Hokke

That's how you saw it huh, someone "took my side". You have problems my delicate friend. But guess what, your precious thread is now reopened, not that it matters since you hijacked a thread when your likely request wasn't granted quickly enough for your ego. So post away, I cant wait......

It seems to me you have had some kind of epiphany, so I guess I have to say you're welcome. It's difficult to if not impossible to change the mind of a narcissist who believes they are superior in knowledge to the rest of us muggles. Wait, but thats a complete 180 degree shift. You are actually admitting to being wrong? Thats almost too good to be true. Hmmmm...... No, I think the real reason for your post, as Colin alluded to, is that you are butthurt that your thread was locked. Not only locked, but locked on a post that called you out for what you have shown yourself to be. After a day or two of reflection and crying, you looked in the mirror and thought, "im better than this, how dare someone question my perfection" Unsatisfied with this travesty and unable to control your childish nature, you decided to throw your tantrum in another members thread, just you can feel like you had the last word. The problem is, that the feeling of elation, which is like a drug to you only lasted but a few brief moments. That feeling has only gotten shorter and shorter over the years because that how addiction works. So keep chasing that high, makes no difference to me, I am happy to be your thorn. Dealing with individuals like you is fresh bread for me, oh how I love fresh bread.

By all means Jean, tell us how you really feel i think it has more of a sabre look in this style……i wouldn't necessarily call it ugly, but its definitely… different

The key is when you used the phrase “high regard”. Nihonto held in high regard is mostly on an artistic level. Yes there are those valued for their function as well if are wazamono, but in general, its art. You seem to have less interest in nihonto as an art and more for function, which is fine, but that isnt where value is attributed because the overwhelming majority of people who own nihonto do not “use” them. Personally there is a lot of art in the world like paintings and sculptures that I find terrible or ridiculous, take for example a painting of a Campbells soup can……ridiculous, and yet one sold for 11 million dollars.

Just so everyone reading is clear, you only paid a 10% tariff because your shipment arrived before 8/7/25, which is when the 15% went into effect. All current shipments will be subject to 15%+additional broker and CBP fees if applicable. But the good news is, that our current administration wants you know that you aren’t actually paying the tariffs, even though you are actually paying the tariff. Just let that reality slide out of your conscience and repeat to yourself “I’m not paying the tariff, I’m not paying the tariff.” You are still paying the tariff but maybe you will feel better.

Yes, as I understand it, the total tariff is 15%, but remember thats just the tariff. If it is necessary to hire a broker to field the red tape and paperwork for some purchases, those fees are additional.

It’s not condescending, it’s actual. If someone is here on this forum and possibly using translation software it can be easy to read something outside its intended meaning in English. The fact that I need to explain this based on your assumption is sad, since you are clearly trying to paint participation here in a certain light. What you judge as necessary is of no value to me. It’s clear to me that you seem to have think you have superior knowledge in all things nihonto and will fight until you last breath for some someone to recognize it. Unfortunately, as many here have made clear, you are entitled to your opinion and it carries no further value. Your way is NOT “the” way.

I never asked that question. You simply misinterpreted my post. I understand there may be a language barrier, so I understand how this may have happened, but I choose my words quite carefully and would never have asked such a silly question. I was responding to a member who stated that books were “essential”, and simply requested clarification. Unfortunately, that question was ASSumed to be hostile and went unanswered.

I think it exceeded its usefulness after page two so by all means…..

Clickbait, as confirmed by the author

So, sarcasm and assumptions, go it. Yeah, probably a good idea to remain silent.

Essential? For what exactly? Try to answer without making assumptions perhaps

It’s not, it was a flawed premise proposed for pseudo educational purposes, by a single individual.

You assume less time was "rushing".........assumptions can be problematic.

Have to disagree, it's not admirable, it's a choice. Someone can wait that amount of time to make a purchase and it still be no better a choice than one made after only a few months. Its all about the variables.

To me it looks like a casting. The copper finish on the raised elements seems to be a plating or coating, as there are multiple areas where it has transferred onto the base surface. As Bazza mentioned the hitsu are poorly shaped and the fukurin is inconsistent in width and thickness. Not sure if the surface texture is supposed to nanako or ishime, but either way it looks inconsistent as well.

Im not sure I agree with the title of this thread, as I am unaware of any standing social taboo amongst collectors with regard to saving money for a larger purchase. It seems the real question is whether anyone should bother buying lower quality nihonto, simply because it's less expensive. Still a flawed question philosophically IMO, but I will give my take. Long before I came onto the nihonto scene, I was into timepieces, still am actually. I have far more invested in watches than I do nihonto and even custom blades by contemporary smiths, which can be quite pricey. I mention this because when I first became interested in watches, I started with a Fossil purchased on a field trip. Very quickly one became two and two became five, from different makers. In the budget arena, you name it, ive had them all, Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, Accutron, Belair, etc. All of them were unique in their own way, construction materials, colors, movements, but as I had the opportunity to study and wear each one, I learned my taste. From there I stepped into mechanical movements starting with miyota and so on, same process. So when it came time to step up into real money, I was already well versed. Bringing this back to nihonto, I am on a similar journey. I started in the sub 2k range and have moved up slowly since, learning a bit with each piece, honing my particular taste. I have even been fortunate enough to have those more knowledgable than I, make purchases for me at shows I was unable to attend, so I could get a glimpse into their value system. So, do I find value in less expensive items.....absolutely. Am I going to take a bath financially when it comes time to sell them.....absolutely, education is never free.

Savage Made me spit my drink out you bastard

Samurai film? No no no.....that injury has power rangers all over it

as well as......recent polish by whom?

I kinda assumed that picture was taken right after some nitwit said "hey, wanna see something cool, watch this".

I hope it was a pitch for a price reduction and not a price increase since stupidity has no value

First, please know that just because a DBT has been issued, doesn't mean it was deserved. Pawnbrokers can be a funny bunch not to mention moody. In fact, IMO, from what you have conveyed so far, he sounds like kind of a d-bag who is rolling the dice on squeezing you. Testament to likely how little he has invested in the swords. I co-owned a shop for many years and although I did not operate it, I spent time there as well as in other shops observing whenever I could. He definitely wants to sell them, otherwise he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of pulling them from the back in a rifle case. But he also likely wanted to see your reaction. It's a psych game and experienced brokers can have master street degrees in it. If you do send someone else in at a later date, make sure it's not a woman or a senior, UNLESS he is a military veteran, which would actually greatly increase your chances of success. Ordinarily, I wouldn't engage in this type of planning but since he already tried to play you with his words, as far as im concerned it's fair game and *I* like a psych game too. Let us know how it turns out, good luck.

If this was an experienced pawnbroker with the requisite skills for that type of business, he knew the hook was set when you started snapping pictures. The fact that he told you he "doesn't need cash" may indicate he has no inclination to give *you* a deal. I dont know what exactly you said to him or how you said it, but you may very well have been hit with what we called a "douche bag tax". Your best play here is one of two things, pay the asking price, or wait a couple of months and send SOMEONE else in to buy these swords for hopefully less than what he is asking from you.

Thanks for posting Piers, controlling the number of weapons in an attempt to prevent rebellion makes perfect sense. My question to everyone remains, what did "they" (the Japanese, regardless of position) do with them all, scrapped or not? For those which were scrapped, how was this accomplished? Were they melted down, were they cut up? Where were the pieces disposed, land or sea? Are there and items found in Japan that may have made with scrap tamahagane in antiquity? One would imagine that perhaps the steel was later used in the manufacture of firearms, is this possible? Has anyone ever made an attempt to estimate the number of just swords produced over 800 years because we have to be talking about lots of metal compared to what is left in the modern day. When you add in yari and naginata......thats seems like a lot of steel