What do you think?

[Red Anjin]

Hi,

I recently met a guy who makes swords and fittings. Anyway, his site is below and also a link to what he has up on ebay currently. When I saw that he was asking $30K for one of his pieces I was surprised. Has anyone heard of him or have any experience dealing with him?

 

Thanks,

RA

 

http://www.goldmountainforge.com/forge.php

 

http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkinzan3

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

Refer to the following thread.

http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... d+goldberg

[Red Anjin]

Thanks,

Not trying to beat a dead horse, but where do modern swords like this fit into the nihonto world? This $30K sword is more expensive than the modern smiths in Japan right now. I could be wrong but would I not be able to get a blade by Ono Yoshimitsu for less than $30K?

Are the swords done by western smiths what I would want if I was studying ia or looking to do some cutting tests? I can't imagine buying an Ono sword then using it for cutting. I'm feel I'm a bit in the deep water. If anyone wants to throw me a line I'd appreciate it.

 

Thanks,

Red

[Red Anjin]

Ok,

Here is another modern smith.

 

http://www.waltersorrells.com/blades/new.htm

 

While I don't have years in the art, I've never seen a hamon like that. Since all this swords have this style I imagine its supposed to look like that. This is a modern take on the sword? Whats with the spots north of the shinogi? Is that intentional? Looks like the clay got splattered randomly over the blade. Are these something that will appreciate or even hold their value or is this like driving a new car off the lot; it loses 30% of its value as soon as you take delivery?

 

Red

[Brian]

Joshua,

 

I regard these as high end custom swords/knives of the type that modern knife collectors would own. Basically a custom knife in the tradition of the Japanese katana. As a once off item, I think they would appeal to collectors of modern edged weapons, but i would not consider them as made for the same market we deal with.

 

Brian

[Red Anjin]

Thanks Brian.

[Guest kaien]

David is a very talented smith who also has a background in making jewlery for high end companies such as Tiffanies. I don't know why the particular sword on ebay was listed for so much, but in my conversation with him you can commission him to forge a blade out of Tamahagane and fully mounted for about 6k and up, though I didn't expect them to get up to 30k, perhaps there is quite a bit of gold fittings or something. He is a real good guy and has been very kind to me.