Most expensive sword I've seen on the open market so far $420,000.00

[Lewis B]

https://sword-auction.com/en/product/26439/as25067-katana-nagasone-okisato-nyudo-kotetsu-with-saidan-mei45th-nbthk-juyo-token/

[Jacques]

Cheap, in 2007, a saber belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte was sold for the modest sum of €4800,000.

[Rayhan]

DTI has a few wonders close to or over 1m USD and the most expensive Japanese Sword i have seen sell was the Sanchomo for 5m USD not to mention the recent Sotheby's sale Mikazuki Kanemitsu https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection which I'm sure was priced quite high. Not an open auction but still publicly advertised so you could apply to be included. 

[nulldevice]

48 minutes ago, Rayhan said:

DTI has a few wonders close to or over 1m USD and the most expensive Japanese Sword i have seen sell was the Sanchomo for 5m USD not to mention the recent Sotheby's sale Mikazuki Kanemitsu https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection which I'm sure was priced quite high. Not an open auction but still publicly advertised so you could apply to be included. 

Did anyone ever find out what that Kanemitsu went for? I heard estimates from $500k-1.5M

 

If I recall correctly, there were 2 $400-500k offerings at DTI last year. They were long gone before I showed up later in the day to even see if they were on display. 

[Lewis B]

I should have qualified the OP as Nihonto without historical figure connections, or outlier, head scratcher Christies/Sothebys/Bonhams results. 

[Hoshi]

@Lewis B For me, this is a headscratcher. I do not understand the Kotetsu market frenzy. To put it in perspective, this is high-end Koto grandmaster price territory. 

 

Mikazuki minimum bid was 1.5M USD. It was a sealed auction, and it sold. Because it was a sealed auction, we do not know the final price. It was purchased by the Nagoya Token Museum, they made a press release announcement. Overall, this is close to the best outcome possible, as the blade will be made available for appreciation by the broader public, and it remains a "Founder-led" museum that is constantly innovating and seeking to improve its collection. 

 

Normally, items at this level do not make it to the open market. Very rarely at the DTI. This is a rare historical anomaly, as it belonged to a well-known American collector. At the ultra top end, respected Japanese dealers do not engage in "price maxing" (with the exception of the occasional crazed Osakian) - but rather, carefully seek out the best client, preferably with the approval of its current owner. Many such items have dibs registered sometimes decades in advance, and word given is faithfully followed in Japan. 

 

We often hear that the "sword chooses the collector" - this is only true up to a certain level. At the extreme high-end, it's the collector that chooses the collector, and often decades go by. Discretion, loyalty and respectability take precedence. 

 

[Lewis B]

53 minutes ago, Hoshi said:

@Lewis B I do not understand the Kotetsu market frenzy.

 

I think this more than the actual asking price was what really caught my attention. I would have to assume that at some point an attempt at TJ was made (Kotetsu blades have passed TJ) and failed. AOI (its not stated that this is a consignment piece so therefore part of the company inventory) seems to be capitalizing on the Kotetsu hype train.

[Rayhan]

The information is in the setsumei which Aoi hasn't translated. If there is nothing remarkable there-in or Honami documents with further provenance then you are very right @Lewis B on the hype. 

 

But Edo smiths go through these phases like Naotane hype a few years back. 

[Brano]

Kotetsu has always been highly priced
However, I doubt it will sell for this price
A Tanto by Norishige was on offer two years ago and the asking price at the time was 75 million Yen and it was sold
A few months ago this blade reappeared on offer from the same seller as a consignment sale.

It has recently disappeared from the offer, so it has either been sold or the owner has taken it back

Almost all top blades are traded quietly and there is no interest in either party letting the price be known

[CSM101]

Sold at the Compton Auction for 418.000 $

 

 

[nulldevice]

4 minutes ago, CSM101 said:

Sold at the Compton Auction for 418.000 $

 

 

My personal taste would prefer this over the Kotetsu. Or if I had that much money for swords I’d probably go to DTI and pick up a Juyo from each of the major sword making schools and still have some left over!

 

No doubt this collection was top notch and I wish I could’ve made it out to NY to see them on display. 

[CSM101]

...and the matching koshirae. 

 

 

[Lewis B]

4 hours ago, Brano said:

A Tanto by Norishige was on offer two years ago and the asking price at the time was 75 million Yen and it was sold
A few months ago this blade reappeared on offer from the same seller as a consignment sale.

It has recently disappeared from the offer, so it has either been sold or the owner has taken it back

 

If it was this one (99% sure) then seller was taking a huge loss. Asking price was 45 million back in Jan.

 

[CSM101]

Back to Mikazuki Kanemitsu: TB 600

[CSM101]

...and the english translation.

 

 

[Brano]

4 hours ago, Lewis B said:

If it was this one (99% sure) then seller was taking a huge loss. Asking price was 45 million back in Jan.

 

Yes - that's it
It is undoubtedly an amazing blade and one of the best tantos from Norishige

 

Setsumei translated using a translator:

 

Designated on April 23, Heisei 26 (2014) – 23rd Designation Session

Inscription: "Norishige"

Measurements

Nagasa: 23.8 cm, Sori: Uchi-sori, Motohaba: 2.05 cm, Nakago length: 8.7 cm, Nakago sori: None

Shape

Sugata: Hira-zukuri, Mitsu-mune. The mihaba is standard, with a slightly Fukura-kareru appearance. The ridge (mune) is sharply tapered.

Forging (Kitae)

Kitae: Itame-hada mixed with masame, partially showing hada-tachi. The ji-nie is densely distributed, and chikei are prominently visible.

Hamon

Hamon: Overall, the yakiba is high, featuring a ko-notare pattern mixed with ko-gunome elements. The hamon has ashi and yo, with deep nioi and thick nie. Kinsuji, nie-suji, and sunagashi cross between the ji and ha, while yubashiri follows the hada lines. The mune is hardened (yakikomi) from the base to the tip, giving the impression of a hitatsura-style hamon. The nioiguchi is bright and sharp.

Boshi

Bōshi: Midare-komi. The omote side shows strong nie with island-like (shima-ba) formations, while the ura side has vigorous hakikake with a flame-like (kaen) appearance.

Nakago

Nakago: Ubu, with a shallow ha-agari and kurijiri. The yasurime are unclear. One mekugi-ana is present. On the omote side, below the mekugi-ana, there is a large, bold two-character inscription ("Norishige").

Smith

Etchū no Kuni Norishige

Period

Late Kamakura period

Explanation

Historical sword records from the Edo period list Norishige as one of the "Masamune Juttetsu" (Ten Great Disciples of Masamune). However, based on the sugata of his tachi and tanto works, as well as dated pieces from the Shōwa and Gen’ō eras, it is more accurate to consider him a student of Shintōgo Kunimitsu, as described in Muromachi-period texts. He should thus be regarded as a fellow disciple of Masamune rather than a direct student.

Norishige’s style closely resembles that of the highest-tier Sōshū smiths, particularly Masamune. However, he often displays even more pronounced nie variations than Masamune. His forging features bold, large-patterned hada-tachi, known as "Matsukawa-hada" (pine-bark grain), with prominent chikei. Additionally, the hamon exhibits dynamic hataraki where the forging texture interacts with the hardened edge, showcasing an extraordinary range of nie activity.

This tanto exemplifies Norishige’s distinctive style, with a standard mihaba and his characteristic "hako-sori" (box-shaped curvature). The jigane combines itame and masame, with dense ji-nie and abundant chikei. The hamon is notably high, blending ko-notare with ko-gunome, featuring deep nioi, thick nie, and a bright nioiguchi. Kinsuji, nie-suji, and sunagashi extend dramatically across the ji and ha, while yubashiri follows the hada lines.

The bold chikei and well-refined itame-hada serve as a textbook example of "Matsukawa-hada." Furthermore, the radiant hamon, characteristic of top-tier Sōshū work, displays thick nie that fully expresses the beauty of nie activity across the blade. Large-scale kinsuji, nie-suji, and sunagashi dynamically traverse the ji and ha.

This work perfectly encapsulates Norishige’s mastery, and its exceptional preservation makes it an outstanding example of his artistry.

[Lewis B]

28 minutes ago, Brano said:

Yes - that's it
It is undoubtedly an amazing blade and one of the best tantos from Norishige

 

Setsumei translated using a translator:

 

Designated on April 23, Heisei 26 (2014) – 23rd Designation Session

Inscription: "Norishige"

Measurements

Nagasa: 23.8 cm, Sori: Uchi-sori, Motohaba: 2.05 cm, Nakago length: 8.7 cm, Nakago sori: None

Shape

Sugata: Hira-zukuri, Mitsu-mune. The mihaba is standard, with a slightly Fukura-kareru appearance. The ridge (mune) is sharply tapered.

Forging (Kitae)

Kitae: Itame-hada mixed with masame, partially showing hada-tachi. The ji-nie is densely distributed, and chikei are prominently visible.

Hamon

Hamon: Overall, the yakiba is high, featuring a ko-notare pattern mixed with ko-gunome elements. The hamon has ashi and yo, with deep nioi and thick nie. Kinsuji, nie-suji, and sunagashi cross between the ji and ha, while yubashiri follows the hada lines. The mune is hardened (yakikomi) from the base to the tip, giving the impression of a hitatsura-style hamon. The nioiguchi is bright and sharp.

Boshi

Bōshi: Midare-komi. The omote side shows strong nie with island-like (shima-ba) formations, while the ura side has vigorous hakikake with a flame-like (kaen) appearance.

Nakago

Nakago: Ubu, with a shallow ha-agari and kurijiri. The yasurime are unclear. One mekugi-ana is present. On the omote side, below the mekugi-ana, there is a large, bold two-character inscription ("Norishige").

Smith

Etchū no Kuni Norishige

Period

Late Kamakura period

Explanation

Historical sword records from the Edo period list Norishige as one of the "Masamune Juttetsu" (Ten Great Disciples of Masamune). However, based on the sugata of his tachi and tanto works, as well as dated pieces from the Shōwa and Gen’ō eras, it is more accurate to consider him a student of Shintōgo Kunimitsu, as described in Muromachi-period texts. He should thus be regarded as a fellow disciple of Masamune rather than a direct student.

Norishige’s style closely resembles that of the highest-tier Sōshū smiths, particularly Masamune. However, he often displays even more pronounced nie variations than Masamune. His forging features bold, large-patterned hada-tachi, known as "Matsukawa-hada" (pine-bark grain), with prominent chikei. Additionally, the hamon exhibits dynamic hataraki where the forging texture interacts with the hardened edge, showcasing an extraordinary range of nie activity.

This tanto exemplifies Norishige’s distinctive style, with a standard mihaba and his characteristic "hako-sori" (box-shaped curvature). The jigane combines itame and masame, with dense ji-nie and abundant chikei. The hamon is notably high, blending ko-notare with ko-gunome, featuring deep nioi, thick nie, and a bright nioiguchi. Kinsuji, nie-suji, and sunagashi extend dramatically across the ji and ha, while yubashiri follows the hada lines.

The bold chikei and well-refined itame-hada serve as a textbook example of "Matsukawa-hada." Furthermore, the radiant hamon, characteristic of top-tier Sōshū work, displays thick nie that fully expresses the beauty of nie activity across the blade. Large-scale kinsuji, nie-suji, and sunagashi dynamically traverse the ji and ha.

This work perfectly encapsulates Norishige’s mastery, and its exceptional preservation makes it an outstanding example of his artistry.

It's one blade that can only be appreciated in hand. Just look at all that activity in the oshigata