BKB5

Jussi thank you for your reply! I sent you a message - I was considering Juyo - Showa June 1st Syowa 46th(1971) I guess that would be the older ranking scale - pre 1980's.

I'm rather new to Nihonto but 30+ years in USA and European arms and armor (and very rare Americana such as Founding Fathers documents). From day one I always listened to the "buy the absolute best you can afford and don't be afraid to pay up if it's what you really want". I never have bargain shopped for collectibles. Yes, I hit estate sales and auctions but have never scored anything other than just cool items i wanted for decoration. I have always tended to build relationships with high end dealers and work through them. Japanese blades could be considered a lot like a George Washington Autographs I assume - it takes a really keen eye, a lot of experience, and generally a LOT of money to buy quality. I don't want to take a chance unless it's a few hundred dollars - maybe then I would gamble. But in most collectible markets - "seems not so much Nihonto with certification" - fakes and forgeries make up about 85% of what you deal with now. It's gotten so bad that I lot of markets have been hit hard. Coins being one - slabbed coins and the certifications used to be a gold standard - they are really nothing now though people will bid on them like they are. Document forgeries are rampant. Armor (European) is almost a no go - its near impossible to tell fakes the smiths are so good. Antique arms (muskets and pre US Civil War arms) same - gun restoration experts can make anything undetectable. Maybe I will learn different in the future - but so far the sword dealers, and Nihonto sellers I have worked with have been top notch people. SO refreshing!!!!

I am curious about the age of Shinsa papers and how they may be viewed by high end collectors and those with deep knowledge. With extremely deep knowledge I am assuming the blade speaks for itself to the person examining it. If Mumei there could of course be questions on school, smith, age, etc. If a blade is Mumei, high polish, Juyo, but given that certification in the early 1970's - does that in a sense "invalidate the paper" to a degree - not completely of course. I mean would a buyer who values these higher end blades see an older attribution as being "not as desirable" as say a 5 year old attribution. How would that effect the price from a dealer if at all? I seem to see Juyo blades often have older attribution on certification. How do those of you who are looking at high end blades approach them? - ESPECIALLY if its a blade that cannot be seen in hand! Thanks!!

Has anyone had success with quality items from this auction house? I have watched many Nihonto and other items - but never contacted them for further info,

WOW WOW! Many. many, many "thank you's" from this new member. I came to the right place for sure! Everyone is so kind to offer information. Usually its tumbleweeds or hordes of people pointing out what is wrong or fake but never saying why. I look forward to many more swords and broadening my extremely limited knowledge.

This sword is my first Japanese Shin Gunto sword. I have ordered 2 books but they will not arrive for a while Any info on Maker, Date, Where is was made, etc would be so helpful I am not having luck on the internet through Google and a friend's Japanese Girlfriend could not understand it.