Hi guys,
I´m new to this board. I have been collecting knives since I was a teenager, and have always been fascinated by samurais swords. Now 25 years later, I have some more means and since a friend if mine spend a year in Japan recently, I asked him if he could source me a nice ancient armor and a sword, to put up in my house. I am willing to spend some money on it, as I intend to keep it, also as sort of an invest that maintains it's value.
My friend has an aquaintance in Japan who is a travel guide for foreign high rollers, and also takes them to antique shops if they want to spend some money there.
He just send me some details on a sword (and on an armor, l'll write a second thread for that) that was offered to him.
I don't have a huge number of details yet, but what I have never seen before is a katana with a metal tsuka (if you still call it that) or this type of tsuba. What strikes me is that the saya seems to be much longer than the blade.
Here is what I got so far from the guide.
The sword dates to roughly 1870-1880, not long after the Meiji Restoration.
It bears the Imperial Chrysanthemum crest, and most likely was presented as a gift by the Meiji Emperor. While the saya scabbard is gorgeously decorated with gold maki-e lacquer work, the blade is a true shinken sword, fully sharpened - so it would need to treated with the utmost care and respect. The sword blade is unsigned, so the smith unknown, but the work is very fine. The blade comes with a torokosho registration from the Japanese government (photo #10).
Asking price is 950,000 ¥
He will be back at the shop next week and can ask all the questions I want, which is where I need your help.
Can anyone help me out and provide some insight.