Custom inscriptions on nakago negatively affects value?

[Gerry]

I've been looking at buying some shinsakuto, and many of them have inscriptions bearing the occasion or name of the person who commissioned the order. For example, some nakago have inscriptions commemorating the retirement of an owner, etc.

 

I've been told that these custom inscriptions are a negative thing among Japanese collectors, because they don't prefer owning a sword with someone else's name on it. Therefore, custom owner inscriptions negatively affect the value of a sword.

 

Is this generally true for international collectors too?

[Ray Singer]

You do sometimes see shinsakuto being sold in Japan which have had an inscription column defaced, and it appears evident in these cases that it was a special order column that was removed. I've never heard a western collector object to the presence of a special order inscription on a Japanese sword, especially considering that such an inscription indicates that a sword may exhibit better than average workmanship ( the blade having been made specifically to fulfill a special order request. 

[John C]

Gerry:

In one sense, it could be a good (or at least interesting) thing as it adds to the provenance. As the next caretaker of the sword, you could start an ownership chart. If the quality were excellent, I would have no problem with it. Indeed, all of my swords have been owned by someone else!

 

John C.

[Alex A]

What John said,

 

In a world where there is little known, the more info the better.

 

Sometimes come across older swords with such inscriptions, to me they are special.

[Lewis B]

10 hours ago, Alex A said:

What John said,

 

In a world where there is little known, the more info the better.

 

Sometimes come across older swords with such inscriptions, to me they are special.

Yes, especially the ones that refer to a specific battle in which the blade excelled. I find these inscriptions with attributions, fascinating. Ray Singer had a great example a few months ago. It was a Tametsugu and I'll add the precise quote later. Lets just say someone lost their head

 

Exact inscription "At the summer battle at Osaka Castle in Sesshu province Mizawa Magozaemon no jo "Took a head in a fierce battle"." That doubles the price for me

[kkeeps]

3 hours ago, Lewis B said:

Yes, especially the ones that refer to a specific battle in which the blade excelled. I find these inscriptions with attributions, fascinating. Ray Singer had a great example a few months ago. 

 

I'm sure no one would object to owning this sword with a custom inscription added by a previous owner:

 

https://japaneseswor...e-yoshimoto-samonji/

[Lewis B]

For me personally, I find the Shrine dedications the least interesting inscriptions, especially if made specifically for the offering.

 

As for the Samonji. All that graffitti has ruined the sword but I'm happy to provide a disposal service.

[Gerry]

3 hours ago, kkeeps said:

 

I'm sure no one would object to owning this sword with a custom inscription added by a previous owner:

 

https://japaneseswor...e-yoshimoto-samonji/

What a pity that this sword was shortened from 78.7cm to 65.1cm. But an interesting story nonetheless, thanks for sharing!

[Gerry]

Thanks for all the insightful responses on this topic, and I'm glad that international collectors don't seem to have hang ups about the custom inscriptions on the nakago.

 

I, too, agree that any legitimate inscription adds provenance to the sword which it will carry through its history of ownership.

[DRDave]

I don't have many swords, but do have one inscribed in a way that indicates it was either made to order or presented as a gift; "This is a Shibata Ka’s sword that Katsuichi Watanabe carried to destroy the U.S. and Britain".  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any info on Katsuichi Watanabe.