how do you go about your nihonto hobby/passion?

[Reinier]

hey

 

i'm a beginning collector and i'm wondering how you guys go about your nihonto hobby/passion.

 

how do avoid going bankrupt?

what activities do you undertake?

do you have personal rules you abide by?

what will you never do again?

what do you still want to do?

 

thnx (:

[John A Stuart]

Hi Reinier, Collecting anything that has high demand requires money. Those who have limited resources, like me have to be more picky and choose more wisely. I have made numerous errors in judgement in all of the fields within which I collect. This requires a shrug of the shoulders and the will to soldier on. It is a lesson learned and as such a rite of passage that most of us have endured, save the lucky few. The greatest lesson I have learned is to have patience, especially since I am impulsive by nature. Your greatest weapon is knowledge, so, research, research. It is good to have fellows with whom you may discuss Nihonto and that is where organisations and internet discussion boards may help. That and a pinch of salt. The lucky few that can by Juyo after Juyo are rare, so, being able to be satisfied with what you can afford is important. It is OK to be hungry for those biggies but not ravening, Luck, John

[nagamaki - Franco]

hey

 

i'm a beginning collector and i'm wondering how you guys go about your nihonto hobby/passion.

 

how do avoid going bankrupt?

what activities do you undertake?

do you have personal rules you abide by?

what will you never do again?

what do you still want to do?

 

thnx (:

 

 

 

1) collect coins Seek guidance, read and study. Don't mistake temptation for opportunity.

 

2) attend sword meetings, shows/shinsa, read, study, learn and participate in kantei, repeat.

 

3) buy the sword (or fittings), not the paper (mei).

 

4) mistake temptation for opportunity

 

5)

[Brian]

1 - I don't. I just become content with my bankrupsy

2 - Study as much as I can given the limitations of my locality

3 - Buy what I like, not what others tell me I should like. Always ask my standard set of questions, and never assume anything unless it is confirmed by the seller.

4 - Ignore the above

5 - Get my one or 2 items that I think have potential polished and evaluated properly.

 

Brian

[Bungo]

how do avoid going bankrupt?

 

set a budget and stick to it ( easier said than done but.......... )

 

what activities do you undertake?

nothing illegal............. or don't get caught if it's illegal

 

do you have personal rules you abide by?

 

 

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Ferengi ... cquisition

 

what will you never do again?

yield to temptation to cheat on my wife ( aka boss )

 

what do you still want to do?

cheat on my wife ( aka boss ) if I can get away with it.

 

milt just joking Ronin

[Rich T]

1: If you are spending enough to bankrupt yourself with out knowing what you are doing, well then, as Ma Sheila said, "Tough Titties" Like all bankrupts, get up, shrug it off and start again.

 

2: See as much nihonto as possible. Get your hands and more importantly, your eyes on as much good stuff as is humanly possible.

 

3: Collect and study the schools I like, not what is popular ( this theme seems to repeat itself ) Also, don't try to chase the elusive dream bargain or pot of gold, it hardly ever ever works out and when it is magically found, it is mostly done by those with lots of experience.

 

4: Miss an opportunity to go to Japan and study.

 

5: Own one piece each of the master tsubako of Owari.

 

Rich

[BenoitD]

At first buy from know collectors or people proficient in the field.

Stay away from E-BAY if you are not sure about item or seller.

Read, read and read about Japanese sword before collecting.

Learn the vocabulary and the history about the Japanese sword.

Focus on one field.

Stay on this board, a lot of knowledgeable persons.

Start small (about money).

Sell some items to get better ones.

 

But do not forget to have fun.