NewB

Oh noooo 🤦‍♂️ John

This to me appears waaay before Shinto, a huge tachi that makes me think Nambokucho. The hamon is pure art and I'd spend the money to get it restored, just my opinion. Until then choji oil would be a great friend to the blade. John

👍 Lots of action but lots of history. I love it... unfortunately a considerable amount of artistry will be lost should it go through proper polish, IMHO. John

While I am no expert comparable to the folks that have chimed in already but - to me it looks a bit odd at a first glance. Signatures even by the illiterate smiths of the era show a bit more 'character' in the art of chiseling of the nakago should we say. Of course Many exceptions to my statement however at the first glance I mentioned, I feel that something is off. I agree with Ray Singer that tired blades exhibit utsuri however yours is too thick to be tired IMHO. So be it as it may your best guess is to send it off to Japan (not sure whether to do it with this signature) since NTHK shinsa won't happen in SF this year (😪) John

Thank you all. I have zero idea how suriage is done on a blade but this appears to be the case here. John

That's what I thought also.. John

Hello, Once upon a time I remember reading an article about these markings on the nakago but I can't seem to find it or to remember how I first found it... Any help and honesty is always appreciated. John

Spot on John

Thank you I have more coming up for sale soon John

I just want to share what a great experience I had during my meeting with Brian. Respectful, on time and just all around stand up person. I highly recommend him! The blade is now sold! Protect it in good health Brian! Kind regards John

Just so everyone understands: I had no intention of stealing or steering the thread in any way I believe my questions are reasonable I read all your viewpoints with great attention to detail and I am thankful for them John

Thank you Sir John

I understand But in my case I bring my example for one reason- same Yasukuni smith, scarce inventory of blades produced, Same tamahagane from the Yasukuni Tatara. Where's the logic? A rusted WW2 blade has more appeal and aura than a mint example of the same person?? That's why I disagree with the gendai vs shinsakuto nonsense. Now if folks feel like they want to drop thousands on a blade that is beat up and rusty then clearly that 'aura' must have penetrated their rational thinking. And I don't see any healthy shinsakuto as less of a weapon than any WW2 example. They are probably better as they weren't rushed to produce.. I have zero problems with collectors' choice - their money However that makes no sense just like the million yen ratings. I'll leave it at that as clearly my angle isn't aligning well with the rest and I have no interest in trying to convince anyone that this old school thinking has to end. Otherwise .. it'll be more chaos and further deterioration of pretty sacred artifacts.. to me at least. Sometimes I wonder how many of us could find 2 pupils, take them under our wing, feed them, teach them to work endlessly for weeks before a blessed blade is made. Then off to the polisher, then off to the habaki maker, then the Saya maker.. all that so in 500 years a nice healthy well preserved blade gets 4k .. if that.. lol how many would do it and be successful?? Lol Don't know whether to laugh or cry.. All the best and thank you all for sharing your thoughts. John

I am with you 100%. But where is the current market price you mentioned? Where are the appraisal books?? And So why is a million yen swordsmith even a thing then? If a near mint ubu can't even bring 4k?? Where are the rest 6k? Ok, papers $250. Basic koshirae 1k - still far off, no? Or as I mentioned the whole shinsakuto vs gendaito nonsense comes in play. Rusted WW2 beat up to nothing goes for 1500 but near mint from the same group smith 20 years later isn't worth 4k?? I am either incapable of doing math or something is really off. I am okay with it either way. Zero logic so far for me that is P.S. I have zero interest in striking a nerve with anyone just slightly displeased with how secretive this category is and how prices fluctuate in the THOUSANDS over semantics.. John

I use them as a rule of thumb. At least they have the dignity of displaying prices, explanations etc. 25% over sticker is a lot but gives me a better perspective. Thank you. John

I agree. Priced correctly is the issue at hand. I priced mine at aoi prices - zero results. So should I believe that one of the most respected members of this community doesn't know what he is talking about? Hardly true, wouldn't you say? For me is this - blades of specific school and high rating have 'please inquire' about price.. the others, no. Then blade gets sold, price disappears. Why? Unless it is a scammers World i.e "I won't tell you so you don't know so I take it off your hands for cents on the dollar". That is so F up... .. and it is the reason why we are literally getting rid of our collections as it is lies, manipulations and then some.. just like the Golden teeth used car salesman. Lol It makes me sick to my stomach... John

Art work, beautiful. I need like 40 of these lol John

I could barely get my hands on it, how about convincing the owner of shipping it overseas. It will NEVER happen. I hope I win the lottery so I could buy the whole lot but value, value, value. In the nihonto World that will always remain a mystery John

I get that. My point was , how do you price that? And it's got an old Honami paper which technically means more than all NBTHK, NTHK and all alike. I have seen it.. it is amazing it slipped through the cracks and it is still here, in the USA John

I am not debating, it is true. I would have been happy if the blades hold their true value versus being linked to some intangible and mostly manipulated entity such as the stock market. It's unfair to the whole subject of nihonto. Again, it is only an opinion John

I agree except for the last sentence. There are still some examples that would never ever be affected by the stock market - period. Even in a World collapse some TokuJu will be where they have always been value wise. My friend has a Masamune that most likely will hit the auction houses soon. How do you price that?? John

For some it is a business so of course it is great to hear someone is willing to sell their items but at what price? PRICE is probably the most common question on the board ever since I am a part of it. Most remain silent about it, for well known reasons... As you can see some Japanese dealers are unwilling to sell their blades for nothing anymore. Yet, you still see auctions for papered healthy examples barely touching their realistic value. The whole chu Saku vs saijo Saku, the whole gendaito vs shinsakuto and many many other 'conclusions' is creating this nightmare and divide. How long will it last, forever perhaps? Blades will get dispersed all over the World - the best will remain mostly in Japan or in rich peoples' vaults and thatd be that IMHO. I have I never understood it and most likely never will. I am personally affected by it as I have a pretty hefty selection that per aoi art should be worth lots of $ but as you can see nobody shares that opinion. So my angle is aoi art and fujishuro vs online sellers and prices. Soooo disconnected John

Very nice One has a hamon that is definitive of the era. Great John

Zero interest in kidnapping the thread But Please do tell .. is this Nagamichi? It may very well be "The blade is mine, not the signature.." John

This one looks great John