Cello Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Hey all, So I came across this one and wanted to get some advive on value or lack there of.It's being offered to me for sale.I can see it needs work its been rubbed with some steel wool possibly and has a few chips ect.I looks to me "in my newbie opinion" to be koto and has a apox nagasa of 27" seemes to still have a decent ha machi, but shows no yokote? I dont have enough experience to know what a sword like this one's, fair value is?Any help will be appreciated as always..... cello Quote
Cello Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Posted March 22, 2011 I hear what your saying....I've been reading up and attending meetings just looking to see what it would be worth.The only way for me I feel to be able to some what judge the value on swords like this, would be to get opinions of the more advance collectors. cello Quote
Brian Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Marcello, Funny thing is..I am sure I have seen this sword before. I recognise that patch of rust and steel-wooling. No idea where....but it is a gamble. If you can get it for a few $100...it may be worth a try. No idea if it is a Koto or Shinto or whatever, but we do need to get over age. A lot of good Shinto out there, and a lot of bad Koto. Not enough info here to judge this one. Get a guarantee from the seller that it has no fatal flaws, and then decide. The mekugi ana don't look right..badly spaced and situated. But a lot of swords have extras added to make them look old. Not too good if that's the case. Fittings are not worth anything..so the blade is going to have to carry this deal entirely. Be sure about it. Brian Quote
Jamie Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Do whatever you like with your money, but I'd encourage you to purchase pieces you can study. I am fairly new to the field and I certainly understand that these fixer uppers are tempting at first. But If you purchase one and send it to polish -it's gone for a long time. A long time that you could be studying instead of just waiting to do that. And that's not even taking into consideration if it can take a polish. What if it can't? Then you're stuck with a blade in bad shape. To figure out if it's worth it Take the cost of the blade, plus a reputable Japanese trained polisher's price (roughly $100 per inch) And see if you'll end up with a blade that's worth it. You can buy a nice beginning study piece for less than Just the price of a polish in some cases. Even if you have to buy a tanto-I'd encourage you to purchase something polished. Papered would be nice too, as you can learn why it's papered to whatever smith or school. Just my .02 which may be worth less than That! Happy Hunting Jamie Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 23, 2011 Report Posted March 23, 2011 Hi Marcello, I'm a bit concerned by the sugata. The sori is too strong for the length unless this is the last 27" of a 30" Heian or Kamakura tachi, and I don't believe this is possible with that kissaki. Exaggerated sori is a common artifact of retempering. I've seen more than a few blades that had their kissaki reground small during the retemper process, the retemperer hoping to sell to the unsuspecting as an early tachi. Buying swords out of polish and without papers, with only pictures and the seller's description to guide you, is not easy, even for experienced collectors. Until you have a lot of experience with Nihonto, you would be smart to stick with polish and paper, or swords you can handle and get a good look at. Grey Quote
george trotter Posted March 23, 2011 Report Posted March 23, 2011 Marcello,we do need to get over age. A lot of good Shinto out there, and a lot of bad Koto. Brian wo...Brian...please be careful, the PC slap fairy might find you...imagine what would happen if the words "good" and "gendaito" were mentioned together :lol: just kidding, Geo. Quote
sanjuro Posted March 23, 2011 Report Posted March 23, 2011 Marcello. I would just like to endorse what is being said about shinto and koto blades here. There are indeed a lot of bad koto blades out there and with the disadvantage of being a little or a lot more tired than a shinto blade. That tiredness makes a koto blade harder to evaluate and consequently harder to pick a good example from the bunch. Many koto blades were literally churned out during the wars of the sixteenth century merely to cater for a huge demand in that period, and are not good or representative of koto blades Having said that, there are also some good examples out there as well, and the skill comes in knowing what to look for when selecting one to buy. A shinto blade is by virtue of comparative youth, less likely to have been changed by repeated polishing, and hence the features are fresher and easier to see, and the entire blade more likely to be retrievable by restoration, if that is the ultimate aim. I dont wish to be accused of telling people how to spend their money, but I would encourage newer collectors to consider seeking their first swords in the shinto types. A great deal of good basic information can be learned, which can then be applied to future acquisitions. As one's knowledge increases, then appreciation of koto blades and the ability to pick a better example is far greater. Just my humble opinion. :D The subject sword in this topic I doubt is a koto blade, and along with Brian I seem to remember seeing this particular sword before although I cannot recall where. That arrangement of mekugi ana is most irregular and apparently contrived. They dont seem to suggest they are the result of suriage. Quote
Cello Posted March 23, 2011 Author Report Posted March 23, 2011 Hey thanks guys for all the good advice! I agree with basically everything you guys ate saying. Since I started buy a few blades here and there I haven't spent much and picked up a couple of decent ones with help from boardmembers.I try to use The basic Knowledge I've picked up here and from readings, but I also just use my eye for esthetics. If I see something that just isn't appealing or feels odd I question it alot more now.I noticed TJE Anna being off and they don't align with each other,odd placement ect... I didnt think much of it but after reading your posts I know now that it must be more important then I thought. The sword is for sale from a pa gun dealer, he clamis the paper he has from the military is for this sword as a trophy... And he bought it from The nephew of the vet.Everyone has a story maybe true maybe not I don't believe most "stories" lol....So unless I can get it dirt cheap I'm gonna ,pass as most of you have implied Thanks I've learned a couple things from this.. Quote
Mark Posted March 23, 2011 Report Posted March 23, 2011 Marcello where are you located? I see you mention PA dealer. I am from Ohio and will be at a small military show this weekend that is in NE Ohio. If you are close i could bring some better swords and spend some time talking with you Quote
Cello Posted March 24, 2011 Author Report Posted March 24, 2011 Hey mark, I'm in NY ...... I wish I could findbtimebto get to some shows but not possible anytime soon.....but thanks for the offer Quote
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