Lets Discuss Emura, And If They're Worth Polishing

[lonely panet]

Hi guys,

 

well if you didn't know by now, I collect imperial swords, its what I like and can afford. iv had a few gendai-to now, and iv seen a lot of emura, none of which were that great in my opinion. BUT I have one and think its worth the cost of polishing.

 

so if anyone has some good pics of a polished emura can you please post them, as I would like to see how they turned out.

 

They are rated medium to high gendai, but there Jigane is poor compared to yasukuni, aswell as the general shape too.

 

The one I have, the Ji-nie is really large, random and appealing, and has some nice O-hada. but sadly lacks any uniformity in the hada, but the boshi is finished with what looks like hakikake  

 

so I will post pics soon

 

regards H

 

 

 

[pcfarrar]

Here's one I owned about 10 years ago...

 

[lonely panet]

Hi Peter, thanks for the pics, looks like ours a simular in style.

mine is abit hard to photograph, as the steal is very bright and reflective. I had to change my lighting to suit each type of activity with in the blade.

 

 

 

 

[jason_mazzy]

that blade looks worth a polish to me

[SwordGuyJoe]

Yes it may look healthy enough to take a polish. The problem with smith's like emura is that the value of their blades, out of polish, plus the cost of polish, shirasaya, and possibly habaki, you will usually find yourself upside down on the sword. A sword, in polish, by Emura will fetch $3.5-$4.5k depending on how nice it is. The problem is that for polish, shirasaya, and habaki you will need to spend approximately $3k for decent work. So unless you have very little into the sword or are willing to hang onto it until the market increases, you're likely to lose money when you decide to upgrade.

[Caleb Mok]

Yes it may look healthy enough to take a polish. The problem with smith's like emura is that the value of their blades, out of polish, plus the cost of polish, shirasaya, and possibly habaki, you will usually find yourself upside down on the sword. A sword, in polish, by Emura will fetch $3.5-$4.5k depending on how nice it is. The problem is that for polish, shirasaya, and habaki you will need to spend approximately $3k for decent work. So unless you have very little into the sword or are willing to hang onto it until the market increases, you're likely to lose money when you decide to upgrade.

Well, the bright side is, if Hamfish does valiantly make the decision to give this blade the treatment it deserves* , then he will be FORCED to hold onto it for a while and by then the market may increse because of the long waiting lists!     -Caleb

 

edit: if you get it done thru kunitaro-san, it ~may~ cost less than $3k and the turn around time is very quick.  Still, SwordGuy's got a point though...

*i don't mean that sarcastically, i think such $$$ decisions improves the collecting world as whole and should be recognised

[lonely panet]

yep, that's my issue. and theres no shortage of his work either, and he has many levels of quality.

 

but I was thinking that this is a better then average Emura gendai, so was thinking to would be a good example to hold onto.

 

I know that most Japanese only sell these as the demand comes from the western collector, but on the whole, I am hoping to convert afew collectors that dismiss gendai as inferior to the so called true samurai sword of pre meiji restoration.

[SwordGuyJoe]

I am hoping to convert afew collectors that dismiss gendai as inferior to the so called true samurai sword of pre meiji restoration.

If you're preaching, I'll be the choir!

[Caleb Mok]

 I am hoping to convert afew collectors that dismiss gendai as inferior to the so called true samurai sword of pre meiji restoration.

 

Well if you can do research and photography as well as Darcy, then i'll be directing all my friends to not only Darcy's site from now on, but also yours and obviously with my highest praise.  They may not ~buy~, but they'll probably learn...which seems to be your goal 

[Rich S]

H -

 

Looks like a nice Emura. IMHO, it's in pretty good shape. I'd just uchiko it (a lot - let's not start that discussion again) and leave it alone. I don't think it warrants the cost of a polish or really even needs it.

Rich

[SAS]

I agree with Rich; it is not desirable to over  polish swords generally.....a good polisher will know this, and a bad one will just start wailing away at it

[nihonto1001]

I think many of these swords can be enjoyed in the patina they have earned over time. 

[lonely panet]

it does make me think, could a polish bring out more activity it the piece, and sharpen up the lines and define some of the more pleasant area's.

 iv got some pics of the noi line.

 

BUT with out further study"polishing would help", how can we learn what are the better features of the smith or if he has any standard traits (apart from a distinctive Mei)

 

and what style to polish in?

[jason_mazzy]

sashikomi would look fine. much activity.

[Tom Clancy]

Hi Hamfish,

 

Here is a polished Emura.

 

Tom.

[lonely panet]

wow, the emura smith had a very wide range of working styles.

 

whats is mei,  read "chounsai emura" as the yakidashi  isn't something iv seen on gendai

[Tom Clancy]

The Mei reads Emura Saku and yes it is rare to find Yakidashi on Gendaito.

 

Tom.

[tony edmunds]

It may be worth remembering that most Gendaito were not  polished to a high standard during wartime where speed was of the essence. Yaskuni shrine had resident polishers and indeed  masters so you'd expect them to be the exception. 

Therefore its quite likely that a better polish would give significant improvements in shape and details albeit at a cost.

[celt72]

Here is my Emura that I bought from Aoi about a year and a half ago. Needless to say the pix are from them...

 

[lonely panet]

well thanks to the last post, I know that's helped make up my mind.

 

next stop togi town

[celt72]

Glad I could help!