Alex A

Not that it matters, but ive never thought of these as "swords", but knives. As in i would never call a bowie knife, a bowie sword. Whereas a wakizashi is a short "sword". Semantics.

Looks decent to me, like the fittings. At first glance the blade reminds me of some wild Bizen style and had me thinking about Ishido. Just off top of head.

Some might call it a Sun-nobi Tanto, others a Ko Wakizashi.

Handy to see, for various jobs, thanks.

Even without delving deeper, the tsuba dont even match. Its a real sigh. lol

Hi Florian, I don't know the ins and outs exactly of what you have but just thoughts in a very simplistic way as to how i might go about it. Put everything in boxes and just ship back to someone you know. List everything with values for customs with an explanation your heading home and shipping your collection in advance. List the correct customs tariff, for antiques used to be 9706.00.00.00, maybe it still is. Whatever you get taxed, you get taxed. Hope that helps. Use UPS, as last time i looked they were the only ones shipping pointy things.,

Ebay,

Be good to see the hamachi,.

Worth bearing in mind that a lot of signed Koto tanto dont really need papers as obvious they are legit. Stuff like your average low value Niji-mei late Muromachi Mino tanto can be straight forward to work out. That would bring the price down, hopefully.

£600 will never get you a papered tanto. If you go to the arms fairs and are lucky you might find something, usually in old polish for that kind of price and parts of the koshirae missing. Once bought a signed Koto tanto in the sales section here for the same price, with koshirae but parts missing. The UK is not a good place to shop for swords, very limited and an immense number of swords in crappy polish knocking about. Personally, consider the UK a destruction site for these amazing antique blades that have lasted centuries. Saw this the other day, its the kind of tanto you come across here for that budget, its not a recommendation. You should of course do your homework on any potential purchase. A Shoken school tanto by Kunimune circa 1864 | Garth Vincent

This thread had me thinking today, just a realisation. Not talking about anyone mentioned in this thread. Over the years seen swords that look close, without papers, at certain dealers. Dealers lay it on thick that they they think the sword is legit but have not sent it for Shinsa as too much hassle, too much expense. You only have to ask one question. Will you guarantee it passes Hozen? Reality hits with a resounding "no". Don't think i ever heard a yes, maybe for a dozen swords. This hobby sometimes described as a minefield, sometimes Shark infested. Just memories.

Hi Daniel. Id assumed you were thinking of buying this sword and i made a comment that instead, you should buy an example that had already attained NBTHK papers. Sukenaga is a big name and its right to be suspicious of swords without papers. You could go around in circles here or send it to Shinsa. At the end of the day, the only opinions that matter are those of a Shinsa. Its just how it is with more expensive swords made by popular smiths. No future buyer will give a hoot about anything said elsewhere and i mean that with respect as there are knowledgeable folks about.

Edit, didn't realise you already owned it.

Your very modest, Mariusz. Glad it is now in print, just got myself a copy from Amazon UK, cheers.

Change the record, your climate nonsense was boring years ago.

Its not enough to see 200 swords and own some books and think you know it all either. Compare yourself to the likes of those in Japan that handle various numbers of swords daily, 200 swords is nothing. Even seeing many swords from a smith, its not them all. Remember Paul B years ago saying just when you think you know something, you realise you know nothing. Sometimes something crops up that throws a spanner in the works, so to speak. What i have come to realise, a good few years ago but finally sank in. There are so many oddballs out there that i now prefer to keep an open mind, and shut up. Folks sometimes dwell on trivial matters over "hand made" pieces of history that often have no more history than what is in hand. In other words, assuming.

Did see an auction last year with an unusual amount of Japanese swords. From memory, Low end type stuff, got the impression it must have all been part of a collection. Whether or not partof the collection mentioned, not a clue

The hobby with no end, Colin Hence why we are still here. No closed brackets. Very rarely anything to go gung ho off on a tangent. Nice read from OP , thanks

There is a massive hole in what is known for sure and regurgitating what has been written already. People look at all the examples they have in books, its nothing. That's Japanese swords. A reality for some and an illusion for others, We will all realise that eventually.

Forums are getting too weird for me these days. And actually, if it is a guy named “Fred” and calling himself “Dee” and going on about art with dicks, then it is dishonest. If you think thats ok, you can **** off too.

Cheers Stephen, whoever it is. All too weird for me lately. You know what they say about trusting your instincts.

Think we saw these a few weeks back. This cant be answered here, unless you want to base your purchase on what someone said on a forum You need to talk with NBTHK, wouldn't spend that kind of money unless it came from them. Though that's me,

Just to add, even online, folks like to know who they are talking to, dealing with. Dee, if your taking piss, you do yourself no favours, with future business. Being honest, i don't trust you. Something weird going on that not seen here for a while, all fake.

Think the Mata hari says it all

We learn that sometimes it takes thick skin to show off a blade here, but if folks didn't then we would have less to talk about lol. So cheers Dee. Bit lost in this thread now, is that pic above your blade?, with the long Kaeri ? Off top of head, thats a known Uda feature