TheGermanBastard

Hello Barry, this sounds very fishy indeed!

Another point to consider is that old blades may be Mumei but mainly due to O-Suriage while they may have well been signed in the 1st place. Then we also would need to as if a Gimei blade was made purposelyto be signed as Gimei or if someone just took a shot a Mumei blade and put on a fake signature. Just looking at Shinshinto and later periode blades I feel the vast majority is signed. If we look especially at Showa periode there are hardly and any that are Mumei. Yes there are of course but I would want to think taht 80% of them are signed.

Replying to myself: I would like to see 80% younbg female collectors and 20% old farts - counting in myself to the later group.

Well, my personal expirience with this seller was a very bad one. Quite some years ago I had bought an item for them and paid for it via PayPal but they had missed the payment for whatever reason. Sending them screenshots of the trandaction - which was in their PayPal account as well - did not help at all. It was not until a Japanese lawyer wrote them a letter that I finally got my item. I never received an appology. Jst a bad business habit. Mayn other buyers were happy with their purchases though. Overall this seller offers a wide variety of items with some 1st class junk. I do no longer look at their auctions.

The article does not make it clear if Hinomoto thinks that there were originally 70 - 80 % Mumei blades that eventually got a Gimei put on or if that is a total number. 80% Mumei versus 20% signed looks a bit high from my gut feeling. I wouldn't want to assume that. But I think that is not what Hinomoto expressed. Anyway I can tell 90% of sword collectors are old farts and 99.9% of them are men.

... and suriage ... and old papers = virtually no papers. Hard to give you any numbers without any pictures.

We recommend this Koshirae very much for you.

A nice Mino Naginata taht would have done great on the battlefield. A blade to keep! Congrats,. As per the threa poster it has a Shirasaya. So just keep it oiled and you are fine. I do not thnink it to be Gimei. No need for paper imho. Just fine as it is

Hello Josh, thank you. I was refering to the Tsuba on the Daido. Bob got it as Yanagawa Haruhide. The Kenjo Tsuba was also lovely. Thanky ou for the information.

Hello Josh, were you referin to the Kanetaka or the Daido Tsuba? I liked both very much. Was the Daido Tsuba Goto?

@ Bob: Just seem or actually do? Fair Point! BUT all it takes to falsify Christoph is juste ONE woodblock print shopwing the actual use of a nata for behading. Yet we are to see them (in this thread) Guys, use your common sales logic: Best things sold are dreams and stories ... whioch one do you like better? The infamous head cutter or the bonsai tool? So if you are a motivated seller it is simple that you take the better story of the sales box ... Just aks yourself why a thing like a head cutter should be invented if you have enough people with swords running all around the place ... yes of course some people do have a Pizza slicer while they also jave a kitchen knife. You can have both ... but as others have pointed out, the infamous head cutter would probably be rather ineffective. That is the point where I think it is juts a myth. PS: The tanto posted by Bob was sold on Hermann Historica floor auction some years ago ... at around Euro 6000.00 hammer price the buyer got the head cutter stoy free of charge and it sure helped on the final price I bet.

Yes, the Daido was also on my watch list. I liked its Sugata very much. Also good Horimonos. I think the Daido had a good signature and I liked its Tsuba, too while it was unfortunately overcleaned. But again it sold for more than my wallet could have bared. I think both blades were interesting and fetched good money for the sellers

Well, I liked the Tsuba and Kurigata ... there was too littel visisble of the blade for me as to place a big bid on it. Also I am not into Wakizashi anymore these days. Still I would have liked to see more of the blade.

I look forward to reading your report! Thanks a lot!

Maybe somebody here bought this Kanetaka Waki? I liked its Tsuba. A pitty most of the Kodugu is gone. The Kozuka is rather unique, too. Interesting piece but sold pretty high. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Antique-Wakizashi-Sword-from-WWII-Vet-/401505708890 I wonder what the other two Kanji said? A name? A named blade?

Hello Ray, that was 100 year prior to the sword in question here. Or did I miss something?

Just curious but what low ball offer do you have in mind?

And one last thing: You have to keep in mind that you will face additional import duties / fees when buying a blade from outside the EU. so be prepared to spend an additional 20% on what you pay.

To be frank I would not buy it. There are for example some papered Hizen Wakizashis by reputable members like Ray and other up for sale that offer much more bang for the buck even if you will be looking at close to 3k investment. But the quality of the blades will easily stand up to their asking prices.

Lucas, it is unfortunately not possible to give you a reasonable advice based on these images. Neither can we really say anything in particular about the blade nor do we see the Tsuba or Menuki. It is standard Handachi mounts. Bungo blades are not in high regard on many occasions. A new polish is not recommend. The total cost would be above what this blade is worth. The papers are not a real benefit with such a blade. The asking price is fair. But again you need to ask yourself wheter the blade appeals to you. Buy what you like.

Okay, Fuchi Kashira & Menuki do not look too nice ... but hard to say from these images. Not that much value in the mounts ... but you have to see if you like the blade. That is your personal decission. John is right that the machi is very deep. could also have Machi Okuri ...

Yes, Shinto is more likely ... too deep ... all too crisp. Does not look like an early Muromachi tang. From the sellers perspective you should be paying atleast 1800 USD ... from your perspectove you will want to pay as little as possible. If I were you and if I wanted to buy it I would throw in 1500 USD and see what happens You just have to ask yourself if you want to buy it as it as matter of personal tase. I can not see much of the Koshirae. The Kozuka looks okay. The Tsuba is nothing special. I can not comment on the Menuki and F/K. The Horimono work is not bad and the polish remain in old but nice condition, too and I see no obviosu problems.

Hello Lukas, that is a solid package. 1800 USD is fine. The blade is in good condition / polish and definately MIno. BUT I do not think this blade is Oei but a later generation Kanetsune. The 1st generation Kanetsune is one of the best Mino smithes and his signature looks different. This is probably good for a later generation Kanetsune

Hello Lex, I keep my fingers crossed you will be able to get the sword. Case it does not sell on auction you may be able to bargain a bit with the seller ... and if you don't get it, don't be sorry. There are usually more great deals than ones wallet holds money.

Well Lex, the owner may think that he does better putting it up on auction and may not be to eager at arranging a rendezvous with somone just for "seeing" it as he is into "selling" it. If somebody sends me a message saying he wants to see a sword of mine that is up for sale I will usually reply asking if there is a probloem with the images I uploaded. I only arrange for pick ups but no meet and greets. I have had plenty of people sitting in my living room, drinking tea and looking at my collection for houzrs without ever buying anything. I offer personal pick up on all the stuff that I have for sale. If someone shows up I welcome him to check out the sword in person. If something is wrong then shame on me and he will walk away. But if someone says he wants a meeting for only looking at a sword my answer is no.