Beginner here so please be gental.

[acarasso]

Edited by request.

What is the first book you would suggest a new collector read. Also can you recommend any coffee table books for sword collecting ( a nice hardback book with pretty pictures and what not).

Thanks so much for your time,

Adam Carasso

[Jamie]

Welcome aboard.

 

As far as book go, Try these three. The last one is Kind of a coffee table book. Definitely one you will go back to again and again for reference.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Sword-Han ... 0804805091

 

http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Sword-Co ... 0870115626

 

http://www.amazon.com/Connoisseurs-Book ... 4770020716

 

 

Jamie

[huntershooter]

Well, as gently as possible; your new blade is most probably oil quenched and not tamahagane, hence the reference to it being "Showato" in the auction.

I can second the "Conniseur's..." book for a first book.

You would have been better off studying before buying. Don't let this negatively color your outlook on Nihonto.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

1) PS. What is the first book you would suggest a new collector read.

2) Basically my question is does it look like the blade is at least water quenched.

3) Also can you recommend any coffee table books for sword collecting ( a nice hardback book with pretty pictures and what not).

 

1) How is it that time and time again this question follows the first purchase

 

2) See discussions on this board regarding oil and water quenched and how to tell the difference. At present my thoughts are,

 

3) One Hundred Masterpieces from the Collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton: Japanese Swords, Sword Fittings & Other Accoutrements (Hardcover)

[Grey Doffin]

What is the first book you would suggest a new collector read.

All of them, at least twice. See what your local library can get on Inter-Library Loan. Study1st, study 2nd, then buy a sword.

Grey

[Jamie]

Adam,

At least you didn't pay tons for it, to find it isn't worth what you paid.

Chances are once you have learned what you can from it- you'll be able to sell it for a comparable price.

[Ford Hallam]

I'll second Franco's suggestion on the Compton catalogue. The essay at the start is an excellent overview. It's quite eloquent and evocative too...not at all dry or overly academic.

[jason_mazzy]

http://nihonto.com.au/html/katana_for_sale.html

 

he has a couple katana and waks in and around the price you paid for this blade. He is a member here, and from what i hear is a great retailer. I seen a few in consignment i really liked also!

[sanjuro]

I find it very difficult to take it seriously when someone asks for a recommendation for a nice 'hardback book'......... 'with pretty pictures and what not'... for the coffee table, when they are ostensibly just getting started with collecting Nihonto. Are you decorating your home to look as if you know something about the subject, or are you interested in learning about Nihonto? :? Yes, I know I'm supposed to be nice to newcomers. However, perhaps the kindest if not the nicest thing that can be done for newbies, is to set their feet solidly on the ground before they start.

Buy books for the content and knowledge they may contain, not for how they might look on the coffe table.

For your 'coffee table book', might I second the suggestion of 'The Japanese Sword' by Kanzan Sato. :D Good text..... great pictures.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Keith,

 

Buy books for the content and knowledge they may contain, not for how they might look on the coffe table.

 

Problem?

 

It should be pointed out that the sword photography in Compton's Book still sets the standard by which sword photography is measured today. And, if that isn't enough, where else can you find the quality of swords and tosogu that appear in that one book all in the same place anywhere else. Also, I cannot think of a better article than Compton's "Shape" article for a beginner to read in order to start down the path to understanding kantei, you know, that discipline needed for learning sword appreciation. If nothing else, we should be "piling on" by suggesting to Adam to buy more nihonto books, not fewer.

[sanjuro]

Franco

 

I couldnt agree with you more about Compton's book. Nor was I advocating Adam buy less books rather than more. The books suggested to him are excellent indeed, and I would not hesitate to recommend any of them to a serious inquirer.

I dont quite understand why you have taken this quoted statement as being contentious. I think you may have missed the point of my post entirely. Therefore, to put it in a way that does not leave any room for further personal interpretation, I was making the point in as subtle a way as possible, that perhaps one should think of the content of books as being their most salient and important feature, rather than their decorative 'coffee table' for 'the pretty pictures and whatnot' value that Adam refers to in his original post. :D

[jason_mazzy]

http://www.nihontocraft.com/japanese_sword_home.html a few on sale that may be worth studying