Blazeaglory

Very nice. Free bumpo

Looks like it was a hidden stiletto at one point.

Looks like two different things with the top being the long kaeri katai and the bottom (or middle?) being maybe utsuri?

On 3/5/2022 at 3:22 PM, Gakusee said:

The book cannot be just read and then left lying around, as it is de facto a textbook. You retain some of it, perhaps 10-30% but then you return to it for reference. The back of the book has a lot of in depth useful stuff that helps kantei but there is so much info that I wish I had photographic memory. 

THIS^^^

I dont even know how many times I reference this book on any given day of the week. Its the first book I look to for quick info. I consider it to be the first or at least one of the top 3 Nihonto books to have laying around forever

I say KEEP IT!

44 minutes ago, Ronin 47 said:

My guess would be late Muromachi Mino. Possibly Den Kanemoto or something along those lines.

Thanks for participating!

As Muromachi and Kanemoto became later,  the jihada/hamon became more uniform with the 3 ridge middle peak. Also,  was the Kanemoto line of smiths known for grain pattern on the Shinogi? Or above? below? Is the boshi pattern reminiscent of the Kanemoto smiths? Im just pointing out things for new people to look at and the slight variations involved

I think the "Mino" den is fairly obvious but there's more to it and Mino has a very interesting beginning and end to their story with different dens involved. Im not saying this blade is or isn't Mino but I would like for people to show how they arrived to their final choice if possible please. 

Please take this lightly and have fun with the Kantei.  Maybe new people can try their skills. From what I've seen and gathered from multiple sources and other collectors(caretakers), I have a rough idea of the age/ local of this sword.  I'll try to post decent pics but remember just have fun please... good luck!

Here's a couple bits of info:

Length is roughly 21"

Osuriage

On 7/20/2021 at 5:20 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Okan,

Check out this discusion on Warrelics about he regulatory requirement to dull blades during peacetime: Sharpening-dulling Blade Practice

 

Here's some of the charts:

 

That's awesome! Thanks

I love the hamon on this one. It's amazing that this sword is roughly 1000 years old! I keep trying to imagine how it looked in all it's original glory freshly made!

IMHO it's a little pricey. His prices have gone up quite a bit in the last year or two but he's also added quite a few decent nihonto to his selection. 

I agree with the above. If you truly have the funds, shop around. Think on it for a bit. Maybe you'll see something else you like better? Either way it's a good long term investment you can hand down to someone you love. Or not😉

Good luck

On 7/12/2021 at 2:23 PM, Alex A said:

Must admit, struggling to see a re-shaped kissaki or anything unusual about the boshi in these images.

Same here. Even if it is, usually it's a part of the polishing processes to gently reshape the kissaki (if needed) and in this case isn't much if any reshaping done at all imho.

I say send it.  Why else are we in this hobby? We only live once.  

10 hours ago, paulb said:

Funnily enough Geraint I had just that experience a couple of days ago. A friend from over the border was able to visit for the first time in more than a year and we had a great afternoon looking at blades and discussing what we saw. Sad to say he forgot one when he left so I now have the opportunity to study a beautiful ko-wakizashi for an extra couple of weeks. It was great to have that opportunity.

I find I am increasingly caught between the devil and deep blue sea. I understand Kirill's comment (I think) On various platforms focus on papers is largely used as a substitute and shortcut to study. However the counter that are those with their own agenda damning the attribution systems. We send a very confusing message to anyone starting out in this field. 

Sorry I don't want to divert the thread I was just motivated by Geraint's comments about meetings. Sitting with friends studying swords in hand is definitely the best way to go

Well it's a very confusing hobby to have lol

My connoisseurs guide looks like it's 100 years old and the pages are brown from so much page turning. And still I am at a loss in many cases. But the reward comes from learning what to look for and before we know it we're fairly knowledgeable in regards to basic kantei

All the headaches are worth it lol

10 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

You're absolutely right Geraint. Joking apart though, I don't see enough swords in hand and so I spend too much time on Swordhub getting off on other people's finds and purchases.

 

It can affect your eyesight can't it?

 

 

Yep! We're sword voyeurists Haha

I've seen a couple dozen swords in hand and several of them were very high end but my favorite swords to see are the complete/semi complete WW2 bring backs. The military models. 

As a collector,  I'm all for koto blades,  preferably early Muromachi and prior but my immediate second are WW2 military swords in full koshirae

On 7/19/2021 at 6:43 AM, Stephen said:

I had a sword go thru shinsa passed with high score...saying it was a very good koto blade. The show organizer knew that it had a crack and came in and told the team that has crack they're going to leave the papers at that score but when I received them in the mail they turned pink.

Btw the other shinsa team called it Gendaito...

Mistakes happen i hope he gets to see it in hand to realize he missed a crack. If he refuses a refund or any satisfactory compensation I think maybe we need to know who he is.

The papers turned pink? Why?

Sadly that looks like a hagire. Stress crack?

If the dealer says its not a crack then return it and get money back and the dealer shouldn't have any problems if it's not a crack right?

Also be very careful with it at this point. It seems solid but even a tiny jolt or hit in the proper spot could crack the sword in half in that area. I would leave it alone and send back if possible

8 hours ago, Rivkin said:

Why gimei?

90% of Muromachi Bizen signatures are done in thin script, with pronounced thinning in the middle of most strikes, typically with vertical strikes aligning parallel to the edge, with more or less constant distance towards it.

Here the writing is as broad as a typical shinto style, the angling of strikes is random, the distance is poorly maintained.

Sugata of late Muromachi wakizashi can be a tad straight, but one would hope for more graceful curvature. Maybe photography distorted it.

Maybe I am used to somewhat upper grade Muromachi Bizen, and this one is a really dustbin example, but I doubt that. 

 

Just a personal opinion.

 

It seems to be a thing around here.  I've noticed that many members will claim gimei almost instantly. 

Personally if a sword comes in signed it'll remain suspect in my eyes but I honestly feel that quite a few are legit. The only way to find out is shinsa. Even then tho the shinsa could be wrong but I don't think they're wrong much and they're right more times than most people here. 

Instead of immediately claiming "gimei", unless it's painfully obvious,  maybe we could just say "suspect" Haha

17 hours ago, noobja said:

Thank you Blazeaglory!  I paid $150 for it.  I was under the impression that polishing might hurt the value?  Please advise!!

 

Thank you Chris W. - the blade is 20 inches to Kissaki.  25.5 inches overall.  Here are the photos you requested.  I really appreciate the assistance in this.  I have been a knife collector for 40 years, this is my first sword, I am addicted!!!

Sorry I should have said a PROFESSIONAL polishing/ sharpening Haha

150$ is a super deal for that nihonto! I love hearing stories like this! But going forward you need to take good care of it. There is special meaning in nihonto and there are a set of procedures and rules that we need to follow to be caretakers for these hunks of metal.

I myself came here thinking that nihonto were like any other sword but boy was I wrong. Everything is different about nihonto from the method of forging to the method of polishing. It truly is an art. 

If that's your first find than you're in a good spot. I do see a serious flaw in the kissaki that I think they call a "crows beak"? I don't think it can be fixed with a professional sharpening but maybe it could be adjusted and taken down a bit.  It's not cheap tho. The mei looks like it had gold paint in it but at the same time it looks like someone had tried removing something. Either way, mei aside, the sword looks legit. It's a keeper!

I don't use FB but does anyone have a link to the story? Is it referenced any where outside of Facebook?

Hello all. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on this. Unfortunately I was only able to get the tie clip. I was wondering if you think it's Japanese made or something made in a western market made to look Japanese? Anyways it's a nice little tie clip. 

Thanks everyone

Hello! Welcome to the board! I'll save you some headache Haha ... Please take it off the concrete! Or hopefully that's a drop cloth?

I can still see a nice sword under there. Maybe some issues with the Mei but that's the name of the game with swords that are centuries old. The chiseling looks a little newer/higher than the Nakago due to the lighter/ redder colored rust but the more familiar might have seen contemporary mei with rust that color while the rust behind and around is darker. It's just signatures are always suspect. Sword could be a winner tho but needs polish. 

What you pay for it if I may ask?

On 6/18/2021 at 11:51 PM, Alex A said:

Depends.

 

If what your selling is appealing

If what your selling is priced correctly

 

If the answer is yes to both it will sell, so long as any potential buyer in this "niche" market has the available funds at that time. 

 

Need a bit of luck with the timing.

 

As for prices, still holding.

 

 

 

 I agree with this. It all depends on what you have and who is buying. It also depends on where you're selling. 

I've watched retail prices rise over the last few years where today I can't find a decent katana for under several thousand$. Katanas that were selling for 3k to 5k are now selling for almost double that. I really don't get it because they haven't moved as far as being sold goes. So what dictates the retail nihonto pricing? It seems to be dealers just placing random high prices and hoping for the best because I've seen some swords selling for way less than they should while others are priced way higher than they should... I can't figure it out. 

For instance there's an Ebay seller who sells mostly junk but asks 5x what anything is worth but then I'll find something that should be listed for a high price but isn't. It's like someone came to work one day and started randomly raising prices. 

Very nice!

I second Johns idea and then go from there...

If yes, you'll be spending $1500 to 2500$ for the habaki and polish. Habaki alone is 300 to 600 or more depending on metal. If you go for a new shirasaya the cost goes up. 

Do it now because as the years go by the costs keep going up due to less professionals (tradesmen) alive,  less materials available (hinoki wood getting scarce, animal vs. synthetic), precious metals going up in price,  etc...

Oh man this guy has spent thousands of hours compiling all of this info. Its crazy how much information this one person has in regards to Nihonto smiths

On 5/20/2021 at 2:27 AM, Dave R said:

There is a series of vid's on You Tube made by a group called "Yuri Gagarin", they excavate Russian Battlefields of WW2. Amongst other stuff they brought one of these up out of a swamp.... along with the remains of the soldier who carried it. Chilling stuff, but absorbing.

I follow them as well. Its amazing what they find and how respectful they are with the remains as well. They said WW2 was on such a large scale that they could dig forever and not find everything

Haha I remember that waki! First thing I did was say DAAAAMN lol Then I showed it to all my family members who all made the same joke...

I have a waki that I 'thought' had a deep sori but after this, I'll never see my waki the same... But it feels so good in the hand (no pun intended). Its such a well forged sword that I can only find one or two minor lines(kitae-ware) that hardly qualify due to the fact that they're almost invisible and less than an inch in size. The Bohi looks like a mirror and feels so smooth when I oil it that I cant believe how a person could make something so precise. Its just an all around thick well balanced sharp as ever waki. With a minor sori compared to big curve up there lol

Dont mind the rubber band on the shirasaya. I had just got the waki a little before this pic was taken and I have since repaired the shirasaya 

I think thats amazing that its been on there this entire time... I wonder if any family ae still living in that town?