Is this a Masamune tanto?

[Ray Singer]

If I understand correctly in post #16, the seller / auction did not say Masamune but suggested it may be Echizen Yasutsugu, and that the possibility of Masamune was your own idea. Could you provide a bit more clarity on what the sword was described as, and perhaps share the original description here?

[Mark]

if the auction house/sword is in CA there is a shinsa in CA in July/august they could submit it

[pcfarrar]

Yes Kyodai Originals in the Netherlands. Thanks for all your information!

Guess you didn’t notice that the website has a few questionable swords on it.

[jblev2]

Here are the links to the auction I purchased from:

 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/75041688_original-Japanese-tanto-from-the-famous-samurai

 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/74525495_very-beautiful-work-by-izumi-no-kami-kunisada

 

Jon B

[Ray Singer]

Jon, liveauctioneers does nothing to vet the authenticity of the pieces that are listed for auction on their site. I have spoken with them about this repeatedly, but they seem to be happy to continue to list fakes and pieces with fanciful descriptions. You may want to suggest contacting the individual below, who has been doing outreach to try to get more swords on their site.

 

Rohan Parikh

P. 1-917-398-2202

E. Rohan@jasper52.com

 

As far as these two pieces, yes they have been listed with false descriptions (and false provenance in the case of the tanto). It is a long shot, but as others have said you should see if they will accept a failed submission worksheet from the NTHK as proof.

[Brian]

Liveauctioneers just does the online part of existing auctions. In other words, you are not buying from them, you are buying from whatever auction listed the stuff with them. In this case, it was a Jasper52 auction.
As Ray said, they do nothing as far as authenticity goes. I think they just use the description they are given by the auction house.
The description is very wrong, and sounds like it came from a Japanese auction listing.
That said, $1700 isn't insane for a genuine tanto. High yes...but it isn't a Chinese fake at least. The price and sale venue should have made it obvious it wasn't as described. No-one is going to let a Yasutsugu sell for that price.

[Brian]

You should be able to get your money back on the katana at least, since they make the outright claim  "This beautiful sword was made by him in the year 1620" without any doubt.
So tell them you are going to submit to shinsa and if it fails you expect a refund plus shinsa fees. If it passes, you pay the costs.

[hxv]

if the auction house/sword is in CA there is a shinsa in CA in July/august they could submit it

Mark,

 

Will the shinsa be in SF, July/August 2020?

 

Many thanks,

Hoanh

[Mark]

yes, that was what i heard

[hxv]

Thanks Mark!!! I have a few items to submit.

 

Hoanh

[Ray Singer]

A friend reached out asking about a sword today and it turned out to be this same tanto (already with one bid for $1,100, with the same description). Posting here in case the bidder is a member of our group.

 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/77122068_original-Japanese-tanto-from-the-famous-samurai

[PietroParis]

I hope this means that the original buyer (Jon B) was able to give it back...

[Zingala]

I consider it to be an aesthetically pleasing even though the description is way off.

Is there any way to ascertain who made it? 

[Zingala]

I hope this means that the original buyer (Jon B) was able to give it back...

 

That was my understanding. 

[IanC]

Hi, the short answer to this question is no. This particular tanto is not a koto blade. 

 

Regards, Ian.

[mas4t0]

11 hours ago, IanC said:

Hi, the short answer to this question is no. This particular tanto is not a koto blade. 

 

Regards, Ian.

 

How'd you end up here 2 years late?