Nihonto Or Not?

[vajo]

I hope someone can help me.

 

I read Sadaroku. On the nakago is a star stamp and a number. The nakago looks very clean.

I din't find out if Sadaroku was a swordsmith of yasukuni shrine, so is this blade traditionell made?

What does the signature mean.

 

Pictures are a little big.

 

 

 

The blade looks lovely for me. The koshirae is not very eye catching.

 

[Fuuten]

I'm not an expert, especially not in gendaito, but during and for the war many swords were made that weren't 100% traditionally forged because of the high demand. I suppose you need to find out more about the smith and his works.

[Lee Bray]

He appears in Slough's, if you have that book.

Some good info in this thread - http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/6316-echigo-sadaroku/?hl=sadaroku

 

He made traditional blades and won a competition or two in the early 40's.

The star stamp most likely affirms it is traditional.

 

Certainly looks like Sadaroku's signature. He carved very bold kanji...I owned one once and was always impressed with his mei.

 

[Brian]

Star stamped, so it is definitely Gendaito and not Showato. Looks like a nice sword. Nakago looks like maybe it was a little cleaned, but not too bad.
Not a Yasukuni smith, but a RJT one.

[Nobody]

Its date is Showa 18th year, autumn.

[vajo]

Thank you a lot for helping.

Is the number on the nakago a registration number?

 

Can i ask what you think is a fair price for both sides? I plan to buy it.

[Brian]

Looks to be in good condition and polish? If so...around $2000 if it has full wartime koshirae.

[vajo]

Yes condition looks very good for me. The fitting is not so high valueable. Only small same eyes. Tsuba with 4 Seppa washer. But with a massive sarute and a little damaged blue brown tassel.

The first price was 6k. I didnt think that he give me that sword for $2000.

[Brian]

$6K is far too much. Look at the swords Joe is selling!
http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18419-sword-and-tsuba-sale-last-chance-before-consignment/

[vajo]

I bought it now, $ 4.140,00

Maybe to much, but my first star stamped gunto.

Thank you all for helping me.

 

Happy new year.

Cheers Chris.

[Stephen]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Japanese-SAMURAI-SWORD-Katana-gunto-type-98-shiki-signed-Sadaroku-/131598545173?hash=item1ea3e27115%3Ag%3A7IgAAOSwcwhVLird&nma=true&si=r9GU1Y%252F5lGyLZgiAzWl8Df%252B3IAk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

from them? doubt they own it, they will have to buy it off Yahoo and often dont get it done, money will be tied up for long time...hope im wrong.

[vajo]

yes is from them. Do you think is a crime?

[Heringsdorf]

Hallo Chris,

 

Ich würde Ihnen empfehlen keine Nihonto über eBay zu kaufen.

Solche Gegenstände sollte man nur von bekannten und vertrauenswürdigen Händlern kaufen.

Außerdem sind 4740$ Viel zu hoch.

Das Schwert wurde 1943 geschmiedet, zu einer Zeit in der nur yasukuni Schmiede Zugriff zu tamahagane hatten.

Das heißt das dieses Schwert zwar traditionell hergestellt wurde, aber höchstwahrscheinlich mit Verwendung von modernem Stahl.

[Brian]

Not any fraud or crime.
They are just middlemen. So they see the sword for sale somewhere in Japan for maybe half that price. They list it on eBay for a good markup, and if someone buys it...they buy the sword and sell it to you. It's not any fraud at all....but just know that you could probably find it in Japan for at least $1000 cheaper, and use a broker there to import it.

As I said, you should have looked at Joe's stuff.
You should get the sword you bought, they will be arranging the purchase now.

[Brian]

Max, agree with your view about not buying from eBay. But you are wrong when you say only the Yasukuni smiths had access to tamahagane.

The Rikgun Jumei Tosho program allocated tamahagane to smiths, and these are the ones that used the star stamp. They are guaranteed to be from tamahagane.
See the articles section for the original military paperwork proving this.

[Heringsdorf]

Thank you Brian for the clarification.

I thought that I read somewhere that by 1943 tamahagane production was minimal, and that only few top smiths received any?

[Heringsdorf]

But concerning the price I think that close to $5000 is way to high for this sword.

Do you agree?

[vajo]

Thank you for helping and clearing the view.

To buying not over ebay or other auctions is difficult because there are so less gunto available.

 

Brain thank you for the link to the other swords.But i like gunto swords because they are interesting for me. Maybe we have a different look on the same thing. Only the sword in Shirasaya is not very attractive for me to have a look on. For a real nihonto collector this is maybe not important.

[Stephen]

All said is true, except the sword may have sold before your BIN, the item is not always there at the end for them to buy then send to you, this may or may not be the case,just giving fair warning this may take some time, I do wish you the best of luck. 

[Michael 67]

 

Hallo Chris,

Da kommen noch etwa 21% Zollgebühren auf den Gesamtpreis drauf ... Das wird dann gleich deutlich teurer..

[Mark]

think I have 3 star stamped gunto mounted swords. You could have any one for $2000 (US$) plus costs

 

(if inappropriate or hijacking please delete -- I mentioned it for educational purposes and comparison for value)

[vajo]

Thank you all for your advice and help. I made a experience and stop that deal with help from ebay germany.

 

Happy new year.

Chris

[jason_mazzy]

I think that was a wise move

[Bruce Pennington]

On 12/31/2015 at 3:37 AM, vajo said:

The koshirae is not very eye catching.

Chris, is this in Type 98 fittings?  Just wanting to know for the files.  Thanks!

[vajo]

Hi Bruce,

i refered from buying this sword. 

 

Yes it was in Type 98 fittings.