Opinion on Masahiro 6th generations Nihonto

[Bosco]

I came across this Nihonto from Masahiro 6th generations and was just wondering what is the proper price for this one. And how healthy is the blade. I’m pretty new to this, been learning how to maintenance the blade but no clue on reading the condition of it.

[Ray Singer]

Bosco, it is extremely difficult to give a value on something based on low resolution photos. You can do some competitive shopping by searching online and see what similar pieces have sold for, to provide a general range of pricing for the work of an individual. However there are so many subtle details that can affect and greatly reduce value, including flaws that are not easily seen in a photograph. One thing I will say from your photos is that the blade appears to have quite coarse jihada, which may be a bit worrying given that Hizen-to tend to have thin kawagane (skin steel) and this may indicate other condition issues with the blade. My suggestion if you are interested in Hizen-to is to study first about the school and come to understand what is desirable about the work of specific smiths. You'll find an excellent website at hizento.com that provides a high level overview of the school. The gentleman who runs it, Roger Robertshaw, is also one of the most knowledgeable individuals outside of Japan on the topic of Hizen-to. Good luck with your studies and your next acquisition.