Seem a little pricey?

[SwordGuyJoe]

All,

I am very interested in learning more about Nihonto before dabbling more strongly in it. I saw this Wak on eBay and it is listed for $3500. The sword looks absolutely beautiful - to my untrained eye anyway. If this is a members blade, I ask only out of curiosity, not saying that it is, but... is this priced high? A mumei shin-shinto wak in new polish?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Sword-Samu ... tsupported

 

I mean no disrespect, but I have been watching this every time it has been posted and would rather ask the question than get burned.

[Hermes]

It has been up for auction on Ebay a few times, that IMO tells me it might very well be pricey.

 

Prices are down somewhat now and it is a nice looking beefy Wak, but if i had the money to spend on a Wak, here's one i might go for from a highly trusted dealer with paper and signed with ranking. BTW i would need to see better pictures on the one in question, i need to see the hada etc. before i bid on any sword.

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/08456.html

[hybridfiat]

I cant make any comment on its technical merits, but I think it is overpriced for the current market. Aesthetically I like it and have one similar (but shorter). I didnt pay anything close to $3500.

[raven2]

Here are another couple of nice ones in the same price range:

http://www.nihonto.us/SATSUMA%20SUKEKUN ... IZASHI.htm

http://www.nihonto.us/HOKI%20NO%20KAMI% ... IZASHI.htm

[Mantis dude]

I will make the general comment that it might not be that pricey given that it is in a fresh new polish. That is the problem with getting a polish, you are looking at what at least $100 if not a $125 min per inch, minimum. So the cost of polish is most likely starting at $2k. Add another $500 for a new shirasaya, another $250 for a habaki, it can easily cost $3k to polish a sword. Since you can't tell as much as you would like in the photo it is hard to comment on this particular blade. That is the problem with getting a blade polished, it costs so much that is often not worth it. I would try and look at what is available in Japan for comparison just to see how it compares and see if perhaps there are some safer bets or if you can visit the blade first. Good luck.