Grey Doffin Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 A seller on ebay has listed a wakizashi signed, "Dewa no Kami Kuniyasu. You'll find it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110146781328&rd=1&rd=1 The sale is for the blade and saya only. If you check the seller's other items you'll find the tsuba at one auction, the kotsuka at another, and the tsuka and habaki at the last. I checked with the seller; yes, they all were originally together. Pity to see this piece broken up like that (not to mention the nuttiness of selling the habaki with the tsuka, not with the blade). I wrote to the seller asking him to reconsider, end the auctions and relist the whole. So far no luck. Maybe if a few of you guys agree that the piece should stay together you'll write the seller and maybe the wakizashi can be complete again. Grey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sencho Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Hi Grey... I mailed him too... shame.... the mei is actually DEWA NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNIYASU he missed out the Fujiwara part.... Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 he has placed the habaki with the blade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 I do not understand this thread. It is up the owner what to do with a blade. The purpose of eBay is to make money and not to preserve Nihonto in the first place - didn't you know this? Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninjje Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Max, are you usually this ascerbic? :? The object is to preserve the blade en suite, that's why we're on this site. Sometimes the whole ebay profit thing is not necessarily good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simon Rowson Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 I agree with roninjje. Hopefully, the majority of board members are committed to the preservation, as well as the appreciation, of Nihonto. I think, therefore, that it is admirable for the members to try and stop the irreversible cannibilisation of this wakizashi before it is too late and the various componants are scattered to the four winds. I fully understand that any this seller is motivated by money - so we should play on this and point out to him that he stands a much better chance of increasing his profit by selling the blade and koshirae as a whole item. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Max had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sencho Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 If max is being tongue in cheek, he isn't very good at it... see the last post... http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... php?t=1654 Now I would say that Simon was tongue in cheek in that post.. ... Roninjje hit the nail on the head I reckon "are you usually this ascerbic?" Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simon Rowson Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 The difference between being "tongue in cheek" and being "ascerbic" can be as simple as adding a It really doesn't take much to let people know you're joking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Whether tongue in cheek or not, Max has a point that the seller has a right to do what he wants with his sword. However we have just as much right (and duty) to at least recommend to him politely that he follows the correct course of action. From there it is up to him to do the right thing or not. In this case, at least the habaki is back where it should be. I know that there is more profit to be had from parting out a sword, but as long as we are dedicated to the preservation of Nihonto...we can work towards that goal and make suggestions. These should be polite and explanatory, and in some cases we will have successs. I hate to see this happen, but beyond suggestions all we can do is try and guide sellers in the best way possible. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Brian et al.: I believe we musn't be thinking that we know the ONE best way how to preserve Nihonto and that it is questionable at best that we have the right or order to try to guide an obviously knowledgeable seller on what he should be doing. This seller in particular has abviously handled enough Nihonto to be well aware of what he is doing. I agree with you in general that there is Nihonto worthy of being kept ensuite and all complete as it was once meant to be. However anyone of you who has had a Nihotno being restored before knows about the huge cost involved. Much of the Nihonto out there is simply NOT worth it. Let's just say you have an average quality Tsuka with a Kashira missing. Having a matching Kashira being made will cost you well over $300.00. Therefore it is often better to sell Tsuka and help someone complete a project who might have a matching Kashira and is looking for a Fuchi. If you have an old Rolce Royce it might be wortyh of restoration but if it is a rotten VW Kaefer you'd better sell it for parts only and not waste your time nor money on it. The seller has realized this. I doubt he would take apart a complete high class Koshirae as he knows that it is worth more when being ket together. This is a very pragmatic way of thinking but that it is how the Japanese sword has been handled for centuries. Adding a Gimei to a sword has been a very pragmatic way of thinking just for the sake of money as well- However nowadays we tend to make a holy cow out of a dirty pig so to say ... Again only my two cents. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 what started off as a plea to at least keep the habaki with the blade ..which happend...we all get acerbated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sencho Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Anyway apart from all the bollocks, here is what the seller replied... "I watch all the time as other sellers stand up to your argument and point out that the sword was made by one guy and the rest by different individuals through time. Can you date each of these furniture and back up this information. Can you place a price on your interest in saving this piece of history? I would consider ending this auction only when I see a seriously strong interest in dollars. Thanks and Good Luck!" Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sencho Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Actually I just checked the sellers listings... now he has cancelled everything it seems. Maybe he is changing stuff around.... fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Well, again just my two cents but why not instead use your valueable time to write to some organizations in order to safe the rain forrest, end the troop sending to Iraq or help support any other charity organization? I think there are many more important things to be safed in our world but a lousy old Wakizashi ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Doffin Posted July 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 I realize that this is a mediocre wakizashi and not the end of the art world if it gets broken up. However, there is another angle to my concern that hasn't been considered. A Japanese sword in a saya without the handle, with or without a habaki, is vulnerable to breakage. The kissaki and edge are very easily broken/chipped if there is no tsuka with mekugi to anchor the blade. For this reason, if for no other, what the seller was up to was a mistake. The sales have ended. My guess is that either someone bought the whole works or the seller will relist in one sale. Either way I'm happy. Grey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninjje Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 Trouble is, I have seen high class swords and furniture broken up. I have see tsuba go one way, f/k go the other, etc. but granted the fittings for this blade were rather ratty (though from what I can tell the tsuba wasn't too bad.) I will be the first to replace a shoddy tsuba with a period one and get rid of the shoddy. I just think the seller, who has the bottom line in mind, should take more prudence in parsing out the pieces (e.g. the habaki) And Max, many of us do have serious activities we dedicate our time to, but this diversion or hobby means something to us as well. And if that lousy wak makes it another 200 yrs in reasonable condition, it just may paper juyo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 I would take any bed that it won't paper Juyo even in 500 years. Sure many Shinto and even Showa periode blades may paper Juyo by then but it always takes a very very very good Wakizashi to get Juyo. Thsi Wakizashi is crao. Furthermore this is mere assumption and no real argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 my take............... it's ok to be serious about one's hobby but don't take that to the " religeous " level. Religion mucks up a lot of things...........just read history, you know what I mean. milt the ronin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungo Posted July 8, 2007 Report Share Posted July 8, 2007 for the fittings dudes.......how often we lament that we have to buy the tsuba together with the crappy sword ( or vice versa for the sword dudes )? BE HONEST.............. Also for the collectors that want to put things together.....how often we see all the fittings matches exactly, eg. all dragons, all tigers etc. ? Dudes, that's " gaijin tastes ".....very often, we ( may be lack of knowledge of the subtleties or whatever )don't realize things don't have to be exactly the same to tie in to a theme. For example......tiger/bamboo, hawk/sparrow ( to name a few obvious cases ), how about the bat and deer ( a play on words )? The Genji symbols that resembles the Korean flag?Chinese Taoist fortune telling thingies ? How often you think the average samurai of old REALLY spent times figuring out what goes with what ? I think it's mostly individual tastes and/or depth of their " wallet "................ Would I " strip " my edo tachi ? definitely not !! Would I switch a tsuba from an Edo period PAPERED koshirae ? yes and have done that ( but I keep the original tsuba aside as a " package " )as the tsuba simply has no common theme with the rest............ there, flame on. milt the ronin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Hi Milt, IMHO, I totally agree with YHO :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Simon Rowson Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Max said: Well, again just my two cents but why not instead use your valueable time to write to some organizations in order to safe the rain forrest, end the troop sending to Iraq or help support any other charity organization? I think there are many more important things to be safed in our world but a lousy old Wakizashi ... True enough Max, but the members of this particular board are actually all very interested in genuine Japanese swords of any age and condition (the name of the board itself is a bit of a clue) and so they post their various views and opinions here. No doubt they express their feelings (if they have them) about the other important topics you mentioned on more appropriate sites. Anyhow, I'm sure you were just being "tongue in cheek" again, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Ok, I think this topic has been beaten to death already. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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