brillone Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 I had a thread yesterday about a wakizashi i won at a bidding but it went under the reserve price but he changed his mind and i will get it for my bid. So now i would like to have some information on this blade. I have searched a bit on the net but havent found anything on the smith. I had his name in the other thread yesterday and i think grey wrote that there was a smith with that name working in around 1500. So please if someone can tell me the name again and if you can give me info about the blade i would be glad. So finally this is my first sword http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&item=330270535971 Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 I agree with Max do not pay with anything but paypal. You will also not be protected by ebay unless he uses the 2nd chance option. The sword itself looks a resonable buy for $1000. At this price wakizashi are abundant and you would probably be better off sourcing one from the UK so you have no customs fees to pay. Quote
Brian Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 Do you have any info at all that this is from Mackstar? The pics aren't his style, the item and seller are in the USA, (not Japan) the description style isn't like his was, the seller has been registered since 1999 and has 100% positive feedback and the name has nothing to do with Matthew. So why on earth wuld you link this seller to Mackstar? Provide some proof please. Not a bad deal for a first sword, and at least you finally get that out of your system Brian Quote
brillone Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Posted September 23, 2008 Ok so this guy can be trouble? I will not do the deal if he has been doing bad deals or if he isnt honest. Also i have searched for blades in the uk but the prices are much higher there, at least what i have seen. People tell me to wait for good deals but thay are really hard to find so i thaught this was one but if he aint a honest seller and has been in trouble i wont do this deal. I thought it was a little easy to get him to accept my bid. Man now i feel like i dont want to do the deal. Hehe thanks brian but if this guy is bad trouble i wont do the deal. I really dont know what i should do now. I will pay by paypal but does tht give me any warrenty he will send me the sword? Quote
brillone Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Posted September 23, 2008 His name is matthew and his mail is oldswordbuyer@gmail.com. Quote
Brian Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 Joakim, Matthew Spakowski is known to be a strange character. Used to sell on eBay and would rant and rave sometimes and act very schizophrenic. However many dealt with him and got their items (myself included) and as long as you take insurance and pay with a credit card funded Paypal you still have the option of a charge back. However I would still like more proof this Matthew is him, and even if it is, he was more known for his bizarre communications than not sending the sword. Don't panic. If you like the sword, buy it. If you like the safety of eBay, ask him to send you a second chance offer and do the deal through eBay. Brian Quote
Guest Nanshoku-Samurai Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 Hello Brian, sorry for the confusion. I didn't want to stir up anything here. I said this guy is Matthew Sparkowski or Sparowski. Mackstar alias Matthew Hardy is currently inactive from what I can see. A friend of mine won a trial against him in Japan some time ago but there was only a bit more than 1k left in his bank account. Since then he seems to have disappeared but still resides in Japan. This just on the side ... Now back to this auction: I think it is a solid Wak (without commenting on the Mei). Please don't worry. As long as you pay by PayPal you are on the safe side. However make sure to pay using your credit card. If the sword doesn't arrive within 30 days you can take actions otherwise enjoy the sword. Again, I did not want to imply in any way that you should NOT complete this transaction. It was just meant as a friendly reminder to stay on the safe side. Regards, Max PS: I know of atleast one sword that got sold by Sparkowski and paid for using PayPal. It never arrived and then suddenly appeared again on eBay for sale by him around a year later on. To see if it is Matthew Sparkowski, tell him you might want to send a money order and thus need his address ... Quote
Brian Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 Sorry for the confusion. I have always been led to believe that Matthew Spakowski and Matthew Hardy were connected. Perhaps most Matthews are fishy :lol: I see Tierry and a few other members here have dealt with this seller and from his feedback I think you will be ok. I do suggest getting him to do it through eBay and via a second chance offer..even if you have to pay the seller fees. Good luck, and let us know what it looks like. Btw..VERY important (and i do this with all swords I buy) ask him for a guarantee that there are no fatal flaws, and no pitting or other flaws not visible in the pics. Brian Quote
brillone Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Posted September 23, 2008 I will pay through paypal, does that make it safe? I have never done this before so. I will ask him if the sword has no more flaws than on the pictures! One thing is that my internet at home is down so i can only be online at work, and that sucks casue we arnt allowed to surf on work time. Someone told me to ask for his adress does that help in anyway to tell if hes not the bad guy? And can someone tell me if the mei is real or gimei? Thanks for all the info guys Quote
brillone Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Posted September 23, 2008 Im going home from work now so c ya guys tomorrow. So my answer will come tomorrow. Quote
brillone Posted September 23, 2008 Author Report Posted September 23, 2008 Finally my internet at home is working again. He told me he lives in portsmouth and he has send me a second chance offer so i guess all seems good!? Anyone who can tell me if the signature is gimei or not? Quote
Grey Doffin Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Joakim, Ohara Ju Sadamori didn't make it into any of the references in my index, so I have no oshigata with which to compare the mei. He must be in some reference somewhere; otherwise Hawley wouldn't have known about him to include him in his list (if this is the same Sadamori that Hawley lists). While it is possible to have a gimei of a little known smith it isn't very common. The fakers were more interested in producing copies of big name blades; more money in it for them. Chances are your sword's mei is right. Grey Quote
brillone Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Posted September 24, 2008 Heres an update. There have been a change of plans i got an offer from kanetoyo to buy a sword from him instead that has papers from nthk so i have done that deal instead cause i know he is a good guy. Hehehe this has been a very intersting 24 hours. And again guys thank you for all your help and comments. Quote
Brian Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Like sand through the hourglass....these are the swords of our lives. Hope you finally get the sword you want Joakim. While you wait, it's a good time to study up on maintenance and care, and perhaps save for a few books so you can learn more about it. Regards, Brian Quote
brillone Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Posted September 24, 2008 Thanks brian hehe I have bought a tool set for taking care of the sword and i have looked on different sites to learn how to do it right. And as soon as i can get some more money i will invest in books. I gotta say i feel really god about this deal and sword i feel i did the right thing. Here is the sword i bought i know the hamon isnt as bright as on the other one but this has papers and i just have a better feeling about it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170265570164#ebayphotohosting Quote
Jacques Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Hi, And as soon as i can get some more money i will invest in books. Instead of buying a sword, the first thing you can do is to buy some good books. It will be surely more profitable for you. Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 I used to have an Aizu Kunisada wakizashi, was one of my first blades. It was very similar to the blade you've purchased. I think its a resonable purchase for the price. Quote
brillone Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Posted September 24, 2008 I feel i did the right thing buying this sword and i will buy books, tho i have been looking for a sword for a year now so i know i did the right thing. Peter nice to hear you also had one of his blades. Later today i will go on the internet an hunt for information on him hopefully i will find some Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Later today i will go on the internet an hunt for information on him hopefully i will find some Unfortunately I don't think you will find much. When I had mine I contacted Tanobe san of the NBTHK and he wrote back saying they had little information on the Aizu Kunisada group. Quote
brillone Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Posted September 24, 2008 Then maybe there is some info in a book somebody has well i will do my best trying to get as much info i can about him. Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Fujishiro has this: KUNISADA KAWACHI NO KAMI [JÔKYÔ 1684 IWASHIRO] SHINTÔ CHÛSAKU He is called Furukawa Magodayu, and he died in Genroku Ninen (1689). (Wazamono) Signature: KAWACHI NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNISADA Quote
Jacques Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Hi, Quote Fujishiro Shinto jiten: KUNISADA KAWACHI NO DAIJÔ [KANBUN 1661 IWASHIRO] SHINTÔ CHÛSAKU He was the tôshô of Aizu, his initial mei was KUNISADA [TN], and he died in the last year of Kanbun (1673). Signature: KAWACHI NO DAIJÔ KUNISADA KUNISADA KAWACHI NO KAMI [JÔKYÔ 1684 IWASHIRO] SHINTÔ CHÛSAKU He is called Furukawa Magodayu, and he died in Genroku Ninen (1689). (Wazamono) Signature: KAWACHI NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNISADA Quote the seller: Jigane : Iame-hada and masame-hada, There is masa-utsuri and chikei in jigane.. Kunisada never produced utsuri (utsuri was extremely scarce in shinto times) and i wonder what is a masa-utsuri. I'm afraid we must understand "masa-utsuri" by shirake (tired) utsuri Quote
brillone Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Posted September 24, 2008 Thank you Peter all info is good info (most of the time hehe) Quote
Guido Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 I'm afraid we must understand "masa-utsuri" by shirake (tired) utsuriShirake-Utsuri is is not the most desirable type of Utsuri, but perfectly normal for, for instance, Mino swords; it's whitish (hence the name) and indistinct. I think you're confusing it with Tsukare (tired)-Utsuri, which looks like Utsuri on first glance, but is actually a result of over-polishing. "Masa-Utsuri" might be another expression for "Bô (straight)-Utsuri", although I never heard of it. Anyhow, since "Kanetoyo" is a member of this board, he might want to comment on it. Quote
Jacques Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 Hi, I think you're confusing it with Tsukare (tired)-Utsuri, which looks like Utsuri on first glance, but is actually a result of over-polishing. You're right Guido, it was a slip of the tongue :? Thanks for the corrective. Quote
brillone Posted September 24, 2008 Author Report Posted September 24, 2008 Kan anybody give me tip of a good book with information about different smiths from shinto and koto era? Maybe a book where i can find info about Kunisada. Quote
James Posted September 26, 2008 Report Posted September 26, 2008 http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Antique-Japanes ... dZViewItem A result of buyer's remorse or a scam? Quote
Brian Posted September 26, 2008 Report Posted September 26, 2008 James, Joakim did say he passed on that one in favor of another one, so this one is just for sale again. Nothing suspicious about the sale Brian Quote
brillone Posted September 26, 2008 Author Report Posted September 26, 2008 Yes as Brian said i passed on it, so he listed it again. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.