Looking for an NBTHK Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon Katana $1000-3000 range, open on condition

[intenex]

Hi all! I just started venturing into swords approximately a week ago and have now collected 5, with a tokubetsu kicho token wakizashi for $750 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/235146427369?nma=true&si=GSfOBQwgWr75yMXt42GQublz2lc%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) and a tokubetsu kicho token katana for $1500 (offer accepted for $1400 + shipping - https://www.ebay.com/itm/354970993519).

I'm pretty sketched out by these blades being both mumei and with outdated attestations though and so am hoping for a hozon or ideally a tokubetsu hozon attested blade I can trust to be genuine - anyone at all selling something <$3000 that fits that criteria? Ideally polish would be in decent condition and don't care much about the condition of the saya or koshirae at this point in my journey - thanks all! Any thoughts on what a fair price to pay for the lowest value tokubetsu hozon katana might be? Don't really care about a specific smith at this point either, though ideally koto or shinto era blade is what I'm looking for.

Thank you!

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Ben,

There are no Tokubetsu Hozon katana for less than 5 or $6,000, unless something serious happened to the sword after the paper was issued. You are taking a big risk by throwing money at swords on ebay with little knowledge. You would be doing yourself a big favor if you held off on purchases until you know a lot more.

Grey

[Ed]

Tokuho katana in polish for 3K?  Me too!!

 

Sorry man, but as Grey has pointed out that ain't happening.

 

At your budget you will likely have to settle for mumei or older papers. As long as you buy from a reputable dealer you need not worry.

Buying on flea-bay, worry!

[Baba Yaga]

On 10/1/2023 at 5:51 PM, Ed said:

Tokuho katana in polish for 3K?  Me too!!

 

Sorry man, but as Grey has pointed out that ain't happening.

 

 

 

Maybe not and maybe so. With the Yen so deflated against the American $ and very obscure hobby being what it is. I wouldn't bet Tokubetsu Hozon holding any future value. 

Sorry, but that's general economics and not me talking. 

[Ed]

You may be right. Recently, I have been seeing some stuff that blows my mind. Polished, papered (though not Tokuho, all Kicho to Hozon), most in shirasaya, a few in koshirae for dirt cheap. Most are mumei or run of the mill smiths, but still very cheap.