waljamada

Saw this one with the term votive sword as one used by a shrine for religious purposes. No idea if that's accurate for this sword but a votive sword is an example of "odd in a good way". Any votive blades for sale out there? Adam

John, I am unsure and truthfully I had to Google spelter bronze to learn of it. It very well maybe, and the only test I read to determine so was a scratch test. I don't own this statue but was tempted by it as it's under $300. I have other statues that have a thin layer of bronze but for all I know those are spelter as well. Don't really want to scratch them to test....but the photo below is an example of one of the thin layer bronze statues (or possibly spelter). That's what came to mind for me as its all I knew. The bronze statues I have that were made with the "Lost Wax" technique are thicker so wouldn't match the damage that occurred in the statue above.

Wondering if any bronze statue wisened eyes can gleam anything off these pictures. It's a bronze coating rather than pure bronze. Is that typical or evidence more mass produced piece? Not sure if okimono bronze statues are tyoically pure bronze. Has some damage under one of the arms shown in photos. I don't think it's a high quality piece and no evidence of a signature so I'm guessing tourist piece? Here's its brief description: Weight 9.5 lbs. Includes removable sword Meiji Period - 1868-1912 Lost Wax Casting Still tempting just as decour but would like to learn a bit more about this branch of Japanese art collecting.

Coming into the market when I did (past two years), prices to me seemed affordable and reasonable considering the amount of blades in existence. There are of course as in any hobby or "collectibles" markets tiers of blades/makers/eras/quality etc...that command throughout the price spectrum fairly and accurately. I am in a few collectors markets (including one in a boom right now) some of which I've I've navigating for a decade and there are certainly trends shared amongst all collectible markets. I have seen the prices of blades "rebound" like 10 to 15% already in my short time collecting and still believe the current market to be fairly priced. I myself have purchased at least 4 blades knowing that the seller had purchased them for much higher prices years before and to be honest that made me sad. But I truly believe the older market was inflated for lower tier blades (bottom half of the "quality" spectrum, and this is important to note, the large majority of available existing blades fall in the lower half). I also see many sellers, especially experienced but non-professional ones, over pricing their stock of "bulk" swords. Bulk meaning swords on the lower half tier blades of the market. For example, in general, a sword out of polish, mumei, shinto, stains but still decent shape in basic or even type 98 gunto mounts is not worth 2.5/3k. But I know people holding on to blades like that waiting for someone to pay that price...along with in some cases literally hundreds of blades all overvalued by at least 20% if not more. So in my opinion the market for blades accurately priced over say 8k have enough established facts that the prices are secured and the buyers are willing to pay the prices based upon the attributes and history of a piece because everything in this hobby is so well documented these days (makers,skill levels,eras,histories etc...). To me its a pretty safe market in the top half. However, whatever way I do the math I can't see a way to make money as a current buyer in the market on the top half buying through traditional means such as dealers etc...you'd have to get a deal from a collector to collector transaction. The dealers are already charging the very top prices of the current (and I suspect future) market. On the lower half of the market a seller needs to be realistic on their asking prices to sell and on the top half of the market the blade needs provenance (good maker, papers etc..) to support/command/protect price/value. If those two things are in balance the blades will sell as there are absolutely active buyers in the market currently and in my opinion willing to pay fair values. Even when in balance in this current market though I don't see it being a money making opportunity for the majority buyers. With all that said I could still see the potential for a 5 to 10% increase on investment if navigated well and good timing for the casual collectors. Either way, buyers are currently buying. Everything written above is my subjective experience trying to peer into the objective market. Probably missing the mark on a lot of things. It also assumes that the collector pool won't have any dramatic increases in numbers over time.

Was a cool blade and did tempt me but ideally looking for something katana length. So still searching!

Steven, My ebay spidey sense was correct. That description was the exact style, terminology and an exact showa22 listing description copy. Glad to hear it didn't go far enough for you to be out any money or further complications. I'm also a huge fan of lacquered bohis. Have one already and it's easily my favorite blade even as my collection has grown after buying it. Still hoping this post may have the chance to buy one enter my messages/life.

Love being a fly on the wall for this tale.

Almost bid on this sword and it went for an affordable price but has some condition issues. Didn't bid because the seller was in Ukraine (which is most likely fine) but that blanket and sword description is exactly what Showa22 does. Just made me think someone put up false/duplicates of old listings, which scared me away, but could be the seller bought from Showa22 at some point and saved the description/pics and I missed out. Either way another example of a sword I would purchase.

Example of "odd" bohi.

My definition of "odd" in this case: different from what is usual or expected in a traditionally made tamagahane blade in koshirae or shirasaya. Greetings all, have something that doesn't quite fit in your collection but has some odd class? An odd bohi design? An interesting unique aspect? A non traditional horimono theme? (Horimono and bonji etc..can be ato-bori) Some interesting lacquer work? A lesser used bonji? Something with the hamon? An outlier of a school or maker? Looking for something with an odd aspect (in a good way) and much prefer katana length. Also, in a more traditional search sense, I would like to purchase one more "ancestral" blade type 94/98. Extreme bonus points for having some unique aspect.

Bruce, thank you for that link. I just read through that whole discussion and felt like I was on the side lines of an intense tassel discussion. The evidence of the actual military documents makes it seem quite clear cut the purpose and Gunzoku connection of the light brown tassels.

Something about o-kissaki blades just sing to me. Great pick up and that's a beautiful example. Love the hamon. Grey had my dream o-kissaki blade at his table. Was awesome to see all there was to gander and awe at from that show.

Uwe, thanks for the translation help. I greatly appreciate it. Bruce and Chris, I appreciate the warnings. I knew his name is synonymous to dubious. Someone since my post purchased it so I'm sure he sent the offer to many people and it did make it tempting. So off it goes. I know his reputation hence my skepticism on every piece of it. I don't see acid polish but my eye is not too attuned to that other than it creating an either slight or dramatic Damascus appearance. I do see hada, evidence of folding etc...and a bunch of his blades seem just left as-is. So it gave hints of a genuine traditionally forged blade. Hamon looked water quenched to me and there are still age appropriate stains/scratches on the blade and all components. I only surface level know his reputation as making frankenblades, (using mismatched pieces to make a "set") but didn't know he went as far as acid polishes etc...and I don't know what other terrible techniques are out there that he might use. To my eye this one seemed just honest enough to tempt me. I love those old heavy type 98 koshiraes too.

The Kane and Toshi seem to match decently...as does the yasurimei. The signature is on the opposite side of the tang on this sword though. It's on the date side of the book's blade.

I've been having a large gunto itch.... Guys, I'm scared to admit this but I'm really tempted by this sword. It's a Samurai Monkey sword but it 27 1/2 nagasa, signed, heavy scabbard, looks traditionally made and looks to have some higher end fittings if they are original. Looks to be a large and meaty gunto in decent polish with some flaws...but the offered price is right... I don't believe this tassel belongs on the sword but I've read conflicting things on brown tassels. The two sides are a brown tassels equal Navy essentially (but there's a darker and lighter brown variation) and the other side is light brown was started to be used semi late war by the army as a way to disguise rank from enemy soldiers. I tend to sit on the brown equals Navy to be safe but have a toe on the otherside but waiting for more data. The broken ito looks an annoying problem and I'd shed a tear ever having to remove the original with hand/use stains. I'd probably leave it as is and he says it still holds as it is now. Can't see the lock button which I am curious about (lock mechanism works well) but the kuchi-gane and parts of the saya looks to have some of the red/brown color to it rather than standard brown. So I'm tempted....but I also would like to request some translation help for the mei. The small "yama" kanji is interesting....

Bruce, I remember reading something I found on this forum written by what I believe was a first hand account of a sword salesman at a market selling blades to young Japanese men heading off to war. He talked about describing the old blades to the buyers and family members who were spending large sums at the time to outfit their brother/son etc...with a blade they could be proud of. It was a very interesting read. I did think that because of the simplicity of the koshirae and its materials that this is at least a budget option for mounting a blade at the time? Also while searching guntos, as I do, I came across this tsuba on a samurai monkey blade of all places. Is this an authentic special order type tsuba or something monkeyed with? Or just damage or some sort? Does it have a name if it's a real thing?

Just realized this blade doesnt meet the age range of the military forum description. Feel free to delete.

Greetings all, this was my gunto pick up from the Chicago Sword Show in a bundle deal with a 1500's yari + edo period pole. Picked up a Wakizashi in leather wrapped gunto mounts with a type 98 tsuba, leather seppa and a plain wooden ribbed tsuka wrapped in leather. Seems overall quite humble mounts. The blade is ubu but unsigned mumei and came with NTHK papers attributing it to Nobutaka 1711-1715. Nothing amazing but a nice little package of an blade with some age, in nice polish, some nice bohi and an nice hamon design that shows its wavy flair at the top half of the blade towards a thick boshi. Were mounts like this late war or just an affordable option throughout?

Robert, That wakizashi was meant to find you and you to find it. They are definitely asking to be a daisho.

Fred, I got locked in with the bundle deal! Now I just have to figure out where to put it....

Had a good turnout of dealers with many stocked tables. I missed the first two days so can only report on Sunday. Large amount of interesting blades and you could tell the dealers/collectors tastes from their items. There was a guy who liked horimonos a guy who liked unique variations of tantos etc...most had a good variety and there was equal amount of blades in shirasaya and full koshirae with a healthy amount papered. Values were good but I loved being there for the Sunday final countown "deal making". People and dealers were helpful, informative and happy to be there. Met a guy who grew up in my hometown, met a few people from these forums and got to talk some Japanese. Overall from where I stood, a great success.

John, Thank you. My favorite thing is actually the yari pole funnily. I believe/hope it might be from either mid or late edo. I think if you buy a yari you immediately want a naginata. Also noticed some interesting togishi lines on the wakizashi. Someone might recognize them. Michael, Thank you I will correct it to NTHK.

Just some more pics. Hit my upload size limit above. Was told the lacquer on the yari pole was redone about 20 years back. Not sure if that's good or bad.

Greetings All, Went to my first Chicago Sword Show (and first sword show ever) today wanting to make a purchase to support the show/dealers and did a bundle purchase on two items. I think overall I did essentially "fine" price wise while the items are no national treasures. Paid $2000 and got a Yari with pole and a 20 1/4" nagasa wakizashi. Both are mumei but at least came with NTHK papers. The yari is said to be Den: Mino Daido 1573-1592 and the wak is attributed to Nobutaka (most likely 4th gen) 1711-1715. Just thought I'd share the haul. I only was able to attend Sunday so who knows what blades I missed seeing but the show was great fun, educational, eclectic personalities, wonderful to meet a few people I recognize from these forums and loved eying all the wares and blades. It's my first yari and didn't know I wanted one before this show. I will be attending again next year and my only regret (which barely nags me) is not posaibly buying a 27" nagasa koto blade instead with some cool bohi and awesome (but a bit worn) koshirae. It had two chips in the cutting edge however (otherwise in beautiful polish) and cost the same as the total for the two items I purchased....but it just had a presence. Was really grateful to Mark for organizing the show and look forward to attending in the years to come!

Xanderain, nice and congratulations! I really liked the look of the blade and glad it went to a home that loves it. Had a nice length, bohi and unique as a naginta-naoshi. It really tempted me and had some good conversations with the seller.