Hmm...so what do we have here?

[Brian]

Real Japanese swords almost never come up for sale in SA. And a shinsakuto? NEVER.
So I'm pretty puzzled by this one popping up on a local auction site. Especially since the seller seems to know nothing about them aside from what they looked up.
And without them mentioning any of the needed/important details, I can only assume there is something funny here or that they don't know much about it.
I sent a question, got no reply. I'm just curious what we have here. Can't read half the mei, and doesn't seem to be a nengo. Is that possible on a shinsakuto with torokusho? I thought it would need to be dated.

I had thought it might be a Komonjo special, but not with that paperwork I'm guessing.
The price is silly anyways. About $10,000. But curious to hear your thoughts and theories.
https://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/496803967/Japanese_Shinken_made_in_the_traditional_way_w_Tamahagane_by_modern_registered_sword_smith.html

 

 

[Mark]

torokusho  looks like it has a date, maybe Heisei 16

[Brian]

Anyone cracked the mei?

[C0D]

伊豆住竜義作 Izu ju Tatsuyoshi saku
Looks fairly legit
http://www.giheiya.com/shouhin_list/japanese_sword/iaiyoushinken/01-1460.html

[Brian]

Thanks Manuel!

[16k]

looks good to me too.

[C0D]

btw his real name is Enomoto Eiichirō (榎本栄市郎), born 1951, son of Enomoto Sadayoshi (榎本貞吉)

[Brian]

Chatted to the owner, who seems to have gotten it about 2007 through an agent. Paid a LOT of money....could have bought a really nice Koto maybe.
Didn't know much about them, just had extra cash and figured it would be a nice thing to have.
I mentioned how a shinsakuto usually takes a big knock when selling, as it is someone else's custom order.  They don't increase in price at this level.
Personally I would value this about $5000 max...(not buying) What do others think?

[C0D]

5000$ would be a fair price, also considering the koshirae is iaito level

[16k]

Yes, price seems right to me.

 

However, that’s the price they usually come in a shirasaya. A full, nice Koshirae might increase the price a bit.

[Brian]

Trouble is, he's asking closer to $10K.
I don't think he'd get $5K in SA.....maybe overseas.

[Brian]

He's down to $6000 on the package. Bought in 2007, made in 2004. Still mint.
Beautiful sword, but not sure if it would sell in SA. Not sure it would sell overseas either...I don't know the shinsakuto market. Is $6000 sellable?

[Shugyosha]

If they are long and done by Mukansa level smiths then maybe, at least Aoi Art has sold some at around this price and they are likely to have been sold to westerners I guess:

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-minamoto-yasutake-mukansa-swordsmith/

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-hisyu-jyu-minamoto-moriyoshi-saku-no-mukansa-sword/

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-yaguwa-yasutake-seitan-kore-mukansa-swordsmith/

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-sagami-koku-zengyo-ju-tsuruoka-hachimangusha-mae-okubo-kazuhira-mukansa-2/

[16k]

I don’t know if it would sell, but I know I would never have bought it before I finally got to buy one. It’s truly extraordinary to look at a sword in its prime. It made me change my mind completely about Shinsakuto.

[Fuuten]

On 1/15/2021 at 1:51 PM, Shugyosha said:

If they are long and done by Mukansa level smiths then maybe, at least Aoi Art has sold some at around this price and they are likely to have been sold to westerners I guess:

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-minamoto-yasutake-mukansa-swordsmith/

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-hisyu-jyu-minamoto-moriyoshi-saku-no-mukansa-sword/

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-yaguwa-yasutake-seitan-kore-mukansa-swordsmith/

 

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-sagami-koku-zengyo-ju-tsuruoka-hachimangusha-mae-okubo-kazuhira-mukansa-2/

The tsuka's wrap on the first one, never seen anything like it Seems pretty intricate and well done. The fittings however..

[Stephen]

The Enomoto guys were very popular back when i was making the circuit.

I think Chris B was working with the family and often had ther swords for sale.

Yes they were getting those prices.

[Brian]

Damn damn damn....
Over a year later, and this just popped up again on my radar.
Seller is now more than motivated, and it's offered at under $3500. Waaaaaaay less than he paid.
Argh. I don't have $3500. But that is a heck of a deal.
I'm sweating. I don't handle temptation well.

[Stephen]

Yea who the hell pays rent or mortgage....

Always wonder how much junk I'd have if I had money to burn not saying this is but you know what I mean

[Fuuten]

Seems like a decent deal when compared to the original auction starting price. Seeing my previous post it's good to confirm my original thoughts on the tsuba, the wrap however is still very pleasing to my eyes ☺️ 

 

Is there a new auction link?

[WillFalstaff]