Ebay ~ Wakizashi

[montrealfan1986]

I am looking to add a Wakizashi to my collection and came across this one on ebay.  The designs and things pretty interesting, looks like a farmer on the kashira, thats what I do down here in South Carolina. This seller has great feedback and says it comes with the export paper, but there is no picture of that.  Do you think this is a legit Wakizashi, the Same looks almost like plastic.  Thank you for any advice, Matthew

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186241962202

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Matthew,

The sale says, "As is". He isn't accepting returns. Ebay is a snake pit for beginners; if you have any sense you'll stay away from it. If you did manage to find something good on ebay other bidders who know more than you do will see to it that it will be expensive. You need a dealer whom you can trust to help you make smart decisions.

Grey

[PNSSHOGUN]

Photos taken directly from this seller https://tokyosword.m...om/collections/sword

 

The sword itself....well there a many problems with it: poor polish, very low quality fittings...not something you should aspire to own.

[robinalexander]

For posterity...

[DTM72]

@montrealfan1986 As Grey said above, the way the seller put in the listing "The sword sells AS IS So please ask all the questions you want" is a cover your butt statement...for himself.

If there is a small HAGIRE - 刃切れ - edge cracks in the hamon (fatal flaw) and you don't ask him ahead of time if there are any flaws (if he knows how to identify flaws) you get stuck with it. Paypal will NOT refund your money due to his cover the butt statement.

Please also take not e of sellers statement "One of The Nicest swords I have ever put up for sale Please look at ALL the pictures" Once you have been to a few shows and have seen firsthand some papered hozon, tokubetsu, and juyo pieces, you will then start to see where this sword ranks (low). If this is the nicest sword the seller has sold, I really do NOT want to see the other swords he has sold.

You have an open invite to my home. I have some hozon and tokubetsu blades you can see. <-- In my opinion average and above average items in the grand scheme of things. This can help you in identifying what you may want to look for in your Nihonto journey. Almost all of us on here have been down the road of having a pile of mediocre swords. I too was one of those guys. I have gotten rid of all the $500-$1250 swords, used that money and a little extra, and got a couple good papered tanto, wakizashi, katana, and tachi.  

We are all trying to help you not make the mistakes we all did.

 

All the best!

Dan

 

BTW, @Grey Doffin is one of the trusted sword sellers here as well as @Mark and @mdiddy. I have personally bought/traded with each of these 3. Their reputations are well-known as great sellers, and each of the 3 carry items from un-papered decent quality items to top-level juyo status. There are other sellers that are well trusted, but I only listed the sellers whom I have personally worked with.

[montrealfan1986]

Thank you all so much for the replies. I am learning so much from you all.  I've been looking at Sohei swords on eBay, they are listed on this forum and seem to be very nice. I like reading all about them on the other sites mentioned here as well

 

 

I've used eBay for more than 20 years, used to sell US coins on there all the time and did well, but sellers.and buyers have changed over the years, so thank you for leading me in the right direction. I always allowed returns and would get.items swapped out or stolen,.so like Grey said it's snake pit. 

 

Thank you 

 

Matthew

[DTM72]

BTW, Sohei swords is @mdiddy Great guy and trusted seller. I will see him in a couple weeks at the Las Vegas sword show. I got my beloved tachi from him.

[montrealfan1986]

@DTM72 Thats great, I bid on his swords all the time.