Signed Tang vs unsigned tang value

[Exv]

So today while checking out cool nihontos on instagram. I noticed a bunch of really sick katanas with gorgeous fittings. The prices shocked me. Check out this katana set for example. It is only 3k for the set.

https://tokyosword.m..._fid=f37bc7717&_ss=c

 

The main downside it is unsigned tang. The katana I bought costed me 4k just for the one sword. It has a signed tang but the fittings are no where near as nice. I am wondering how much is a signed tang worth.

6C10F217-E82E-4E4F-ABF1-579B3C53CB3D.heic 8F6EEF21-B02B-4DAD-AE29-9129ECE5FB2F.heic D5798899-2F29-4D49-8697-EF9DA9AA4CDE(1).heic D5798899-2F29-4D49-8697-EF9DA9AA4CDE(2).heic D5798899-2F29-4D49-8697-EF9DA9AA4CDE.heic

[mywei]

Long story short - a sword with zaimei will generally be more valuable than the same sword if mumei

 

But depends on other factors such as age (e.g majority nanbokucho or older blades would be mumei) and overall health of the blade etc...

 

You are trying to compare apples and oranges - you have a shinsakuto, and the store has some mumei Shinto blades with no papers. These are different markets.

 

Fittings shouldn't come into this equation - you are buying the blade foremost. Low/mid range fittings can be dime a dozen.

 

[Geraint]

Dear Henry.

 

Mat has covered your question but just some thoughts on the 'daisho',  there are plenty of reasons why this is so cheap.  The fuchi kashira don't match, the tsuba don't match, the rest of the fittings are mediocre at best, the sageo looks suspiciously like a length of tsuka ito, the wrapping of the tsuka looks weak, the saya are pretty scruffy and plain and the wakizashi has more flaws/floors than the Empire State building.  I take it that you did notice the rust, the numerous flaws in the jigane and the particularly ugly umegane?  Add to this that both swords are unsigned and have no papers.  

 

 

The value of this set is to stick on a stand somewhere as a decorative item for a non collector.  While I agree with Matt in his last remark about the blades being the deciding factor in terms of specific values between signed and unsigned blades I tend to think that the fittings do matter when it comes to a daisho, which arguably is defined by it's koshirae.

 

Hope all this gives you some avenues for research.

 

All the best.

[Matsunoki]

Henry…..the only thing that is remotely “daisho” is the tsuka ito. It’s just two random swords given a rewrap and marketed as a daisho. Even the saya are different colour. A good way to waste money.

[Cola]

18 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

Henry…..the only thing that is remotely “daisho” is the tsuka ito. It’s just two random swords given a rewrap and marketed as a daisho. Even the saya are different colour. A good way to waste money.

 

Not that much money though.

It's a very low price, for two not so great swords. 

You can put some effort in the fittings to make them look a bit more presentable, maybe also repair the damage to the saya, and then you have some decorative swords to put on display.

If you like that, and don't mind that the swords are not perfect, then it's fine, not everyone has the budget to buy masterpieces.  

 

But if you want to study Japanese swords a bit more, you can probably find a few of these:

https://www.Japanese...rdindex.com/kizu.htm

 

Also beware that the rust is not something you can just scrape away or otherwise fix by yourself.

 

[Matsunoki]

1 hour ago, Cola said:

not everyone has the budget to buy masterpieces.  

I agree totally….but $3000 is a substantial sum for most people. If all we want is a pair of display swords then buy Chinese replicas for far less money. Some are actually getting much better. However if you want a true Nihonto then for that price you could secure one decent sword rather than two swords that have been tarted up deliberately to deceive and marketed as something that they are not. ……but, we all have different opinions. The wisdom of our purchases is usually discovered when we come to sell them.

[PNSSHOGUN]

1 hour ago, Cola said:

 

Not that much money though.

It's a very low price, for two not so great swords. 

You can put some effort in the fittings to make them look a bit more presentable, maybe also repair the damage to the saya, and then you have some decorative swords to put on display.

If you like that, and don't mind that the swords are not perfect, then it's fine, not everyone has the budget to buy masterpieces.  

 

But if you want to study Japanese swords a bit more, you can probably find a few of these:

https://www.Japanese...rdindex.com/kizu.htm

 

Also beware that the rust is not something you can just scrape away or otherwise fix by yourself.

 

 

We all need to start some where but swords like this are a waste of time, effort and money.