New member need advice on my first nihonto

[daytona1712]

My first introduction to nihonto was last summer when I visited Japan for holiday.I was 'hypnotize' by 'pattern on' the blade where I don't know what it called at that time(hamon and hada).

Long story short...I spend almost 2 months to search/read anything about nihonto and I think Iam ready for my first nihonto now even thou I never handle any katana/nihonto yet.

There is one nihonto for sale that I need your opinion,critic,advice or suggestion before I pull my triger.Highly appreciate for any advice and suggestion from any members here....

Here is information from the seller:

BLADE:

Shinshinto katana with mei: Yoshimasa

Come from Edo era(circa.1860)

Mei: Ura Yoshimasa

Material: tamahagane

Hamon: gunome

Hada: itame/muji

Blade type: Shinogi Zukuri

Sori: 1.7cm

Boshi: O maru

Old polish: 90-95%

 

KOSHIRAE:

All original Japan made

Tsuba: brass

Fitting: alloy

Tsuka: original Edo era

Menuki: Takeda mon

 

Best rdgs

Teo

 

Here are the pictures

[daytona1712]

Here are more pictures..

 

 

 

 

My first introduction to nihonto was last summer when I visited Japan for holiday.I was 'hypnotize' by 'pattern on' the blade where I don't know what it called at that time(hamon and hada).

Long story short...I spend almost 2 months to search/read anything about nihonto and I think Iam ready for my first nihonto now even thou I never handle any katana/nihonto yet.

There is one nihonto for sale that I need your opinion,critic,advice or suggestion before I pull my triger.Highly appreciate for any advice and suggestion from any members here....

Here is information from the seller:

BLADE:

Shinshinto katana with mei: Yoshimasa

Come from Edo era(circa.1860)

Mei: Ura Yoshimasa

 

 

 

Material: tamahagane

Hamon: gunome

Blade type: Shinogi Zukuri

Sori: 1.7cm

Boshi: O maru

Old polish: 90-95%

 

KOSHIRAE:

All original Japan made

Tsuba: brass

Fitting: alloy

Tsuka: original Edo era

Menuki: Takeda mon

 

Here are the pictures

[Brian]

Teo,

If you don't mind me saying, it looks fairly generic, with nothing really standing out. The hamon looks kinda bland, like a Showato one, and the fittings are very average and plain. Not sure what it has been offered at, but you should be paying under maybe $1000 assuming it is Nihonto and not a Showato.

Not something that is going to hold your future attention imho, once you get past the beginning "it's a Japanese sword!" phase.

But all depends on what you are looking for and what you want to spend.

 

Brian

[Bazza]

It is interesting to see what appears to be a yakiotoshi (hamon coming off before hamachi). Only seen it once in 50 years... not that I see so many!!

 

Here is the danger of commenting on offered photos when one really needs to hold a sword in your hands. To me this is uninspiring and has the "look" of a Shôwatô.

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[daytona1712]

Hi Brian..

Thanks a lot for your fast respond.

Looks like you are not 100% sure that its a nihonto but showato, may i know why?

Btw...the seller looking for near US$2,000 for this one.

Best rdgs

Teo

 

 

Teo,

If you don't mind me saying, it looks fairly generic, with nothing really standing out. The hamon looks kinda bland, like a Showato one, and the fittings are very average and plain. Not sure what it has been offered at, but you should be paying under maybe $1000 assuming it is Nihonto and not a Showato.

Not something that is going to hold your future attention imho, once you get past the beginning "it's a Japanese sword!" phase.

But all depends on what you are looking for and what you want to spend.

 

Brian

[daytona1712]

Hi BaZza

Thanks a lot for your opinion.Sounds silly..may i know if yakitoshi bad or good for a katana?

What cause yakiotoshi? Re-harden?

Best rdgs

Teo

 

It is interesting to see what appears to be a yakiotoshi (hamon coming off before hamachi). Only seen it once in 50 years... not that I see so many!!

 

Here is the danger of commenting on offered photos when one really needs to hold a sword in your hands. To me this is uninspiring and has the "look" of a Shôwatô.

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Tao,

I don't think this sword is worth anywhere near $2K; you can do much better.

One good way to do much better is to study more before you buy. Read books and articles online (like here), attend sword shows if possible, ask your way into see quality pieces in collections, and ask lots of questions of whomever is available. The more you know before you buy, the better buy you'll make.

And if you just can't wait, buy only from trusted dealers (see the links above) and a sword with a paper might be a good idea.

Grey

[Bazza]

Hi BaZza

Thanks a lot for your opinion.Sounds silly..may i know if yakitoshi bad or good for a katana?

What cause yakiotoshi? Re-harden?

Best rdgs

Teo

 

It is interesting to see what appears to be a yakiotoshi (hamon coming off before hamachi). Only seen it once in 50 years... not that I see so many!!

 

Here is the danger of commenting on offered photos when one really needs to hold a sword in your hands. To me this is uninspiring and has the "look" of a Shôwatô.

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

 

Teo, it is a very long road you have ahead of you if you decide to stick with Nihonto as a DOU - a Way of Life. Spend your $1,000 on selected books - you will find discussions here about that. Learn how to use the Board to your learning advantage - the "Search" function and the "Articles" section are good places to start. The next most useful thing I find these days (apart from my library) is google. Just put yakiotoshi into google and read all about it.

 

Best regards,

BaZZa.

[Tcat]

Hi Teo,

Thanks for taking the time post pictures. This sword does not look like a bad blade but as other members have stated, you are probably better off waiting a bit longer and looking at more swords on offer out there before you buy this one. Personally I believe you can find a better bargain for $2,000. To give you good advice or point you in the right direction, perhaps you could mention what it is you are looking for in a sword, if you intend to train with it or just study and admire it. I can only imagine how keen you are to hold your very own sword in your hands but just a bit more time spent researching and searching will save you many $$ in the long run.

[hxv]

Teo,

 

How fortuitous! A blade is just listed for sale by a long time member viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20274. It's a very nice blade and will keep you happy for a quite few years. Please have a look.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[laowho]

Hi Teo,

 

We've just purchased our first real katana, and it isn't even nihonto by some standards, but it is a genuine Japanese katana...this was my priority after years of owning only (quality) production blades. Moreover, I've liked tsuba for a long time. I thought the time had come to finally put these two things together.

 

I always bought my blades according to geometry--amount of sori, width, thickness, and ample niku--and always differentially hardened. These guided me in the katana we found. We also relied upon a reputable dealer who had a lot to choose from, which helped a lot. And the hamon has sufficient activity to keep me staring and appreciating for a long time. It didn't bother me that it's less of a collectable than most, point being that I knew what I wanted in any blade, and that this one had to be authentically Japanese.

 

Guess I'm saying you should know what you want and why, and that otherwise you won't be satisfied, like Brian said. I suppose my preferences, then finding these in an authentic Japanese katana, create for me a "presence" in the blade which I couldn't do without, something akin maybe to the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. And this often ends with the kissaki...I don't know whether there's a rule-of-thumb formula for this, and that there are tendencies w/i various schools/makers/periods, but I always "know" eventually whether the kissaki "fits" the blade, adequately "shows" the blade to the world, etc. No doubt I still have to better learn these things, but I think we've made an okay start. Seems the others are saying the blade you're looking at just doesn't have enough going on for any continuation of your interest and appreciation.