Japanese Sword Monju Yamato School Carving of BONJI

[brillone]

Im wondering do you guys think this sword is worth bidding on. I for myself think it looks really good but as you probably know from my earlier posts im new to this, so i want your opinnion.

I have searched for the sellers name here on the forum and found that he seems to be a god guy selling the real deal.

Is this real?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Monj ... 0281254254

 

Or is it safer if i bid on this?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Kane ... 0277565736

 

And yes i know i should study books and swords so i my self can tell if its real. And i will but right no i dont know so please just tell me your thougts about the swords and if they are something to put my money on?

[James]

They're real - no doubt about that.

Just in case you haven't noticed they have a reserve price, probably of around $1500-2000USD each and will probably sell for $2-3K for the Monju Yamato and $3K+ for the Kanemoto.

[brillone]

Ok thanks for the answer, but as i have understand this seller is really reliable so i can still watch for new swords and feel safe with my bidding?

[Hermes]

I would pass on those two, here is one from the same dealer i like, but i would wait until i knew more about Nihonto, you came to the right forum to learn, why not spend some time here before spending the money?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Ujif ... 0276514977

 

James

[brillone]

Ofc i will learn but i also think that if i can find a real nihonto it would help me very much to learn how to tell the fake from the real.

And i also dont know how many real nihonto i will buy, one thing i do know is that i will not sell it i will keep it until and when i feel the time is right i will pass it to my kids.

And i think if you guys can help me, why not.

[paulb]

Dear Joakim,

I thnik there ar many here who would be happy to help you, and certainly confirm whether something was genuine or not. However the question as to whether something is a good buy, a worthwhile investment and even a good sword, is an extremely subjective and personal decision with infinite variables. As a basic starting point I would consider the following

1. As with any antique do not buy it as an investment, buy it because you like it. many here have seen prices drop considerably over recent years, I expect they will come up again but when is another question.

2. Armed with little knowledge you would do far better to buy fom a recognised dealer than via ebay. Ebay is full of average and poor swords, not to mention outright fakes. Yes an occassional bargain can and does appear but the ratio of poor to good must be massive.

3. Buy the best you can afford. on pure commercial terms long swords are worth more and easier to sell than short swords, BUT there are some very fine short swords around and you can get a lot better quality of workmanship for your money.

4. Avoid swords listed on auction sites as-"project", "study piece" "starter sword" as generally this implies poor condition and requiring a lot of expensive restoration (if possible)

 

Finally buy something that you like and know you will enjoy.

Having said all the above I support 110% the earlier comments made regarding buying books and studying, it may not tell you what you like but it may explain what you are looking at and help you understand why you like it.

regards

Paulb

[barbariantrampoline]

I recently bought a sword from this seller and I highly recommend them. I recommend getting something with origami. I've only been seriously reading and studying nihonto for the past 4 months but, I've noticed (even in that short amount of time) my taste has changed alot. A sword I was drooling over 2 months ago (which was about $3,000 over my budget (18,218.10 Swedish Krona)) I now cringe at.

 

 

-Josh

[brillone]

Thanks so much for the comments and the help.

 

And i will never buy a sword thinking this will make me money in the future. I will only buy a sword casue i like it. I meen for me a nihonto is a piece of art. And i dont want it because its cool with your friends, i want it just so i can sit buy myself and look at it, study it and so on. I will also try to find out so much info that i can about the smith and so on. To me a nihonto is a treasure. I would treat the sword with great respect.

 

And i know that probably many of you guys think about your swords in that way also.

And if anyone of you can give me tip of a good book to read about nihonto i would be really happy.

[DirkO]

At the top of the page, there's a button called "Suggested Reading"

Maybe that's a good place for you to start

[brillone]

Hahaha how could i miss that topic i gotta get new glasses haha