Sovereign Antiques find from UK

[Utopianarian]

First time buying from UK from this site. Anyways this tachi looks like promising buy. Hopefully shipping from there to US makes it in one piece. Here is a picture of sugata shape looks good. Fittings were Gunto with civilian tsuba. Gunto saya had two mounted hangers on it.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Were there further photos? Brave purchase if just going from that image.

[Utopianarian]

 

11 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Were there further photos? Brave purchase if just going from that image.

John, I just posted one pic showing sugata. There were over 30 pics I reviewed. Nagasa 78cm ubu. I saw enough in pics to pull the trigger on this one. I have made quite a few brave (dumb) purchases in the past. I am currently working on trying to unmaster the art of Brave purchases lol

cheers

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

3 hours ago, Utopianarian said:

 

 I am currently working on trying to unmaster the art of Brave purchases lol

 

Quote of the year nominee LOL

[PNSSHOGUN]

We are all keen to see more pictures!

[Kmad]

I believe here is is I was looking at same a while back

https://www.antiques....php?code=as1076a801

It says signed tang but no images

Regards

Ken 

[Utopianarian]

Ken, if I am not mistaken that ww2 era blade is still for sale. Sovereign Antiques has a few for sale. My shipment is now flying somewhere over the GB Channel islands.

John, definitely will post lots of pics when I receive. Blade however is badly in need of polish from what I could see. I can no longer review pics in add as the listing is now removed after sale. Always risk with old corroded blades. This one is no exception. I will keep you posted

[Utopianarian]

Great. Now the package is awaiting clearance since 4am yesterday still not updated and seems to be stuck in clearance now for approximately 30 hours. FedEx insured for 250 pounds. I would assume customs would not bother opening the package for inspection. Hopefully now it won’t end up missing or seen as a weapon of mass destruction. It’s an antique nihonto for Gods sake. Long wait now to figure out what becomes of it. Any board members with any guesses of what happens next?

[Utopianarian]

Finally arrived. The blade structure looks like ubu early kamakura or Heian. 76 cm nagasa,shinogi ridge does not continue into the nakago. Kokissaki, fumbari. Feels very light for its size. Nakago with thick black patina which is very smooth to the touch. Areas of corrosion noted on blade pitted in some areas which are too deep to polish out. From what I can make out in the hamon appears like tiny activities of kochoji with kinsuji (hard to capture in pics)

Note: there are hagire in (7) separate areas I could identify. I do think this blade being so early and ubu warrants preservation. I have the means to get polish some time in the future. I know others on the board will come out of the woodwork in attack mode regarding the dreaded “Hagire” and blade just study piece that will never paper and that’s ok by me. My thoughts are from what I see in my somewhat limited knowledge is very similar to possibly KoBizen work. I am leaving for work so haven’t posted the details of all measurements or the Gunto fittings it was dressed in. Here are a few quick pics.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Pity about the Hagire, good candidate for daily Uchiko treatment to see if it clears up the murk a little.

[Matsunoki]

 

 

@UtopianarianGeorge, I also saw this sword on Selling Antiques but your courage exceeded mine. 
Did he tell you about the hagire or show clear images of same?

Your answer might help a lot of people in the UK. (Or elsewhere!)

Best. Colin.
 

[Utopianarian]

21 minutes ago, Matsunoki said:

Did he tell you about the hagire or show clear images of same?

Your answer might help a lot of people in the UK. (Or elsewhere!)

Colin, hagire wasn’t mentioned. Here is what was advertised on the blade. It was posted on other sites in UK as well. What was odd was there initially was two postings for same sword- one dressed in Gunto without detailed pics of blade with low price tag and another posting of blade with lots of pics without the Gunto fittings but priced twice as high. When I did comparisons of the pics I could tell it was the same blade so I chose the cheaper half price posting with the fittings which was odd. I asked many times if it was the same blade. I knew this blade would have issues but could tell it was an early blade worth the risk regardless. It’s hard to find an ubu tachi from this early of a period without forking over big bucks. Here is a pic I saved of one of the descriptions says “out of polish has issues hence price” I sort of knew this blade had a fatal flaw and actually expected it. I still wanted this piece. I don’t think many have ubu tachi from this period so I can live with the hagire especially for what I paid for it. Nice to have in hand instead of looking at one behind glass or in a book. Top shelf study piece . I know the listing is kind of misleading if one thinks they can get this blade for a steal get it polished and then paper Juyo. I already knew that wouldn’t happen. The seller seemed to know about nihonto using the terminology here and there so he knows what he has and what’s possible. I’m sure if this was a candidate for Juyo he would be on a long waiting list for polish and wouldn’t let it go

 

[Utopianarian]

I also would like to add the seller I would assume probably is a member of this board or a visitor 

[Matsunoki]

George 

well the main thing is that you are happy and that’s what really matters. It is obviously a very interesting sword, I hope it brings you pleasure. 

Just my opinion, but I think it’s pretty shabby behaviour not to declare 7 hagire. “Some issues” doesn’t really cut it. A clever description that can be “hidden behind”. 
 

 

[Brian]

I agree. On principle I would kick up a huge fuss. That is very underhanded dealing. "Some issues?"
That's like saying the car motor needs tuning when the motor is blown and it cannot be fixed.

[Utopianarian]

Generally speaking. Did you ever notice some sellers have photos in the listing of a blade which the definition or picture quality appears like a vintage camera or camera phone from 20 years ago was used. I believe there is a market for vintage outdated cameras/phones. “Mysteriously” usually on a blade that didn’t quite make the cut (excuse the pun). So if you have any old Vintage camera laying in a drawer somewhere please be sure to list it. It has value.
Tip: Cracked or damaged cameras no worries just use a second vintage camera/phone to photograph it in your listing.

[Matsunoki]

1 hour ago, Utopianarian said:

Did you ever notice some sellers have photos in the listing of a blade which the definition or picture quality appears like a vintage camera or camera phone from 20 years ago was used.

Yep, many just like that now on the Selling Antiques site☹️

[Utopianarian]

Appears corroded but looks like might have been signed katana mei. Illegible but Possibly the first character Kuni can’t read the rest. Since signed katana mei on early blade maybe Ko-Aoe.? Maybe just my tired old eyes
 

[French nihonto]

I wonder about this line. It looks a lot like a nakago welding mark

[Matsunoki]

2 hours ago, French nihonto said:

I wonder about this line. It looks a lot like a nakago welding mark

Sometimes caused by a loose or damaged habaki, loose tsuba or loose seppa. Maybe even an ill fitting fuchi.