Morimitsu Help With Paper

[Jim P]

Hi Guys, Can someone give me a hand with these papers one lists Dr. Walter A. Compton as the person who submitted the sword (you don't see western names on papers often) does the  Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho paper list who submitted it ? Its coming out of Japan and no current paper ? maybe it does not need one as it has a sayagaki ?

[Shugyosha]

Hi Jim,

 

It's in katakana next to the picture of the tang: Wa o ru taa A. Ko n pu to n (sorry, couldn't get my Japanese keyboard working this morning).

 

If someone has the auction catalogues or 100 Masterpieces that would also perhaps give you a means of verifying that the sword was in the collection.

 

Best,

John

[Stephen]

Nice to have one out of WAC collection, well done.

[Jim P]

Hi John,Thanks my Japanese is not that good so ( Wa o ru taa A. Ko n pu to n ) translates to Dr. Walter A. Compton  at least I can recognize the A  I don't have 100 Masterpieces so can not check a the moment so I had a ? why it has not been submitted to a current shinsa

Stephen it’s up for sale and has a price to match the name

[Stephen]

Here?

[Jim P]

Hi Stephen, It seems that this blade is not in the three Compton catalogues or the 100 masterpieces.  Much thanks to one of the members who checked for me so a bit of a ?

This is the link   http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords3/WK327301.htm 

[Curran]

3,800,000 yen-

you might consider this one:

http://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2016/16586-2.jpg

 

Operating from memory without dragging out the books-

The Oei no San Mitsu and maybe Iesuke went through a period where they seem to have been employed or it was worth their time to make a lot of wakizashi with dates on them.

I think the concentration was something like 1415 to 1425, with many many times more waks than katana or tachi. They are much more affordable at a fraction of the price of the tachi or katana.

I've seen at least 3 (or 4?) waks Morimitsu has done with the grove and that particular horimono at the base.

 

I like them and seriously considered the Aoi Arts one, especially as the $USD rises in strength.

Self employment means screwy cash flows, so sometimes I cannot buy what I would like to buy when it becomes available.

As it is not likely to correct on my end for a few months, I hope the Aoi Arts one finds a good home.

 

I would welcome it or the Nobuiye on Darcy's site (nihonto.ca) if Santa is feeling very generous.

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think this will be much more on the field of Darcy & other high end dealers / collectors but I'll take a stab on amateur level.

 

I'd think there is lots of speculation on the price. The sword is in very good condition and I think there could be a chance for this to go for Jūyō (and for the asking price I am sure the dealer suggests that too). Morimitsu being a very famous and important smith and this work of his being in so good condition. You can see there are Morimitsu in various condition with different papers, and this being a work in such good condition and worksmanship I would think it could have potential. Of course I am just basing this opinion by just looking at pictures online of various swords but to my eye this looks to be better condition & craftsmanship than many Tokubetsu examples that are for sale.

 

Of course someone with Jūyō books (and hands on experience) could look into quality & condition to Morimitsu wakizashi that have passed and draw more conclusions if this would have a chance to pass when compared to those that have passed. Here is one for comparison that is dated to same year: http://katananokura.jp/SHOP/1512-W03.html

 

I also second Currans thoughts about the one at Aoi. I think it's very good quality vs. price but it is unfortunately way out of my league.

 

Here is one Hozon which has similar horimono: http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2013/1310_2001syousai.htm

 

Sometimes you see some quite puzzling asking prices, I don't have nearly enough knowledge to understand all of them. And of course you can always ask as much as you like. At these high asking prices you really have to know what you are buying and why + add a good idea of market value to that.

[Kronos]

The one at Aoi appears to have a fukure and some ware in the yakiba which I would think to explain some of the lower asking price.

[Kronos]

There's also a brilliant tachi (although mumei) attributed to Morimitsu here: http://www.japanesesword.de/?site=sword&id=74&lang=en

 

It's obvious why it was attributed to morimitsu and at the very least certainly one of the Oei-san-mitsu.

[SwordGuyJoe]

I saw that sword too. Pretty nice!

[Jim P]

Hi Curran,   I was wondering why I was seeing  wakizashi with dates like 1414, 4 in 6 months it make it a bit clearer, must have been a peek time and I too have seen that horimono at the base  on 3 of the 4 I looked at, It is just about a kantei point for him   all the ones I saw had current papers only this one was with old papers so had me wondering what I was missing I thought that the  Dr. Walter A. Compton papers maybe one of its selling points but it does not show up in the catalogues so it’s one of  those with a ? that we see in Nihonto from time to time and like you I do like his work. Being self-employed and having screwy cash flows is still better than living outside the US at the moment. I think for US buyers it a good time to collect alas I remember not too long ago the Aus $ was a lot stronger its dropped back to about 75 cents and I missed that window and like a lot of the collectors outside the 3 big markets US, Japan, and the EU we are at a bit of a disadvantage just ask Brian the SA rand does not buy what it used to and in OZ nihonto is just about nonexistent for the mid to upper range. I see you are leaning to the dark side again buying swords and not just concentrating on Tosogu  but I still am not a convert of old iron so am not asking Santa for a Nobuiye

 

Hi James, That Morimitsu Tachi is a interesting example, in that its mumei and has a ubu nakago we today wonder why no signature on a blade of that quality.