Obtaining origami for koshirae

[Icepic]

Hello, I would like to hear some opinions on obtaining origami for koshirae. I have two nihontos with origami papers but thier every nice mumei koshiraes have no papers. With the NTHK coming to S.F. this august and the cost only $250. for papers, I am wondering do most of you collectors endeaver to obtain origami for your koshirae?

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

The place to begin is to identify what your "objectives" are for obtaining these papers. Is it to learn more about your koshirae? Is it to increase value when selling? Other reasons? Is there a particular reason to think this set of koshirae is something special/old original? Keep in mind that while origami can add value by discovering something unique about the koshirae, it might also reveal (in the opinion of the judges) that your koshirae is fairly average as koshirae go and now you've invested 'x' number of $ more into them, and that origami money might have been better spent buying a book about koshirae.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Mark,

While I may be one of the individuals that from time to time, life is tougher on than others (from your signature), I don't see a reason to try to paper your koshirae. They are in fine condition, but I am not sure worth papering. Just my opinion and not worth much.

[Mark Green]

Mark,

I'm with the other guys. Save your money.

You may want to look up what it would cost to just try to paper all that. Then there is no guarantee that it will paper.

I feel that with sword fitting in general, unless you are pretty sure you have something very special, there is little point in getting papers.

Does your Koshirae match? I can't make out the kozuka, or menuki.

While I like your tsuba, I'm not sure it would match as part of a Koshirae?

Mark G

[bridgeofdreams]

Mark,

 

I can only speak from my own experience here. The NTHK doing the shinsa in San Francisco is known for evaluating condition as well as authenticity. This might mean, for example, that a blade by a 'lesser' and later smith in A+ condition might paper higher than an older blade by a 'better' smith that's tired or has 'issues.'

 

While I had a number of very nice koshirae at one time, there was only one that I ever considered submitting for papers, which I did at the last Chicago shinsa. It was an unassuming and very plain workmanlike katana by a mid-level smith in Higo mounts, missing the kozaka but otherwise en suite and seemingly unrestored and unrepaired. It koshirae - one submits without the sword - papered decently (70 points) as a late Edo-Higo style, and it was remarked to me that the shinsa team did not see many koshirae in the West that had not been repaired, restored, or otherwise 'improved.'

 

I don't know that the papers added much to the value when I sold that sword, but it sure didn't hurt.

 

-Craig

[David Flynn]

I think that obtaining an origami for an en suite koshirae is a good idea, as it identifies it as such. Adhoch koshirae is a different matter. If one wants origami for this, then it's probably best for the idividual parts. Though more expensive.

[bridgeofdreams]

To clarify the point David just made, the NTHK will pink slip a koshirae that's been put together, and that would include otherwise en suite hardware put together with a new saya, tsuka, and ito. They were less interested in the little dings and chips on my saya than the fact that it was as old as everything else and had never been taken apart.

 

- Craig

[Icepic]

Thanks Folks, Sorry for the late reply but you all gave me so much to ponder. Becouse I have another item to submit for shinsa I think I will submit the koshirae for the katana as a " suite " (I never even heard of that word before) . The price is only $100.00 to submit and I would really like to know. Just for fun I will try and post some better pictures.