Wakisashi

[cerberus]

Hey,

 

I seen a very cool wakisashi on this website and i was wondering if anyone could give me an opinion:

 

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-mumeitatara-nagayukichoko

 

Really appreciate your help guys

 

Romain

[Alex A]

Hi Romain, looks a decent sword with Hozen papers. Be aware that Edo/Mumei can be a bit more of a difficult re-sell, but as long as you get it for a good price, then alls good.

 

At the end of the day though, the only opinion that really matters is your own. Know exactly what your buying, you will apprecate it more.

[cerberus]

Thanks Alex, why are they hard to re-sell? farely new in nihonto world so got loads of questions.

I really admire the patern on that blade, looks really special.

 

Also i was concern by the fact that there was no gold inlay specifying the cutting test, so how that company can know about it?

Is it written on to the Hozen paper?

 

 

Romain

[Alex A]

Hi Romain, do a search on here for "why mumei?", the thread will answer a lot of your questions. The sword does not have a cutting test, but the smith/school had a reputation for making sharp swords, was in the rankings, a bit like a football league

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12164&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[Kronos]

Whats going on with that "polish"?

[Kai-Gunto]

Beware when buying from aoi , when You get things on hold , they still can sell to other person.

[cerberus]

@gunto: really? sounds odd since it's an auction.

 

But with what i read and talk, I think it's too soon for me to buy one. Indeed i really need to educate myself about what style, school etc...

So far I know that a sort of perfect nihonto for me would be something with:

 

- strong curve

- cutting test inlay on the nagako

- a very "graphic" hamon, style don't know the style I prefer

- and long kissaki

 

 

I look to a lot a things and i know now that this is the kind of things I appreciate and would enjoy everyday to look at.

But i think what is the most importante criteria for me is the reputation of being extremely sharp ( even if most of them are).

 

Any suggestions of name? school? or style? base on those criteria

 

Thanks again

 

Romain

[Alex A]

Hi Romain, papered swords with cutting test inscriptions are quite expensive. If your going down that route Id start with some books (someone was going to say it). Search books for beginners.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Romain,

When you said it was too soon for you to buy and that you needed to educate yourself you were 100% correct and you should have stopped there. Buy books, read, reread, attend shows where you can see good stuff and ask too many questions, reread, meet collectors who will allow you to see their collection, study, and did I mention reading? The swords will always be there to buy; there is no need to hurry into it. The more you know before buying, the better deal you will make and you'll be more satisfied with your purchase in the long run.

Grey

[cerberus]

Thanks Grey, well you know you need to start somewhere and your taste can already be strong even if you are a beginer i guess.

I was thinking to get the connoiseur's book of Japanese sword too start, since i heard so much about it. What do you think?

Unfortunatly I'm living in Belgium and I can't say that nihonto is a big thing here. Maybe I should check for Paris.

Has a matter to understand more Could you tell me a bit about your first acquisition ?

 

Romain

[Kai-Gunto]

You need the book " the samurai sword" by John Yumoto, its cheap and easy to find. Its any easy intro to the Japanese sword.

The other one is hard to find and expensive.

 

Didnt se it was a auction. Just it was Aoi.

[Rivkin]

The first problem with nihonto is something that you like in pictures might look mediocre at hand and vice versa.

Regarding this sword, it appears as a very simple and cheap blade, with little artistry except maybe in hamon's shape.

 

It might happen that in 10 years you'll still hold onto this, "real samurai sword", and it will continue to make you happy.

You might recognize in a year that there are much better examples. In this case reselling this sword will cost you some tuition money. But trust me, good swords will cost you far more than that.

 

The only thing I can say that you can buy a similar level sword without papers for less if you spend a lot of time at shows etc. But that's the case with everything...

[Rivkin]

- strong curve

- cutting test inlay on the nagako

- a very "graphic" hamon, style don't know the style I prefer

- and long kissaki

 

Well, that was my preference some time ago, as is of probably much new collectors. And now I collect almost only tanto.

Strong curve leads you to saiha, so that's bad route alltogether.

Cutting test and graphic hamon essentially means shinto, some shinshinto.

There plenty shinto blades fitting the bill. They are showy, impressive, real weapons etc. As artistic things they are shallow, but there is still Sukehiro among them.