Nihonto Literature

[nagamaki - Franco]

Curious to read what is going through the minds of nihonto collectors in terms of books and building libraries these days? There was a time when the excellent, especially out of print texts, simply got snapped up almost as soon as they became available. I seem to recall conversations when first starting out along the lines of how ridiculous it would be to spend several thousand dollars on swords and polishing without a proper library to back such expenses up with thorough research. Thank you.

[Takahashi]

Well I still think a good library is a very valuable source. Although there are more and more Internet data bases and ebooks, I still prefer to have a physical book with me while studying interesting blades. Off course I am still busy (and spending heaps of Euros) building up my own Nihonto library.

Cheers,

[DirkO]

I agree, even today a good reference library is necessary to research your own blades. There is a lot of info on the internet, but there's even more info in books which isn't. I started out with the usual introductory books, but I find myself now leaning more towards reference books, who in their own right are very collectable (Teiryo Yoji, Showa Dai Meito Zufu,...)

[eternal_newbie]

As a relatively new collector who used the expensive "head-first" method of starting the hobby, I've noticed something - when I began, the one or two average blades that I picked up inspired a great deal of excitement, while the first two references I bought ended up collecting dust. As time went by and my tastes became more refined, I found that I grew less fond of the blades and more fond of the books, to the point where I think my collection of references and catalogues is worth as much as - if not more than - my swords! I tend to treat the Internet more as a super-index for all the literature out there to see what references would be most likely to give me the information I need.

 

I also find that (reputable) online stores can be a surprisingly good reference if one is able to apply the right amount of skepticism and cross-referencing - as the proprietors have an interest in making their merchandise attractive, the descriptions and photography often far outstrips what you might find in a textbook, so long as you check to make sure the information is accurate. In particular, listings for blades by obscure or unpopular smiths are sometimes accompanied by a veritable torrent of information to make them more appealing to buyers, when my own limited research and expertise would usually yield nothing more than a single nondescript listing in Hawley's.

[runagmc]

I think reference books are a great resource, but as far as introductory type stuff, there is so much info on the internet now, I'm not sure they're worth the expense. There's enough info on the net to keep a newbie busy for a loooooong time...

 

It's also nice to have a few books with good pictures...