cabowen

Interesting Yamato blade...

There's a difference between investing and speculating. Buying Japanese swords hoping to sell at a profit is speculation for most. Dealers are essentially speculators who buy low and hope to sell high over a short term. Investors are betting on appreciation in fundamental value typically over a longer term.

Bob knows his Soshu....Fingers crossed for you!

天 ten/ama heaven

Who is the polisher?

He is a famous smith from long ago. Think of this as an homage, rather than a gimei....

In the US, Brian Tschernega (my apologies if I have spelled that incorrectly) is your best option. His work is excellent.

Or, Keicho Shinto...

Most welcome...

Yes, and even then, it isn't unheard of to see star stamped RJT blades slightly longer than the max spec. There was no spec for showa-to. One seens the showa stamped blades in iai koshirae longer than 69cm on occasion and I have seen them in gunto koshirae as well.

守護 [しゅご: SHUGO] n,vs,adj-no) (1) protection ･ safeguard sword made for protection/safeguard.....

Thanks for pm'ing the photo. Any chance you could take one that isn't so close up? Maybe Ohara ju Sanemori? Please see http://markussesko.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/sorting-out-legends-around-ohara-sanemori/

I have seen many showa-to complete with wa stamp that are over 69cm in nagasa. Not a reliable indicator. It will be difficult to sell without showing a clear photo of the nakago.

The work was made by Motoyasu and signed by 元寛, who was Motohira's son and Motoyasu's nephew. It is a rare example of Motohiro's signature as he most likely served as a helper in his famous father's workshop and didn't make and sign his own name to many blades.

No doubt there are people who raise an eyebrow at collecting Japanese swords, or any other weapon, for that matter. And there are those that think ALL collectors are goofy.... Perhaps hard to believe, but these negative attitudes are quite common in Japan as well. I was told on more than one occasion by other professors that I best keep my collecting of Japanese swords to myself. I was also told quite early that "only baseball players and uyoku (ultra nationalist nuts) collect Japanese swords". So, yes, the hobby is not the most fashionable in all circles. I never let this bother me. Friends are friends- they understand. That's what friends do. Regardless, there is lots of interest already out there. Look at how the number of sword listings on Ebay has gone from a page of a hundred or so 15 years ago to over 7000 at any one time now... the boom in Chinese fakes and Chinese versions of sword for martial arts has grown exponentially because of this interest. Again, and I don't think it can be stressed too much: lack of interest is clearly NOT the problem in the West (like it is in Japan). It is lack of MONEY among those interested, along with the increase in supply, that is causing the market to soften in the middle. If we look at the members of this site as a proxy, I have no doubt the membership has increased year to year, reflecting interest. If we took a poll I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of members here have never spent more than $3000-$4000 on a sword, have never had a sword polished, and have no immediate plans to do so. I am not saying that we shouldn't do all we can to stimulate interest and foster the next generation of collectors. I just don't think we should kid ourselves as to where the market is and where it is most likely to be heading. We need to understand the reasons for this so that we can develop realistic ways to deal with it...

Considering the hamon, with that shape, if it is suriage, I would think Keicho Shinto may be more probable than Nanbokucho....

Need to see the kanji to properly translate with accuracy.....

Does it appear ubu or suriage? Hard to tell from the photos...If ubu, maybe shinshinto. If suriage, older....

I wouldn't be too concerned....

That's too bad....Still a nice looking tanto...

Nakago looks to have been cleaned possibly. Lots of Fuyuhiro smiths. The better ones usually have a long mei. They also made rather utilitarian, users that are on par with Takada and the like. Possibly what you have here....

Please read Nakahara's book in which he goes into quite some detail about what makes a sword good. There are others as well. In a nutshell: First is shape. Is it balanced, pleasing, even, etc.? Appropriate to the period, smith, school? Next is the jitetsu: is it well forged, without flaws, even, clear, deep? What color is the steel? Deep blue/purple is considered best. Black, etc., second rate. Is there ji-nie, chikei, etc.? Are they uniform, consistent? Then there is the hamon. The biggest concern is the habuchi. Is it even in thickness, clarity and brightness throughout? Are the nie even in shape and size (they should be)? Is the hamon pattern controlled, well formed, consistent? Next is the boshi: How well is it formed? Is it controlled, even, without flaws? Lastly, the nakago: Is it well formed, filed, and finished? Is the mei well cut? Finally, does everything fit together in harmony and balance? Being able to kantei and being able to judge quality are different sides of the same coin. After seeing enough good swords, you will start to recognize quality and be able to differentiate between good and bad. It doesn't take all that long. Being able to tell the difference between a good and great is a different story...

Realistically, one is not going to establish a reasonable library, a decent collection, pay for proper polishing, attend shows, submit for shinsa, etc., for pocket change, unless that pocket is quite deep.