probably fetch $2000-$2500 (in today's market), far below the cost of polishing & shirasaya & shinsa submission & agent handling fee. I wouldn't have anything polished & sent to shinsa unless my polisher (and you'd better use the best of the best) gives me the nod. Even then, it's a gamble, but one stacked in your favor. Having a good polisher who knows how to kantei swords on your side is like knowing how to count cards in a card game. No guaranty, but it sure helps.

 

Regards,

Hoanh