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Showing results for 'komonjo' in content posted in Military Swords of Japan.
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@ John: Do you have a link to th Donkey auction? @ Chris: Maybe you feel lucky. As far as I am concerned I can only say that I always got delivered by Komonjo what I bought. One can regard Nihonto as a Gamble and then he has to be prepared to loose and to win. Or you can regard Nihonto a study journey so you ought to lear along its way. For all those who speal bad of Komonj like Brianm et all ... Which blades did you buy from Komnjo tahty ou did not feel happy about? If you were not happy about your purchases what did Komonjo do? Or ist it you never bought from him and do actually not have any skin in the game? I
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> The scabbard does fit it well, but it is about four inches longer than the blade itself (though internally, it appears to fit tightly). That's good! Because if it was 4 inches shorter than the blade you would have to cut off part of the blades tip to make it fit .... Yes it is a later set up by any means as these mounts were not available at the time the sword was made ... I have no reason to believe that these mounts had not been made for this blade in the 1st case. It is totally fine. The mounst ar ein good condition. Wheter the signatur eis SHoshin I have no idea. Would need to look up which Bobuyoshi this one wants to be. If it wants to be an average Joe it is likely Shoshin. If it wants to be a big old Koto guy then you are mst likely looking at a fake. The Hamon and blade do not suggest anything pre Muromachi eventhough the tang looks worn. The blade is good for what it is. Taking out the sigature question it is a solid piece which was probably priced accordingly. I suppose it came of komonjo? If Komonjo gives a name translation you can assume that his translation is accurate. A blade of this size makes sense for this kind of mount as it is supposed to be swung with one hand.
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Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Thank you Stephen! Are you able to read the certificate and tell us what it says? This is being sold in Japan right? (I can't read Japanese). If so, it's seems unlikely that someone in Japan would buy a Komonjo gunto off fleabay to resell in Japan. The price they're asking is less than they would have paid Komonjo for it. I have seen 2 or 3 other Mantetsu-to with wavy hamon. This is the first I've seen that looks fully nihonto though. It would not surprise me. We have already seen several specially made blades from Mantetsu, for various purposes. -
Thanks Leen. The Nan doesn't show up until 1943, so yours wouldn't have had one anyway. I've posted the box and cloth over on Warrelics. Let's see if anyone has any thoughts on them, either way. One of the problems I have with a few of these is that they are being sold on commission by Komonjo from someone in Japan. And 2 of those had serial numbers within 4 digits of each other (1941 Ka 228 and Ka 232). I know that happens in Collector-World but just seems too coincidental, and both are wavy hamon. And all of them showing up in ... what ... the past year or so? I'm keeping on open mind.
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This looks like a Komonjo fake from Japan.
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Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
That's really sad. They're still not as good as those coming out of Japan, though, through Komonjo. Still, some people are going to get burned. -
Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Thanks Bruno! I've messaged Komonjo and asked for pics of the mei, date, and serial number. I have 2 of his previous ones, both with wavy hamon, and both with accuarately marked katakana for the year (Ka). The two serial numbers are 228 and 232. We'll see if the pattern continues. I'm posting the pictures below for the future when the fleabay link goes inactive. the fittings are crude/fake and the ito is new His Mantetsu hamon are always wavy
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Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Thanks Joe, I hadn't seen the pics of the hamon on this one. I've saved the added pics to the files. It is interesting that we now have examples of wavy hamon in years '39, '41-'44. I couple of them are in the "suspect" file because they from Japan and sold through Komonjo and both blade and hamon looks gendaito. But, who knows? An interesting trivia - just recorded a third '41 "YO" number. All 3 are 349, 350, and 352! What are the odds?!?!
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Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
I agree, Trystan & Neil, that your wavy hamon Mantetsu blades are legit. But both are modest. That one on Ohmura's example is more like the blades coming out of Japan, via Komonjo, that are far more extravegant, and therefore, suspicious. It may turn out that they're all legit, but I believe the ones you guys own without question. Admittedly, Ohmura did not claim his example was a Mantetsu, but like Neil's point - all the known, in-hand, examples we know of are. So, that makes his an outlier. -
And the same patina too it seems. Then, I should venture a guess that the swords Komonjo sells as gendai swords aren’t made by the same people making the fake Mantetsu. Two different providers, same fake results.
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The mei is good enough on all 4 of our Possible Fakes, that if there were no other reason to suspect them, they would be considered legit. In fact, they are so good, and the serial numbers are using the correct kanji for the year-group, that I cannot 100% classify them as fake. But they are "under suspicion." JP, actually both of the Komonjo blades I have photos of, have the same polisher's marking:
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@Stephen: I think the mei is close enough to fool anyone. My greatest suspicion, at first sight, were the togishi marks. Never seen them on Mantetsu I think, unless, of course, it’s been polished after the war. @Bruce: strangely enough, I don’t think it’s a Komonjo blade. I often look at them (I, for one, believe they are truly Japanese, but iaito with Gimei signatures, the polish being a second class polish) and they don’t show those polisher’s marks. I believe this blade is a fake Mantetsu but a real Japanese mumei blade on which a fake mei was engraved because Mantetsu are getting more and more popular. To be honest, if the price stays low as it is now, it could be a nice package.
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Sure, most buyers would never know it's a fake. They'd be exceptionally happy to receive this gunto. The discrepancies are subtle. The file marks are sloppy and thinly applied. I compared a Mu 89, which would only be 2 blades apart from this one, and it's marks are precise and more deeply cut. That alone wouldn't put me off, but a heavier mark against this one is the mei. I have 42 1942's on file and they are ALL Koa Isshin mei. This mei, 満鉄鍛造之, doesn't appear on Mantetsu blades until 1943. I'll admit, one should never say never, nor always! BUT, this blade would be a first if legit. Add to this, like Thomas said, there have been 3 other "probable" fakes appear recently (Komonjo sales) that have the same polisher marks and have dedications added to the mei. So it fits the pattern of a particular Japanese faker that is periodically putting these out.
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Modern fake, the same group doing the Komonjo/yahoojp Gimei, they often have such dubious inscriptions like this. Authentic inscriptions are more likely to be the smith inscribing that the sword was respectfully made for General XXXX.
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I know David's thread is mainly about gimei done during the war, but a modern threat that has arisen is the gimei of Mantetsu. I have a couple of examples, made in Japan and sold through Komonjo, that could be wartime, mumei blades that have had the Mantetsu mei added recently. Additionally, we have heard of Chinese efforts to create fake ones. I could see the need for future shinsa teams to identify real/fake showato.
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Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
PNSSHOGUN replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Trystan do you know if these are direct from China or the Komonjo ones? -
At worst Showa22 has had mixed fittings, amateur polishes and sometimes gimei (same source as komonjo I imagine). Otherwise nothing too heinous, especially compared to samuraimonkey, now that shyster is a total fraud.
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In coming years the Komonjo gimei will be the new fakes catching collectors out the most.
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Komonjo blade I suspect. Be advised he has a reputation. Search the board to find out !
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Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey
PNSSHOGUN replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Another Gimei from whoever Komonjo sources his listings from. -
Well Luis your expectations are your own, & many others on this board, certainly more experienced than others. What I'm concerned about is legitimatizing this seller as trustworthy to new buyers who simply do not have the experience or ability to apply Occams Razor to what they purchase. New and experienced collectors come here to improve their knowledge, saying Komonjo is a good seller does not help that image and in fact could be the tipping point of a new collector seeing your posts and going ahead with a very bad sale, one that puts him off Japanese swords completely. I think your reasoning of being "smarter than the dealers" is a dangerous and foolish fallacy, akin to trying to break the bank at a Las Vegas casino, the odds are against you. Perhaps you have good luck buying cheap 99.999% gold bars for cheap from India, many don't and never will. Your statistical sample of good experiences is small while bad experiences are large. Just because one shot from Ronaldo is a goal does not mean every shot from Ronaldo a goal.
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I have to add something to make my point clear on dealing / dealers: I believe that in the end you ought to get what you buy / paid for and you buy according to your budget and knowledge. If I buy a blade from Darcy I would expect to get 99,9% of the time a great sword as he deals only in the very best swords. If I buy something from AOI Art I may find a very good sword going up to TB Juyo - like some of the swords he sold did ... or I may end up finding a less decent sword. If I buy a cheap sword at Komonjo my expectations should be less sophisticated. Buying to ones budget. Then I think I may be smart, smarter then the dealer and picking up an unpapered sword at Gimei price getting a Shoshin. Could be. Could also be someone sells me 10 bucks at a cheap 5 bucks. If it is too good to be true tehn it is not. It is me making the deicison and buying according to my budget and knowledge. If I loose out on a sword it is hence me to bl,de and not the dealer. One has to understand that most dealers conseign items. Their job is to sell and turn the items around for what they are - the collectors task is to make up his mind on what he likes and to form an evaluation on what he is looking at. There are good sworsd and less good swords availanle everywhere. It is not the sword to be blamed for being bad but onself for buying it / making a bad purchase unless the item has been misrepresented. If you came to the conclusion it is a bad sword stay away. That is why one has to study. Expirience is an euphemism for failure
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Luis please search "Komonjo" on this forum, you will see many topics and threads about 100% fakes and frauds listed in the past, I must say that most of the swords you listed seem ok and are papered, however majority of the time I look at his listings (regularly) I see many CHINESE MADE FAKES listed as Nihonto/Gendai or clear Gimei of Masamune, Muramasa, Norishige etc etc with fake Kinpun Mei, fake Mei and fake Sayagaki. As for an apology, that is not forthcoming, I don't understand how a longterm member & collector here can clearly sanction this seller of fakes and Gimei, let alone defend him when there is so much previous evidence of his misdeeds.
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Here are the links to the swords: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA422-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Mumei-Katana-in-Shirasaya-74-6-CM/132986998630 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MW09-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Large-Naginata-in-Shirasaya/143165496979 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA424-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Mumei-Wakizashi-in-Shirasaya/1635943 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA425-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Mumei-Wakizashi-in-Shirasaya/143169839160 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA310-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Mumei-Katana-in-Koshirae-62-3-CM/163594350739 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA421-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-IJA-Army-Gunto-Masajiro-64-1-CM/163594374863 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA321-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Mumei-Wakizashi-in-Koshirae/132986973128 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA423-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Ujiyoshi-Wakizashi-in-Koshirae/163594390757 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA448-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Kaneharu-Kaigunto-IJN-in-Koshirae-64-1-CM/163586860762 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MW11-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Kagenaga-Wakizashi-in-Shirasaya/143169274536 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA446-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Kanemoto-Wakizashi-Shirasaya-Kanzan-Sayagaki/132981285107 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MW10-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Naginata-Naoshi-Wakizashi-in-Koshirae/143169244582 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/K206-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Tadahiro-Gendai-Katana-in-Koshirae-72-3-CM/163588922177 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/K204-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Kiyohira-Gendai-Katana-in-Koshirae-82-0-CM/132982891352 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA447-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Koto-Kanesada-Katana-in-Shirasaya-75-6-CM/163586688102 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA320-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Signed-Wakizashi-w-Bohi-in-Koshirae/163594350100 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Sa-Yukihide-Wakizash-in-Shirasaya-w-Kunzan-Sayagaki/143158914657 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Sukesada-Wakizashi-in-Koshirae/132976286484 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-NBTHK-Tokubetsu-Hozon-Kunimasa-in-Shirasaya-70-9-CM/163573421273 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Kanetaka-Sankaku-Yari-Spear-in-Koshirae/132979274522 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-NBTHK-Takada-Hitatsura-yaki-Wakizashi-in-Koshirae/132979271050 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SA-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-NBTHK-Shiga-Seki-Kanenobu-Tachi-69-3-CM/143162301789 Please go ahead and point out which one of the swords is misrepresented or fraudulent. I am listening ,eager to learn from you. Furthermore John please provide proof that komonjo is paying me for my posts - or if you can not then shout me an appology.
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There are 23 Swords total in the link which you pointed me to. 23 of which 3 do have recent papers. This equals 13% ... so you may want to look into your calculation again . You said it is 1 - 2%. Where did I say he is a saint? Also what sword did you buy from him that you can comment on? If it is that you never bought anything from him then what expirience are you refering to? As of know I can tell two people in this topic who have actually bought swords from this seller. One being me and the other one being Chris. Also the others do not seem to have any skin in this game. Out of the 23 blades you used as an argument / example please kindly be a bit more precise as to which one is misrepresented by komonjo and what way? Maybe I am just missing something in these blades and their description. So please kindly enlighten me, I am always eager to learn.
