Blazeaglory

Why is there another white paper on very bottom right side of page? It has a different oshigata with similar nakago but different sword/kissaki. Looks like Kaneuji? Side note, I think I might have a Naoe Shizu O suriage wakazashi. The boshi and jihada/hamon, nakago, etc... line up pretty close. The structure and detail of the iron is amazing. I've had it for over a year and I still find new things while admiring it. The composition of the iron changes colors with the light and angle and up close sparkles like a galaxy with millions of different color stars. Under white light, it's different shades of blue and sparkling. In the sun, it's violets and pinks/reds with grey and black. It's crazy Anyways, not trying to brag or anything and I don't know if what I have is Naoe Shizu but I've never seen anything like it other than what I've seen from this school. It's really the only thing I can talk about in detail, so just thought I'd share. But back to auction... I'd love to buy this auction but a little too rich for my blood. Beautiful sword tho.

I remember you told me that a bit ago, so I tried it and it "refocuses" for a second then back to the focusing in background. The extremely annoying thing is, after I press the button for a pic, the camera goes in and out trying to focus and right before it takes the actual pic, it focuses PERFECT and then immediately focuses on the background again the millisecond before it snaps the pic. It's super frustrating because I can see a beautiful focused pic and I yell, "YES FINALLY!!!" Only to have it take a blurry pic. It gets to the point where my arms feel like rubber bands from holding for so long...lol I've also tried every freaking option. The "macro" feature is supposed to focus on close objects in the foreground right at the camera, not focus in background. So Samsung needs to figure it out because every option in the camera does the same exact thing! All I'm asking is that the camera stop looking behind the object. End rant!

I'm thinking about listing my tanto on eBay for a higher than usual price just to see what kind of interest I get. The tanto itself is pretty nice but tired from polishes over the years. The selling point, to be honest, are the gold shi-shi menuki that point towards Yokoya or some other high end school/smith. Anyways, I just wanted to see what everyone thinks of this. I'm on the fence about eBay and Nihonto because I see allot of crap with high asking prices, so I would really hate to fall into that category but I think the Menuki and matching koshirae is worth more than normal. I will also post a listing here but don't be shocked by my asking price because erything is negotiable. I'm testing the market at the moment but it doesn't look like the market is too hot right now. So please, if you all can give me some feedback in regards to what you think, in my opinion, museum quality gold Menuki along with a decent 7-8 inch Koto tanto with matching silver fittings and kozuka/kogatana would be valued at in terms of paper money. Thanks everyone. I'm in a tight spot and need cash. I really don't want to sell this.

Very interesting. I'm searching Kanemitsu now and I do see allot of similarity in the Boshi/Kissaki Thanks for the info!

Wow if these prices are still up next week I'm in! Great deals!

Thanks! It took 2 hours to get that pic. My camera always focuses in back ground no matter what. I want a non flash pic. Seriously the quality is missing in these pics. Yes you can see the blue hues but without the flash you can see a rainbow of colors. Also on the other side, there is another vague swirl. So its in the iron, not from the quenching. If you look at it sideways, it looks like a great white shark ! Best I could do non flash

Sorry I can't get enough of this. Just looking at the different contrasts of different iron from shinogi-ji down and how much skill it took to make that Boshi is just mind blowing. I used to think the kissaki was reshaped but over all this blade is thin with a high ridge for super sharpness and the blade slowly gets less wide as it gets longer. I think the smith was going for a slender look. But who knows Here's the best I could do, unaltered. Both sides. But the detail IS STILL MISSING

I've seen these before. Probably one of my favorite menuki!

Lol

Hello. Would you happen to have any more pics of blade and koshirae? Thanks

The detail is amazing! I can see gold in the top photo of the two but the other photos look like a silver color or white gold? The composition, whatever color it actually is, looks precious tho. What is it exactly? Gold as well?

Yes! Very high end! I could imagine the hands that passed through over the centuries! Amazing... Just looking at the Koshirae screams high end. And the blade itself is even more stunning... I would be very proud to own something like that and having it passed down through the family means so much I would imagine! My hat is off to you OP! Don't let that one out of your sites! Pass down to your children and instill the importance and heritage of this very unique item.

Pics?

Yah winner winner chicken dinner!

:bowdown:

First, nice tanto! Sorry for off topic but Funny I was reading a similar argument in regards to an antique print I was interested in. The seller labeled it a "Lithograph" but technically (and lawfully) lithos must have been made from the original painting and by the artists hand. Otherwise it's just a reproduction, which isn't bad per say. Anyways, I spent a couple hours reading arguments about litho vs. Repro . I agree with David tho. Tomatoe, tomato but in the Nihonto world, titles matter I can never get that time back lol

Ok that makes sense. I thought they all were made in the same style as Nihonto but now that you mention it, that would be over kill for such a small blade. It's funny tho. The kogatana above has a Iori-mune and an Uchi-zori style drop. Don't know if that's common but I thought it was interesting that the smith put that kind of detail into it

I kinda agree about the airport hotel thing. Gives the impression of boredom, etc... Now it could be totally opposite once there but from the outside looking in, with so much stimulation and hype around todays events, the dreary brown meeting rooms/hall with thick curtains/table cloths is probably off putting to those 30 something (and under) crowd I mean, young adults nowadays get more stimulation before lunch than our grandparents got during the first 90% of their lives. With so much to choose from in this "swipe right" society, we need something that grabs attention and holds it. For me and Im sure many of you, the Nihonto is all the stimulation we need but for the young newbie, he or she is going to need a serious tug on the ol' short and curlies if ya know what I mean! I like the idea of consolidation into fewer but bigger shows, maybe 3 per year. West coast, Mid America, East coast. We also need more hype and advertising, or individual themes built around certain aspects of Japanese society and Nihonto. Bring up myths and stories, battles, love triangles and use certain contemporary weapons to tell the story. Maybe raffle off some high value items to get some buzz. Bring on famous ppl who also share the love of Nihonto, maybe some cute woman with swords! Over play the "body cutting tests", have demonstrations, etc... Or maybe put the word out that some dip $hit is going to use a Kamakura blade for cutting mats or something. Hey, even bad press is good press At least were talking about it. Somethings got to change/adapt otherwise its lights out

Not to distract from Brian's points, to which I agree, but I also wanted to address the OPs info about last minute price jump. Considering this is a possible fake, and using the assumption that the owner knew it was a fake, he or someone else working with original seller, placed the last minute bid with no intention of paying. They used that figure so it would stick in all of the bidders/watchers psyche so for future sales on similar or exact fake items, buyers subconsciously remember that 900$ figure and might bid higher than 35$. In other words, they were setting up future scams by falsely bidding high in the present. That's my opinion anyways. Only other option is someone paid ALLOT of money for a possible fake?

The koshirae caught my eye and the blade intrigued me but I don't plan on bidding https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F254156374102

Thanks! Hope everyone enjoys! I changed camera apps and it seems to be working much better. I try to use different lights as well. Side note, for some reason I really like the different styles of kogatana. Wish I could bring the detail out in the ones I own but can't seem to get any hamon to show. So maybe mine aren't hardened? Or its just dull?

We need more hype... Do I remember someone saying they found a Masamune? Wink wink

So far the owner says Mino Kanesada. Luckily I bought Mark Seskos cursive Japanese script when it was on sale but atm I'm struggling. Still reading tho Personally I think it looks a little sloppy and maybe some hesitating. Hoping to find some comparisons but no luck on my brief searches today. Other side

Thanks! Ill correct it now haha I agree, its been handled and worn smooth in some spots. Much of the gold over lay is missing as well. Its a shame too because the gold is applied pretty thick. The kozuka itself appears to be copper and well made compared to others Ive held. No open seems, no greening/rust, very straight, the image looks to have good detail and maybe real gold lacquer/paint?? I would love to restore this item The kogatana is surprisingly sharp considering its age. The nakago (of the kogatana) has aged very well, with very nice dark red/brown (dead?) rust color. The blade itself has been polished quite a bit tho. If you look on one side of the blade (without a Mei), you can see faint characters, from bottom to tip. Cant understand why they would have been polished out so deeply while the other, seemingly crappy mei, remains. Unfortunately there is a HAGIRE! Halfway through lengthwise. Too bad because its a beast. Sorry pics loading sideways again

I think its early/mid 1700s? The blade is based on the Naginata The nagasa is roughly 16" and the entire length has some weight to it. Its a little tired from polishing but over all its in decent condition. Some ware and scratches but nothing major. The point of the kissaki is a little dull as well. It feels great in hand and I really love the over all design/shape (Unokubi Zukuri). Pretty basic hamon and jigane but looks nice It is housed in a well made koshirae with nice black horn koiguchi/kojiri and red horn (maybe?) kurigata. The tsuka is capped with shakudo and gold Fuchi/kashira in the theme of finely carved peonies with menuki that are Bushi fighting/wrestling. The Tsuba is folded iron mokko gata shape. Includes a kozuka featuring Fudo Myoo with an extremely sharp kogatana. Very nice for something thats over 100yo Well, I made a new album and I don't think Ive shared these pics yet, so please enjoy! https://flic.kr/s/aHsmBepRiF