Tcat Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Can anyone comment on this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/320754898636 Quote
markc Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Dear Alex, i do not know anything about Heian period swords but i have purchased several swords from Yuzo and they have been as described and in great condition. i would recommend him as a reputable e bay seller thanks Markc :D Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Can anyone comment on this one?http://www.ebay.com/itm/320754898636 He's a good seller to deal with but doesn't seem to have much knowledge of what he's selling. Quote
sanjuro Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Theres not enough pictures to be definitive about this one. I'd want to see the nakago very closely at least before swallowing this. Kamakura? In this condition at this price? Kodachi? Why, because its too short to be a tachi? Genuine Kodachi are very rare, and kamakura period kodachi are even rarer (as in kodachi really never existed as a classification of tachi until the Nanbokucho period) I would be more likely to believe this is a momoyama period uchigatana. Whilst this seller is usually reasonable, I find this description a little hard to accept. It needs some serious questions asked and responded to with authority. Not saying it aint so, but I do have serious reservations. Quote
Tcat Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 Thanks Mark and Peter. This is a seller I am certainly inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to, as he has been described as honest and reliable by several NMB members. However....I hold the same reserved excitement as Keith. The blade looks to be in pretty nice condition for a sword so old - and I have never heard of a Heian Kodachi (although I am simply ignorant of many things...). Nakago looks interesting; old, but that old? Also...I know it shouldnt be a means to judge, but the price seems low for such a clean blade with 800 years of history. Can it really be a Heian Kodachi/Tachi....? If so, I want it... Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 but the price seems low for such a clean blade with 800 years of history. Can it really be a Heian Kodachi/Tachi....? If so, I want it... You can do much better than that buying a sword here in the UK. Stay clear of ebay and buy from local auctions and antique shops here in the UK. Quote
Sporkkaji Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Read through this thread before you put too much stock in his 'honest reputation'. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7871 Quote
sanjuro Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Alex Can it really be a Heian Kodachi/Tachi....? Simple answer: No! I doubt this seller would know a Kamakura period blade if he saw one............. There are good reasons not to buy on ebay. This is one of them. It is a sound blade by all indications of the pics. Is it what the seller claims? No it isnt. There is no such animal as a Kamakura period Kodachi. Kodachi were not made until the Nanbokucho period, and to be honest as a collector of tachi I would pay at least five times what is being asked for this blade to get a genuine Kodachi from the Nanbokucho period in anything like decent condition. Its an uchigatana, much polished and judging by the lack of a functional ha machi, way too tired. It is also much younger than the seven hundred years claimed. Quote
Tcat Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 You can do much better than that buying a sword here in the UK. Stay clear of ebay and buy from local auctions and antique shops here in the UK. Thanks Peter, Yes, I have noticed that actually, ebay and US dealers are quite overpriced compared to Japanese and UK dealers...(unless youre talking about 'Lanes' I wonder why this should be... I have a personal favorite dealer in the UK who I have recently started getting most of my stuff from, hes a pretty cool bloke Otherwise - thanks guys. I just think its pretty outrageous that such claims can be made on ebay. I have no problem with someone who knows no better referring to a machine made gunto as a samurai sword, but someone who should know at least roughly what they are talking about and then goes on to mislead in such a way...its a little disheartening for a novice like myself. to be honest as a collector of tachi I would pay at least five times what is being asked for this blade to get a genuine Kodachi from the Nanbokucho period in anything like decent condition. Quite... I hope one day to have in my posession a nice example of a Heian Tachi. One.....day......... Quote
sanjuro Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Alex. I hope one day to have in my posession a nice example of a Heian Tachi. One.....day......... It is an admirable ambition, but be prepared to part with a great deal of money. They are few and far between and horrendously expensive. I wish you luck however, and may we never have to bid against each other at an auction that features a good example. :D Quote
chrisf Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 Alex,would you be kind enough to PM me details of your dealer contact unless you wish to keep it to yourself which is equally OK.Many thanks. Quote
Tcat Posted September 10, 2011 Author Report Posted September 10, 2011 It is an admirable ambition, but be prepared to part with a great deal of money...and may we never have to bid against each other at an auction that features a good example. Quite! I am more than prepared to part with the money, how im going to get it in the first place is a different matter! Alex,would you be kind enough to PM me details of your dealer contact Certainly, anyone else is welcome to this info also. (PM sent) Quote
Henry Wilson Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 Would an old tachi blade not have more curvature in the nakago? Quote
Jacques Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 Hi, 4990$ .... some collectors are batty that blade is full of red flags. Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 4990$ .... some collectors are batty that blade is full of red flags. Agree completely, personally I don't think the sword is even 100 years old... Quote
chrisf Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 Peter,would you care to elaborate on that?Not a trick question,just thought it might be helpful for Alex who originated the post and others (including me). I viewed it with suspicion taking into account; a) Size of kissaki. b) Hada,may be the polish but have only seen this flashy grain in shinshinto swords. c) Nakago,which looks a bit contrived. To a large degree I'm following my instincts because quite honestly I have almost no experience of swords of that supposed age,so a learning experience I hope..... Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 I think a best case scenario is shin-shinto. The nakago has clearly been hammered into its current shape and really is a horrid looking thing. I did wonder if it might have been in a Kyu-gunto or cane mount. I guess you would need to see it in hand to be sure, and the awful polish doesn't help, but I thought it looked like some gendaito I've seen in the past. Quote
chrisf Posted September 12, 2011 Report Posted September 12, 2011 Thanks Peter,I did give myself a telling off for being dim and not checking Nagayama which as always provides a lucid description of what to look for. I totally agree about the nakago,even if o-suriage it shouldn't look like that,the hada reminds me of a Geishu Masamitsu that Peter Yorke showed me some years ago as a discussion piece with a similar grain. Whatever it is it wasn't cheap and a pretty speculative item. Quote
drbvac Posted September 13, 2011 Report Posted September 13, 2011 Here is a muromachi period tachi for comparison, and I know it is nearly 700 years old Quote
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