markturner Posted February 10, 2012 Report Posted February 10, 2012 Hi, I was considering buying this to use as a practice blade for Iaido, if the price does not go to high ( Over $500 ) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400275214176? ... 588wt_1110 Do you think it is ok and not some piece of fake junk? Thanks for any advice Cheers, Mark Quote
huntershooter Posted February 10, 2012 Report Posted February 10, 2012 Doesn't look to be a fake. Appears a stamp has been removed from nakago. Looks like a Showa-to: non traditionally made. Quote
markturner Posted February 10, 2012 Author Report Posted February 10, 2012 Hi, so basically as good as any shinken I could buy from a martial arts store, with the added bonus of at least being a genuine Japanese army blade...? Non trad made means oil tempered hamon, and no folded steel, correct? PS, what do you think of the claims to being the work of well regarded smith of the Era? ( Nakago, ubu, 1 hole, signed "Noshu Seki ju Kojima Katsumasa saku". This is a well known smith, discussed on page 80 of John Scott Slough's book on modern Japanese swords. ) Thanks, Mark Quote
huntershooter Posted February 10, 2012 Report Posted February 10, 2012 A "Showato" can be anything other than made from tamahagane, yaki-ire to form hamon/tempered edge and H2O quenched-which is a traditionally forged Japanese sword-"Nihonto". You alone can decide if this blade is preferable to a modern Shinken. My thought is I would prefer a Japanese blade with some history (even Showato) than a run of the mill Shinken. Regards. Quote
Jimmy R Posted February 10, 2012 Report Posted February 10, 2012 There was a thread started a while ago about this seller. I have had the displeasure of doing business with him recently and second the opinions put forth in the initial post. When the items arrived scratched because they were rattling around in the box he accused me of extortion (even though I never asked him for anything). He was very hostile and I got the impression he was used to bullying unsatisfied customers. Potential buyers warned. Jim Quote
Surfson Posted February 11, 2012 Report Posted February 11, 2012 I always find the feedback section to be helpful. I usually don't do business with anybody with more than one negative, unless they appear to be unfounded. Quote
drbvac Posted February 11, 2012 Report Posted February 11, 2012 On the other hand the piece that he sent me was as described and arrived looking the same as the pictures - study the pics carefully however as you should in any of these cases. Quote
markturner Posted February 17, 2012 Author Report Posted February 17, 2012 Thanks for the advice, its at silly money now, so I wont be bothering...... Cheers, Mark Quote
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