Benjamin

Thanks for the correction Jean, I learned something

E=mc² so m=E/c² so the more the smith put energy and dedication to his work, the more the blade is heavy .. Joke appart, I think that's a matter of volume (thick blades) and density. I imagine that the smithing lamination technique wich use repeated hammering will crush the steel and increase it density. The more a blade as fold, the more it would be heavy at same volume. Just deduction, I haven't source to say that, let others correct me if I'm wrong. But if my hypothesis is right, nashiji or koitame hada would create heavier blade than oitame hada.

Hearing some of you could lead to think that rust doesn't exist anymore... just a problem of our imagination... That's very lucky of you if a X decade of conservation in koshirae didn't alterate your sword but don't spread your example as it would be reproductive. And again don't use a X decade habit to make conclusion on a X century aim to preserve. Shirasaya saved blades when their owners couldn't clean them daily or weekly (as warriors did in old time) or oil them twice or three time a year (as collectors do). Because you don't know what will be tomorrow and s**t happening some time in life, some of us could be temporarly not capable to see at our swords regularly. Happily for posterity most of us have the habit to conserve them in shirasaya.

I agree with your point of view but more specificaly some koryu have branches all over the world, with local Sempai legitimitaly représentives of the japaneses Soke. These ones or high grade Japanese representatives frequently travel to visit occidentals branches. Of course they knows about chinese copy. They frequentely allow experimented trainees to practice with old nihonto. Sometimes swords deals are conducted inside the dojo, even for non Japanese.

Hi, As stated before, practicing with an antique sword is not a taboo, please watch this video for example (interesting introduction to Nihonto by the way). And Iaido is not Battodo, that is not "shopping wood", we talk about martial art (koryu or not) that need as much respect as nihonto. But as stated as well, we are not the one that could answer you. Here you will find collectors that desire among all preservation. And please don't compare a 15 years use with a 5 to 10 century preservation. If you practice for so many time, you must have a Sensei or a Soke to guide you through your desire to practice with a shinken. That's up to him that you should seek your answer. Not in a forum, as qualitative as it is (and it is!) And if you are directed toward this direction, choose a sword good to do that, some Japanese sellers indicate swords good for Iai (even antique).

In my comprehension, it is more a mounting terminology than a blade terminology. Before Muromachi period, katana and wakizashi didn't exist : all long blades was necessarly tachi, worn cutting edge toward bottom (except "tanto" of course, and there is the pecular case of kodachi "short tachi"). Then between muromachi and Edo, the katana emerged and became "fashion", lots of swordsmiths made blades intended to be worn as katana and signed them in omote, or reshaped old tachi to mount them in katana. IMO, In that case the blade itself was not a really tachi or katana but a blade worn as tachi or katana. Maybe Hizen swordsmiths continued old tradition of ura mei despite the sword, and this is perfectly understandable : the smith is not the one who choose the use of the blade, that's the warrior. Sometimes our modern way to desire classification must be confronted with a more diachronic point of view of language evolution. NB : A perfect exemple : I said "tanto" about pre-muromachi but Nakahara in "Facts and fundamentals of Japanese swords" explain that it is a modern term that didn't exist not so long ago.

Indeed, but time flows... I was thinking that in only 15 years in the future, WW2 swords and koshirae will have 100 years old, and be class as antique ! Thank you for your effort and stay in good health as long as possible Russ.

Let me guess : okissaki / odachi / great tachi / nanbokucho ? Your level of knowledge always put me in great esteem Jussi, and it meet your level of "savoir-être" (don't know if there is an equivalent in english : well being ?)

Let me bow to it Is it the one you hold in hand in your profile picture ? THAT is a word ! Very interesting and promising project ! I'd love to ear this story and see such a collection. I think you already saw this modern time one but in case... https://www.samurais....jp/sword/24157.html

Thank you Lewis, indeed I can provide my "experience", but I collect for one year so I'm very beginner : 1 - Theme : At the exact time, the theme is ... nihonto !! . There is no theme as I have 4 swords : A strange piece of steel in tachi koshirae, probably muromachi, probably kaze-uchi with a koshirae that please the non connoiseurs but is clearly not of "Japanese quality". A shinto JTK papered sandai Kunisada (yes, I know about JTK...) A shinto NBTHK TH nidai Kanewaka (Matasuke) in koshirae. A Koto NBTHK TH Sadatsuna in koshirae. I take the risk to buy online without seeing sword : work, family, other activites and place of living don't let me much choice. 2 - Aim : That's the way of my question. Now I dream of a Yamato Shizu or a Bizen den tachi, so that could lead me to a "6 den" collection (Gokaden + shinto) as I like yamato ko-hoki, tegai and all yamashiro school, one sword of each style... But I dream as well of a kikusui-to, horimono swords, or a fine Naginata so... fortunately I'm not enough fortunate to buy all of that if you let me the word game. 3 - Border : For now : only papered, and I love koshirae as all beginners, but I'm starting to examine more blades and less koshirae. 4 - Behaviour : Buying... or refrain to buy. And make an exposition room for my pleasure to see them. For now I'm not in mood fo selling. I love my swords (3 of them at least). 5 - Purpose : Multi-purpose for me : learning, appreciation, sharing with other and investment (I must admit I bought the last one seeing the weakness of the yen), enhancing my koryu training and respond to long time refrained fascination for nihonto. 6 - Stade : Searching leading principle.

I was surprised that I didn't found an equivalent post in search bar, or didn't have the good key-words... sorry if I missed it. In fact my post was inspired by the gokaden collection of Jean you could easily find. Incoming in the hobbie of collecting nihonto made me wonder : What to buy ? For an an enthusiast all is beautiful : choices are hard to make and sacrifices are needed. Highlighting the necessity to create a coherent collection. So I wanted to make this little survey to implement our comprehension of the way to collect (or just to pick ideas), to understand the soul of your collection : 1 - What is the "theme" of your collection ? (expl : gokaden ? That one smith ? That era ? Horimono-maniac ? etc..) 2 - What is the "aim" of your collection ? (expl : one of each type ? The one sword ? As much as possible ? etc...) 3 - What is the "border" of your collection ? (expl : only papered ? Not less than Jumyo ? Only tanto ? Always koshirae ? etc...) 4 - What is your "behaviour" in collecting ? (expl : buying - learning - selling ? Making a museum-room at home ? Stocking until not knowing where to put them ? etc...) 5 - What is your "purpose" in collecting ? (expl : knowledge ? Community membership ? Investment ? Pure appreciation ? etc...) edit : 6 - At what stade are you ? (expl : starting ? Achieved or nearly achieved ? evolving ? etc...) That's just a canvas. Feel free to respond as you want. Benjamin

I understand and share your fears and sadness, but can't omit that I'm a part of the problem being myself a collector. I own swords and didn't give any instruction about them if something happen to me. I'll think about it but .. how ? who will control and regulate in complicate situations. Contrary to Europe and USA, Japan is probably shy in promoting international laws, and that's now an international matter. By the way I think the problem is not monetary, you can be poor and educated, as rich and not respectful. Add that in world liberal economic market, governements or associations can't regulate price of goods, the market do it. But I think a few things could be done : 1 - Nihonto should be declared of UNESCO intangible cultural Heritage. As to make a recognized difference between nihonto and non traditional or non Japanese katana. 2 - Japan should promote law against counterfaint or false declaration as France did with luxury goods : in that case goods are confiscated at borders. It shouldn't be illegal to trade a chinese katana (some are good for what they intend to be) but illegal to declare it as a nihonto. 3 - All papered sword (by recognized organisations) should be under some sort of copyright law. 4 - All papered sword could be regulated as "historic property", it exist in France as exemple for medieval castle : you can own an "historic property" castle : you own it monetary value, you have enjoyment to live in it, but you can't alterate it and have a responsability in it preservation. Enhancing world recognition would enhance the price in a second time.

Hello, Here is my homemade koshirae display case. I made it myself and made lots of mistakes (glue stains, scratches, littles damages on wood... I was not used with DIY) but I like it. Glass is very thin UV protective polycarbonate to prevent discoloration by day light (same material as hothouse). there is a sake cup with water inside to maintain humidity. Lighting by led ribbon connected in invisible grooves back of the backboard. That costed me less than 400€ and I could have done cheaper (I took thick plain beech for the backboard). Blades are in shirasaya and cotton bag in the white furniture below. It that is made of paulownia, to maintain dryness (pure luck that I had this paulownia chest of drawers before my interest for nihonto). But the drawers are a bit short, I'm thinking to make a katanahako in paulownia like one I saw on Jauce, maybe adding a locking system. Kakejiku are changed according to the season. The bokken is there for it emotionnal value : cheap, twisted and 20 years old but that's my first one.

May I remind this impressive post and the follow-up By the way, @PhoenixDude, have you got a way to buy Fujishiro's sword oil? I once send a mail to Fujishiro San and I didn't had an answer. I supposed he don't send to my country. Benjamin

Hello Carlo, Usually, the lengh of the sword match your size, and in unsheat and strike technique like in iaido, opponents can evaluate the speed of each others by eye-mesuring the lengh of the saya. A short sword can surprise the opponent and let more time to strike. Or maybe having a big saya was like having a big car today... I'm not in backroom of sellers but I suppose that some can sometime cobble Koshirae and swords if they luckily find saya with the same sori and koiguchi that fit the habaki. Suriage swords get a new habaki with new dimensions, and it overall shape is modified. I don't think the sword keep it original koshirae Take my answers with a pinch of salt as I'm a very beginner.

Hello everyone, To fulfill a recent trend about price, I oftenly ask myself about swords without prices (taged "price on request", or "ask") proposed by sellers that usually display it even on expensive items. Of course I suppose that thoses deals are open to proposals and negociations, that these types of sword are often very high end nihonto, or may be "out of market" for some reason or another. But Is it just the rule for items that cost for exemple more than 100 000 €/$/GBP ? Is there anything else that hide behind ? The provenance of the buyer ? a need to be introduced ? Is there a common factor about these sword ? Thank you for reading Benjamin

Can I had sayagaki by reputable appraiser ?

Jacques, I will not quote it, but I think your second post on this topic should be deleted. I don't know the quoted person but I found disrespectful to quote an insulting sentence of this person, out of context, I suppose without her permission. He could have said that long time ago and have different opinion today. If you wished to say the same thing, no need to hide behind people that are not here. By the way, have you got the insight that almost all your post on this forum drift the topic out it original context, aiming at discussion around your own person. It's unpleasant, I'm not here to discuss your physicist Curriculum Vitae, that is not interresting us here. (I think you're welcome to present your cursus at the Izakaya section). So please, if you feel the necessity to protect beginners, speak about the topic, explain more, be respectful. You have got far more interresting things to say when you speak about sword than about you. Regards. Benjamin

If your choice is limited, my very first catch would have been the Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords from Markus Sesko, an incredible tool to understand further material, books or online ressources, as well as all you find on this forum. Benjamin

Current average age at first purchase is 36yo, with median age at 27 yo, youngest was 10 or 11 yo, oldest was 65 yo, amoung 35 collectors.

Hello Thomas, maybe you can find it there https://shibuiswords.com/papers1.htm Regards

So far : average age is 31 yo, Median age is still 25,5 yo, youngest was 10 or 11, oldest was 64.

Hi Examining a sword is basically playing with light, it's adjusting three objects in space : the blade, the light, your eye. In museum the blade can't move but I dream about a system of moving light on a mechanical arm or more simply on a rail, manipulated by a joystic outside the glass, or more simply automatised to alternate positions. That could be a bit complex to install (whatever..) but that could be very fun for neophyte and very exciting for connoisseurs. And let me dream more, add adjustable magnifying glass, telescope...

Not military swords (by the way this topic shouldn't it be placed in general discussion?) but here menuki depicting the "Sakurai's farewall" between Masashige kusunoki and his son Masayuki, before the last battle of the father against Takauji Ashikaga's troup, and sadness of the son (11 yo). A classic of Japanese literature. See the kikusui on the armors.

We should have subtitled this topic "or the roots of entusiasm", we can feel toward all stories the real impalpable connection establishing itself between each of us and an exciting hobby. so far average age is 30 years old, median age is 25.5, younger were 11 yo and older were 61 yo among 24 collectors.