Collector Goals

[BIG]

curious about past and present goals from other members..

 

My goal is the third Naotane after a wakizashi and a tanto. No need to presume the man and his skills.

Also interesting the time and the protagonists..

 

Best

 

PS even when a Kanemitsu original has the same value as an Naotane utsushi

[wakiboy]

Hi Peter

 

Although I’ve been a student of Nihonto for a good many years, like so many students who would love to be classed as a collector but have never had the means, my goal is simple.

Just to be able to keep moving on blades I’ve studied and learned from for blades new to me.

The field of Nihoto is vast and if I kept the blades I had studied I would not be able afford any new ones.

 

Ian

[Jussi Ekholm]

My is goal is collecting tachi from different provinces (Ōshū to Satsuma) and dating from Heian to mid-Muromachi. My idea is to have a lineup of periodical changes while at the same time getting a grasp of provincial differences. Granted the vast geographical span as well as time span I will have to lean towards lower end - mid tier items in order to achieve this goal even partially. Likewise I will have to include some katana (as I won't be able to afford Nanbokuchō odachi, and original length Heian & early Kamakura might be out of reach too) and some naginata-naoshi (because I like them a lot) as well. Aim is currently quantity over quality as I will never be able to achieve such collection if I focus on high quality. I will be able to enjoy quality of pieces that others have in sword gatherings.

[DRDave]

Like Jussi, I love Koto blades, but even if I could afford them, I'm at that point in life where I need to reduce what I have tied up in stuff.  I don't want to leave my wife with a bunch of stuff she will have to liquidate.  So I'm hoping to collect just a few of the better gendaito smiths of the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries.  There's plenty in that time frame that interest me, like the Kasama Ikkansai and Osaka Gassan schools.  

[Vermithrax16]

Timing on this post Peter is great, as I have been trying to figure out my next steps in this study.

 

After jumping in blind and buying 2 not that good swords, over the last year I moved those along and focused on a singular goal of 1 particular style of work. I was very fortunate for things to fall in place for a buy.

 

Since since I have working on expanding my tsuba collection and adding more high quality pieces, but that's been hit or miss (not finding the right ones, losing at auctions, not much that I am after seems to come up). But depending on end of year sales I may be ready for another sword buy. Certainly by spring. So what is next? What is my goal?

 

Thanks for the post as I think I had sort of stuck this needed process in the back of my mind. I need to get back to it.

[Blazeaglory]

I'm with Jussi. The older the better and frm different regions and dens. Currently I'm saving for a Nanbokucho blade that I found.

 

And if not Koto, then something Shinto from a good smith with wild hamon like this

[Ooitame]

My goals are to have a daito, made before 1700, zaimei by decent smiths with at least wazamano. Hamon and Hada to be determined by individual cases... Although I am partial to konuka, masame, mokume, and O-Itame.

 

As circumstance and more often money effect our purchases, I recently bought a very strong gendaito Katana. So only the waki remains... Maybe when I recoup after a waki purchase I will look for a Katana that meets the original goal.

[Vermithrax16]

I have crossed over to the dark side. After intense study and cost/value/what I want in a sword analysis, I think I am a Shinshinto guy. Hate all you want 

[mywei]

After seeing Jeans Gokaden collection thread that has been a goal of mine. It's gonna take a while!!!

[paulb]

The problem with setting goals, for me at least, is there is a danger of becoming so focussed on achieving your goal you become blinkered and fail to see real beauty and opportunity that is staring you in the face. I have gone through various phases of focus and goals and as my expereince and understanding have increased (hopefully) those goals change.

Goal number 1 collect what you like, and I mean really like. If it doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck rise when you look at it and it doesn't make you catch your breath then you probably don't like it enough.

Goal number 2 Don't buy it just because it is from the school/tradition/period you think you want refer to goal 1

Goal number 3 buy the best you can afford. Fewer good blades makes a much more interesting collection than multiple mediocre.

 

Jean's collection is a great example of this He has focussed on the Gokaden but has allowed himself some leeway within that range. He has also bought the best examples he could find and only blades that he truly likes. All three goals met well done Jean

[Blazeaglory]

I have crossed over to the dark side. After intense study and cost/value/what I want in a sword analysis, I think I am a Shinshinto guy. Hate all you want

Grrrrrrr????

 

Although I have seen many great shinshinto items, I have to say I'm a Koto guy

[vajo]

I try to not have a goal because behind the goal is a deep hole 

 

Cheers 

 

Chris

[Blazeaglory]

I try to not have a goal because behind the goal is a deep hole

 

Cheers

 

Chris

I'm currently in it my friend. Still digging!

 

Cheers!????