Surfson

Hi All. I'm not sure why everybody is being so diplomatic about this sword. Aleksey, it appears that you sold it for $9500. I'm very happy for you but sorry for whoever bought it. In my view it has so many issues with it that I would stay away from it. More disturbing is that it is likely (in my quite humble opinion) to be some kind of simulation of an old sword. As time goes on, the forgers get better and better, and I am concerned that novice collectors will find it too intimidating to enter our field of collecting. I was thinking about collecting Greek drachmas, but the fakes are so good that it is virtually impossible to tell the real from the fake. Anyway, congrats for getting out of this sword intact (I presume).

I have a hard time seeing the chicken, but I do see the evidence of a cat (probably yours?).

Looks like it could well be Choshu. I have a tsuba with a similar motif, that I will try to post once I get my camera back from a friend that I lent it to. As to age, looks old to me - maybe Muromachi? Cheers, Bob

Fabulous! Beautiful pitch black shakudo. What is the sukashi theme? Are those daikon?

The daisho looks very ordinary to me. No closeups of the mounts, the tsuba look cast, the other fittings could be pressed. B

Is this one of the tsuba from Thierry? I received the ones that I bought and quite like them. I recall that he had one that looked like this one.

I'd also like to see the whole blade, the shape, know the length of the cutting edge and see the entire nakago. It almost looks like it has had a mei pounded out of the nakago, but I can't tell for sure. Has the blade been shortened?

Belated best wishes for your birthday Moriyama San! Robato

He who carries this sword ...... floats like a butterfly, stings like a (vespid).

Maybe Meiji nijusan nen? 1891?

On the right it looks like a Meiji date - Meiji ____nen, go getsu? followed by two other kanji. I'm guessing the left side is a cutting test result. On the other side I'm guessing was the name of the tester, but this is pure speculation on my part.

I agree that the price is such that the buyer probably thought that it was a real nihonto. Most carry the plated blade that is not very sharp. The handle ornaments are interesting, but don't support the extra $1200-1500 of price over a conventional navy dagger. I have one that might have a nihonto residing in it (I've never tackled taking off the handle). Hmmm.....maybe it's time to put it on ebay! B

Here is a cut down blade from Motoshige that received Juyo token status. Technically it's a wakizashi, but it could easily have been cut a few inches more. B http://www.japanszwaard.nl/Z-D3.html

David P. Am I the Bob you addressed that question to? Or as Pacino might have said - "you talkin' to me?". If so, yes, I am interested in waves of the Hokusai sort. Just back from Maui a few weeks ago and got my first taste of winter surf in Hawaii. If you're not talkin to me, many apologies. If you are, where have we met? Cheers, Bob

Are they sharp? Look like tourist fodder to me.

I would assume that this refers to having it in public and accessible. As with guns, you can own them in California, but can't carry them, concealed or otherwise, without a carry license. I haven't read the California law, but since you can have a 33" katana in your home, I doubt that it would be illegal to own a sword cane. If you walk down Santa Monica blvd with one, then I suspect you would be breaking the law. The text you quoted only refers to the definition of a sword cane, not what the statute says about having one.

As to me, I would rather do neither. I would rather collect, study and enjoy. Which is what I do. Cheers, Bob

I suspect that it partly went for so much since the mounts are near mint and there is a surrender tag.

That question is sort of like "is it worthwhile to buy a used car?". Well, it depends. There are lots of nice tanto that are cut down from longer blades, especially naginata naoshi. It depends on what it is, and whether it is attractive and restorable I would say.

To me they look quite nice. They appear to have been mounted as well. If the mei itself is promising, and if you need to know, sending them to Japan is fine. For me, the cost of papering fittings rarely justifies the gain in value if it papers, and I'm happy to let beauty speak for itself.

Yes, beautiful piece. Looks like Ito work to me. B

To answer your question about value, on ebay I imagine it would bring between $800 and $1200 or thereabouts. B

Cary was a friend of mine as well, and I bought a few swords from him. He was extraordinarily knowledgeable about Japanese swords, and was a kind man. He will be missed, and I add my condolences to his friends and family to the comments on this thread.

Here is a link that describes "kikusuiba", i.e. kiku flower floating on water. B http://www.ricecracker.com/info/yoshimichi.htm

Sounds like Mishina school. I have a Tamba no kami Kanemichi that has a beautiful chrysanthemum floating on water.