Potential first sword

[Adam M]

A good looking sword has been recently added on the lanes armoury website http://www.thelanesarmoury.co.uk/shop.php

It is described as a Masafusa sword, after some research I am sure the smith is Shoda Masafusa from John Slough's, Modern Japanese Swordsmiths; page 97. The blade is in a fresh polish and gunto mounts. A bit on the expensive side?

 

I would like to know what your opinions on this sword are before I get in touch with them.

 

Regards,

 

Adam M.

[cabowen]

Polish is poor. I would think you could find something by a better smith for the money. It does have an interesting provenance however that you may find attractive. All depends on what you are looking for, art or artifact.

[Ian]

You may want to read the description again.

 

After extensive research we have found that another of Masafusa's gendaito swords, signed in the same form with kokuin, was surrendered by Rear Admiral Nobukagu Yoshimi on Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, in 1945 [see last photo in gallery].

 

Regards

 

Ian

[cabowen]

Thanks.....bad assumption on my part....Thanks for pointing that out.

[SwordGuyJoe]

WAY too much for Masafusa! If memory serves, he's only a million yen smith and there isn't anything in the pics that says this is worth it. If you want a really nice gendaito for less than than what the sell is charging, take a look at my Tadayoshi

[Adam M]

Thank you all for your comments, I suspected It was a bit pricey.

 

The search continues.

 

Regards,

 

Adam M.

[tony edmunds]

Hi Adam

If you are set on buying a Gendaito I'd recommend to trip to the Birmingham Arms fair in June (it's held in the National Motorcycle museum which is worth a visit too).

You will get to meet some great guys on the Northern Token Stand ( you could even sign up at the same time) and see quite a few swords which would offer you better value than £2.2K for a genaito in questionable polish.

 

Good Luck

Tony

[Alex A]

Hi Adam, the lanes isn't the best place to shop for nihonto swords, especially your first sword. Very expensive, rarely papered, descriptions and photos lack necessary details. If you do buy from there then your best travelling down to view the sword. I bought a sword from there some years ago, the guy told me it was flawless over the phone, it arrived with an opening (small, but obviously worth a mention), as you can imagine, this could ruin ones afternoon, be careful.