Thekirsh Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 Hi All Just like to ask who the sword in this auction is by and why there is so much interest? although I guess question one will answer question two!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-SWORD-Asian ... dZViewItem Thanks Simon K Quote
Brian Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 I sure hope that this mark is just a scratch or stain, and not something more... Brian Quote
Guest Simon Rowson Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 Nice gold inlay (as engraved by appraisers such as the Honami when they were cutting down a longer blade) and possibly a nice hagire to go with it ...well spotted Brian. Quote
Brian Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 Ok..who's going to put us out of our misery and let us know who made this one? :D I think for a price to jump that fast and at that rate...people must be seeing something very good. Always a chance it is one of the real sleepers. You can also tell by how many people have made urgent and not-so-subtle attempts at a buy it now Looking forward to seeing where this one goes. Personally..it looks like the best advice would be for her to pull the auction and seek further info and appraisal. Just my 2c though. Brian Quote
Ed Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 Stephen, I have seen that character shown as "Sane" in Yumotos. Perhaps it can be pronouced either way. Nihonto Kanji pages show: 真 Zane. Oshigata on pg 392 of Fujishiro's, are shown as "MasaZane" on pg 173 of the english translations. Either way, for the bidder who is bidding like crazy on it, I hope it is legit. It is over $5000 now. Quote
Pete Klein Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 I believe that is also pronounced 'Sho Shin', just as on the NTHK origami. Quote
Ed Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 Pete, That had occurred to me, but I disregarded it due to the fact it didn't seem to make sense. It seemed to me that a name attribution would be more fitting on a mumei sword. Shoshin roughly means authentic or truth. Authentic what ?? Merely an authentic sword ?? What do you think ??? To me the inlay looks poorly done. Maybe an attempt to fool ole gaijin into believing it had to be good with gold writing on it. Just my worthless opinion, perhaps one of the Big Dogs will come out and enlighten us. :D Quote
Guest Simon Rowson Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 My wife came up with "Masa Shin" which didn't make any sense to either of us - hence my not posting it. She did say that the second kanji was a variation of "Makoto" (sincerity) but, as she's just gone on business to Kobe, I can't ask her for any more details. Maybe the would-be buyers are tranlating the "Masa" and then wishing the second character into "Mune"! (We'll get a flood of new "I found the Honjo Masamune" posts if that's the case). Simon Quote
Bungo Posted June 27, 2007 Report Posted June 27, 2007 masazane.....have a jumonji yari with that kanji on the NTHK ( OLD Yoshikawa Sensei )paper. Same kanji as that used as" sho shin " on shinsa paper as Pete pointed out..... the dark line is worrisome though. milt the ronin Quote
Stephen Posted June 27, 2007 Report Posted June 27, 2007 here's a photo negative if you blow it up sure looks like a crack to me. Quote
Elmojo Posted June 29, 2007 Report Posted June 29, 2007 Hi all, This is my first post here, in case you care. Anyway, I too ran across this listing and wondered about the buzz. Has anyone noticed that this sword has a sibling? It's the only other item by that seller, as far as I can tell. http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-ANTIQUE-SWORD-A ... dZViewItem Cheers! Quote
Brian Posted July 1, 2007 Report Posted July 1, 2007 Well...it appears everyone who is bidding is hoping it is Masazane. Not long to go. The seller is confident that it is not a hagire, so let's wish the high bidder good luck with it. Could be the sleeper of the year, or just a nice katana. Definitely the ebay Nihonto auction of the year Can't say I would spend that much online without having it in hand, but apparently there are many who hope for the prize, enough to spend big $'s. Good luck to the seller and the winner Brian Quote
Pete Klein Posted July 1, 2007 Report Posted July 1, 2007 This reminds me of what Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade said at the close of 'The Matese Falcon'; "It's the stuff dreams are made of"! Quote
Bungo Posted July 1, 2007 Report Posted July 1, 2007 Well...it appears everyone who is bidding is hoping it is Masazane. Not long to go. The seller is confident that it is not a hagire, so let's wish the high bidder good luck with it. Could be the sleeper of the year, or just a nice katana. Definitely the ebay Nihonto auction of the year Can't say I would spend that much online without having it in hand, but apparently there are many who hope for the prize, enough to spend big $'s. Good luck to the seller and the winner Brian not a sword dude by any stretch of the imagination.... but what's so great about Masazane ? koto/shinto Kanabo school , Have one jumonji yari with dragon horimono attributed by NTHK ( Yoshikawa ) To Masazane. Couldn't sell it at the Chicago show ( for a measly 6k ) and now off the btable since my kid wants to keep it for his bedroom wall. Or............ we are talking about a different Masazane ? p.s. for the jumonji yari....please click...... http://www.esnips.com/web/nihonto?docsPage=9#files milt the ronin Quote
Bungo Posted July 1, 2007 Report Posted July 1, 2007 from one of the question and answer........ " Hi Mary. The signiture is what they call kin mei (gold signature) and is signed KANESADA. There were a number of smiths who signed this way from the 13 th. century up to modern times and it usually means that the smith was famous when it is gold filled. Don't be too concerned about the mounts, it is ONLY the blade that collectors are interested in. Hope this helps. " Masazane = Kanesada ? milt the ronin Quote
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 1, 2007 Report Posted July 1, 2007 Not a bargain in my oppinopn. There is better stuff out there for that amount of money. Only my two cents though. Max Quote
Thekirsh Posted July 1, 2007 Author Report Posted July 1, 2007 Final sale price was US $ 6,850 . Now the auctions over maybe all will be revealed?. Simon Quote
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 1, 2007 Report Posted July 1, 2007 Well, I'm not sure what ought to be revealed. I think everything is pretty clear. No big surprises ahead. Quote
Ed Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 There were several smith's by the name of Masazane, most mediocre. It seems that someone was hoping this to be by the Ko-Bizen Masazane, of which there are only three known extant works. He was thought by some to be the son of Awataguchi Masatsugu. One of the three, a beautiful Tachi, was owned by a good friend and still resides in the US. Dr. Honma dated it to around 1000 BC on the Sayagaki. It was, at least at one time, considered "priceless". I was fortunate to have viewed in hand this genuine Ko-Bizen Masazane. IMHO, if the buyer of this one on e-bay thought it was by the same Masazane, he may be in for disapointment. ( I hope I am wrong) But forget my humble opinion, the best reason I can see to believe this sword was not by the famous Masazane is the the final selling price. You can believe all the big money buyers saw this auction, if any had believed it to be THE Ko-Bizen Masazane, it would have been scooped up at the last second for more than any of the active bidders could have fathomed. Remember a year or more ago, there was a big name sword(I forget who now) on e-bay. It had everyone talking, speculating. It hovered around the 5-7K (not unlike this masazane), then at the last second, BAM it sold for at least three times the high bid. One of the big dogs was lurking quietly, then when the time was right moved in for the kill. Quote
Pete Klein Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 I would assume you meant 1000 AD or CE. I don't think they were making these little gems in 1000 BC -- although perhaps 'they' were and it came along with the alien craft pictured in the tanto hamon... LOL! Quote
Bungo Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 I would assume you meant 1000 AD or CE. I don't think they were making these little gems in 1000 BC -- although perhaps 'they' were and it came along with the alien craft pictured in the tanto hamon... LOL! according to the Highlanders, the dude played by Sean married the daughter of Masamune ( King of Japan ) in 500 B.C. and was given a Masamune which he used to lop off other highlanders' heads to get their juice/mojo/power.......... check it out, I kid you not. milt the ronin Quote
Pete Klein Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 That's OK Milt -- I'll take it up with Sean Connery the next time we bump into each other. Quote
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