Where to purchase my first Katana from?

[hammer]

Hi all,

Just wondering what you guys think about this. I'm very new to this hobby but interested in making a purchase. I've done a lot of reading online. Got a lot of information from this board and its members by reading older posts and looked at a lot of pictures. Followed some ebay autions etc..But I surely don't feel qualified to make a determination if a sword is tradionally made or much less the value of a sword even if it was tradionally made. Given the varialbles of hamon, (active hamon) Hada, signatures etc....The luxury of being able to actually see and hold an authentic katana is not something that seems to be easy to accomplish.

I read in the "upcoming shows" section of this board about the shows coming up in Tampa and Chicago. Would this be my best bet. Buying online certainly is an option from a reputable dealer of course. But it just seems that being able to see and hold one in hand and having someone explain the characteristics of the blade would be better for me as it would be a learning experience also. Any input is aprreciated....Thanks.

Ty

[cabowen]

I would highly recommend a blade in professional polish. Wakizashi are many times great value. I would give that some thought. Shows are a great place to see many swords. Just be careful as there are sharks in those waters too. Always best to ask around and get opinions on which dealers are safe bets.

[Henry Wilson]

This place in Tokyo might be worth a look. However the yen to dollar rate at the moment could be a problem.

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/main.html

[ububob]

It was suggested to me that I look for a sword that was "polished and papered" I did and I have never regretted it. I would also second Chris' suggestion concerning wakszashi.

Send me a PM and I can recommend some really standup dealers with whom I've had experience here in the US.

[Lindus]

Do not be rushed into buying a "Known" blade, swords with papers take all the adventure and fun out of it, buy books, visit museums and then when you feel like spending some cash wander around the Junk shops, Antique dealers and advertise in your local papers. I did this for many years,paid little and occasionally made a good find, but, in the process had a huge amount of fun.

 

Try not to go the current way of just buying assured items at premium price, anyone can do that,its safe it is not Fun and I think many do take this "Hobby" far too seriously and pay a heavy price for status.

 

Regards.old school.

Roy

[hammer]

Thanks for that input Chris, Henry and Bob....I appreciate it. Chris I like the way you put that, "sharks in those waters too". :lol: I wanted to ask about that but couldnt think of how to say it. Henry I looked at the Aoi-Art site and Chris's web page as well. Both look good and also a good reference site I think for me to use in learning. thanks,

Ty

[loui]

Hi Ty,

 

Your idea of attending the shows is very good, although you will be overwhelmed:) You will learn very much at the show, I've found the shows to be a little on the expensive side, but some "deals" can be had. As was mentioned earlier the Yen is killing us now, and shipping on top is a real bugger. There is no need to buy in Japan at this time as I am sure your needs can be met in North America. A blade in polish and papered is great for a new collector, you'll save on the restoration costs, but not having papers is not the end of the world - don't get caught up in the papering vortex if you can help it.. Like Chris said wakizashi are numerous and great deals can be had, tanto can be had as well and there are some pretty good deals on tanto. You generally pay a premium for anything over 27 inches.

 

With Aoi you know what you are getting, most often papered, and very good to deal with. You can also try Usagiya in Japan at: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/ A very honest and knowledgeable dealer of swords both new and old.

 

There are many snakes in the grass, educate yourself, find someone local to you who is a collector and visit often, also try joining a sword club if there is one in your area or the NCJSC at http://www.ncjsc.org/ Their beginners book is great and the newsletters are very nice. Oh, and make sure the dealer has a return policy.

 

Good luck and I hope you find a nice blade.

 

Louis

 

PS. and Roy does have a good point, I have bought some very nice swords (wells, some good, bad, and ugly) locally with a well placed advertisement in the newspaper. The lessons aren't as expensive that way:)

[hammer]

Hi Roy,

Valid point and you make some good suggestions. I do like to try to do my homework before laying down my hard earned cash. Maybe I could find a diamond in the rouigh :lol: I see your point about taking the fun out of it by buying the seemingly sure thing. Its just that laying down a few thousand dollars only to find out later it was a big mistake would just be devastating. :lol: I will be researching... Looking or placing an ad in the local newspaper does sound like a good idea.

I've seen a couple of Japanese swords sell on ebay the last few days and the price running up around 1800 for one and 2400 for another I think.....I know you didnt recommend ebay but I just threw that in. My thoughts are there is just noway I could buy this type of item off of ebay.thanks,

Hi Louis,

Just saw your reply as I was about to post this. Thanks for the great suggestions. While a sword with papers would be nice I agree its not a must have. I think the cost of papers begin to put a blade out of my reach. thanks,

Ty

[loui]

Please do not buy off ebay, if you insist then please ask someone knowledgeable before you hit the bid button. But I recommend not buying on ebay until you know what you are doing.

 

Louis

[reinhard]

Try not to go the current way of just buying assured items at premium price, anyone can do that,its safe it is not Fun and I think many do take this "Hobby" far too seriously

 

The "good old days" won't come back by howling like this at the gates of serious appreciation of NihonTo. In fact they won't come back by any means and that's good. Making a quick buck with the myths surrounding samurai-culture is slowly coming to an end. Sad for those who refuse to realize.

 

reinhard

[george trotter]

The "good old days" won't come back by howling like this at the gates of serious appreciation of NihonTo. In fact they won't come back by any means and that's good. Making a quick buck with the myths surrounding samurai-culture is slowly coming to an end. Sad for those who refuse to realize.

 

reinhard

 

...er, what?

[sanjuro]

I think I know where Reinhard is coming from. Whilst Roy can remember the good old days and how we used to do it then, those days are long gone. Collecting nihonto is now a serious business. Although one can still have fun, in order to have fun you need to know a great deal more than you used to know 'way back when'. Back then there were no chinese fakes and most of the antique dealers knew less than the newbie Japanese sword collectors did. Its now a lot more serious and the prices are way higher. The chances of being taken for a ride are much greater. There is also a lot more information generally available than 'way back when'.

Do we take our hobby too seriously? We do if we want to stay in the hobby! This isnt 'boys own' stuff anymore.

 

Its really not good advice to send a newbie on a treasure hunt through the junk shops, garage sales and back street dealers. They are not as ill informed as they used to be. The 'treasure hunt' of Roys boyhood no longer exists for todays enthusiastic 'boys'. These days you need to know what you are collecting and who to deal with. Its the twenty first century not the mid twentieth century!

 

To coin all the popular cliche's that seem to have arisen in this thread, there are 'sharks in the water', 'snakes in the grass' and very very few 'diamonds in the rough'. :roll:

 

Question: If you have never seen a high quality diamond properly cut and polished, how would you recognise one that was in its natural state? The same answer applies to nihonto.

[Brian]

Well said Keith, I can only echo what he said. Those days are pretty much over. Although there might be the occasional "old school" dealer or sword still in the closet...these pale in comparisson to the educated dealers or those that buy on eBay to sell retail, with plenty of fakes thrown in.

This isn't a trivial part-time hobby anymore. It is a serious undertaking, and those that do want to take it too lightly will probably end up parted from their money.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun...just be aware that there is a lot at stake.

 

Brian

[nagamaki - Franco]

I'm very new to this hobby but interested in making a purchase. I've done a lot of reading online. Got a lot of information from this board and its members by reading older posts and looked at a lot of pictures.

.......

I read in the "upcoming shows" section of this board about the shows coming up in Tampa and Chicago. Would this be my best bet.

 

 

http://www.jasonlove.com/funny-cartoons/default.aspx?id=664

[Eric H]

I'm very new to this hobby but interested in making a purchase

 

KEEP AWAY FROM EBAY !

 

Buy a sword with:

 

professional polish...absolute prerequisite for viewing.

Origami...smith, school etc. are defined, you know exactly what you have and there is no nessesity to submit it later to shinsa.

 

Buy in confidence from a US dealer, there are many reputable on the web...no need to buy from Japan now, the changing rate is unfavorable.

 

Eric

[hammer]

Hey Franco,

Love the pic of the guy in the raft with the sharks circleing :lol: . Exactly how a newbie should feel I think given the way things are today.

 

That being said I would just like to say thanks, to Brian the site admin. for his time and efforts in running this board and of course those who did it before him. Also thanks to all those who contribute with advice and direction and humor as well. I do not know of a better place for someone such as myself to find answers and learn about Japanese sword collecting. So many on here giving freely of their time and expertise. Thanks for a great message board and resource.

 

Ty

[Lindus]

Just read the thread, great fun, and I should say that I am not unaware of the current situation in the market place, but lets also be honest about this, there are still "Gems" out there.

 

Recently a friend was browseing a Militaria dealer site, saw a Gunto described thus " Japanese officers sword,europen style mounts and a rather odd blade" the price was around £1000, picture not great but he called the guy and bought it. He now has a Kyu Gunto with a splendid shin shinto copy Kogarasu Maru blade in mint condition.

 

Second is not such a happy story,Local collector bought an early koto blade with papers from a very well known US dealer,cost around £14000,decided to send it back to Japan as the papers were issued in the 70's. Reply from the same man that had issued the first paper stating that it was not of the period,school or smith etc. The daealer said that as he had sold it on the basis of the issued papers he had no responsibility.

 

Just take from it what you will, all I was saying was have some fun, pay little as possible, avoid mark ups when buying with papers initially and when the confidence grows only then throw thousands at the hobby. It is a hobby?

 

Regards

 

Roy

[raven2]

Question: If you have never seen a high quality diamond properly cut and polished, how would you recognise one that was in its natural state? The same answer applies to nihonto.

 

Actually, since I have also collected minerals for years, I can tell you that it is much more easy to recognize a gemstone in its natural state than tell the differences between nihonto and some of the fakes.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hey Franco,

Love the pic of the guy in the raft with the sharks circleing :lol: . Exactly how a newbie should feel I think given the way things are today.

 

Ty, glad you're taking the half kidding around in the spirit intended.

As sword shows can indeed become overwhelming especially for newbies, it's probably wise to make a short list of objectives to accomplish, like people/dealers to meet, types of swords you wish to see in person, lectures you wish to attend, and don't forget books.

[ububob]

...lots and lots of books!