estcrh Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 I was just interested for future reference. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 8681wt_937 Quote
estcrh Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Posted March 22, 2011 For $2,188.75 there had to be something that someone noticed that made this one so much more valuable then the average one. Quote
sanjuro Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 The only thing apparently special is the price........ Picked up by an enthusiastic collector of neglected blades no doubt. Perhaps the rust is a rare variety????????? Quote
estcrh Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Posted March 22, 2011 As you know, the blades in these are usually not even nihonto, and this one does not appear to be any different. I was just wondering if there was something written on the tag attached to it or something significant about the mon etc that has some special unseen meaning? Quote
george trotter Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Hi, I noticed this too. I can't explain the price either. The tag is not pictured well enough to read (seems normal tag) and the mon mekugi pins are interesting, but the blade, although in terrible condition, does seem to be a "proper" blade. You would know, as has been said, that these are usually churned out blades, buffed and plated with a false hamon. Look closely and you will notice the hi are "crisp" edged and the blade ji has never been buffed or plated. I have seen an occasional traditional blade in these mounts, perhaps this is one?...quality unknown. I think the nakago might reveal a secret (would like to see if it is signed), but as for being worth the price?...I hope so. Just my opinion, George. Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Same reason why some collectors pay massive prices for SS or LW helmets which have the original decals on them... No reason whatsoever. KM Quote
Joe Choi Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 and the mon mekugi pins are interesting, . FORMOSA / Occupied Taiwan Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 FORMOSA / Occupied Taiwan Jo, any chance it's related to the head-hunter tribe recruited as special force ? They should have had their own special short blade... Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Carlo, i would advise you to read this article/book on the history of the Tayal tribe and Formosa : Formosa Beachhead (1953) Author: Geraldine Fitch Publisher: Henry Regnery Company Language: English Call number: 9191 Book contributor: Universal Digital Library Collection: universallibrary http://www.archive.org/stream/formosabe ... p_djvu.txt KM Quote
Weidas Posted March 26, 2011 Report Posted March 26, 2011 the only rarity i see is dagger of colonial service - Formosa. Its swords usually. This one is definitely dress dagger. I would pay for one in such condition $700 appr.. As for this price.. maybe somebody thought the blade s true nihonto? Quote
estcrh Posted March 27, 2011 Author Report Posted March 27, 2011 Well "Formosa" is more information then I had before, thanks! Quote
Surfson Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 I agree that the price is such that the buyer probably thought that it was a real nihonto. Most carry the plated blade that is not very sharp. The handle ornaments are interesting, but don't support the extra $1200-1500 of price over a conventional navy dagger. I have one that might have a nihonto residing in it (I've never tackled taking off the handle). Hmmm.....maybe it's time to put it on ebay! B Quote
Brian Posted March 27, 2011 Report Posted March 27, 2011 I think we are making much ado about nothing.. It may be as simple as 2 advanced militaria collectors who don't have the Formosa variation in their collections yet, and need one to complete a theme. I doubt it has anything to do with traditionally made blades at all. I have a few AK bayonets that would go for close to $1000 each. Yet to most people, they are common bayonets and worth nothing. The more advanced you go in collecting, the more you know than the rest of us about variations. Brian Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted March 28, 2011 Report Posted March 28, 2011 Very true Brian, most people will see a bayonet, some will look deeper. I used to collect German as well as other countries bajonets, and when getting into it deeper i discovered how important number equality in blade as well as sheath were, makers stamps like Carl Eickhorn or any other factory, waffenamt stamps and numbers, even the frogs mattered at some stages. Hilt bakelite or wood, and with WWI and earlier if it was a saw tooth bajonet or not, as well as what hilt or numerals for instance a lebel crossblade bayonet had. I have seen them go up in price way above 1200 Euro at some militaria auctions so just like with this dress dagger, a collector who needs it to complete his collection will pay more. This for instance is the lenght someone who takes collecting serious will go to in order to register all known makes and numbers. (also some gunto on his site) http://k98.free.fr/ Collecting is a funny business, whatever you collect. KM Quote
TomP Posted March 31, 2011 Report Posted March 31, 2011 It might just be an attempt at filling a hole in a collection(as stated by Brian) until something in better shape comes along. The Hannin level Formosan colonial swords pop up every now and then on Ebay and other websites as well. Same with Korean Colonial Hannin swords. I think this is only the second or third time I have seen a Formosan Colon. dagger in any condition come up for bid/sale anywhere online. Regardless of the condition of the blade, IMO, I would think that one is inching towards the "rarer than hen's teeth" realm of collectibility with this dagger (at least in my experience of being a collector of Japanese colonial/military antiques.) Tom Quote
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