second opinions on this katana in koshirae?

[Reinier]

hey guys,

 

there is this katana in koshirae that has me under it's spell.

my mind says it's to risky but my heart says i want it

 

it needs a polish, the tang looks a bit funny, it's mumei and the saya is damaged.

on the other hand i like the sugata, it looks like it would be flawless after a polish and i like the fittings as i collect the carp theme.

 

if i buy it i will spend another 1000 euros on a fresh polish and new shirasaya and i would submit it for nbthk papers somewhere in the future.

 

this is the info i have on the sword:

 

This is an Antique Japanese Samurai sword.

Unsigned Shinshinto Katana with a Koshirae and good blade.

 

The Blade has a Hitatsura Suguha Gunome Hamon goes on the entyre blade, blade is Ubu with 1 mekugi-ana in good condition in old polish.

The Saya is dark and light brown with Wood motif and has some damage on the edge, what will be good to resaurate, the tsuka in black Tsuka-ito and good same.

Tsuba is high quality Iron. The Fuchi and Kashira in shakudo with Koi's. The Habaki is silver plated.

A realy nice fawles blade in old polish and nice Koshirae.

 

Price: Euro 3000

 

bladeshape ; shinogi zukuri Katana

length ; 66 cm

width ; 3.0 cm

thick ; 6.0 mm

sori ; 1.0 cm

hamon ; Choji Suguha Gunome, with Nie & Nioi.

Jihada ; Itame

 

pictures can be found here:

http://www.japanszwaard.nl/zc7.html

 

what do you guys think?

[Henry Wilson]

Hi Reinier

 

If you ask me I would say cool down a bit and study. From what I have gathered (I could have my wires crossed thought) you have bought a new sword, looking at buying some armour (as well as a house) and also looking at this sword in the koshirae.

 

To me the general look of the sword is a bit wierd and I think that it may not be that good a buy. To me the koshirae is not in a reseasonable condition and the fittings are not that special.

 

I think what you are experience is what all collectors have experienced, the urge to get stuff. In about six months as you learn more you could be sorry if you spend too much now. It might be more worth your while going to a sword show or doing a Japan sword tour...

 

 

Just my two pennies worth

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi Reinier,

 

Henry beat me to it but, just at first glance, I'd make the following observations:

 

I've never seen a hitatsura (full temper) hamon hadori-finished into a suguha before.....normally it would simply have a sashikomi polish.

This seems a bit strange to me and possibly indicates a cheap touch-up job.

 

That saya would not be easy to restore as it's very badly damaged and has what appears to be contrasting bands of lacquer imitating tree bark.

 

Most worringly, I can see what appears to be a yaki-ware crack in the boshi. If so, that is a very bad flaw that may lead to failure at an NBTHK shinsa (one of your stated plans for this blade).

 

Only my opinion but I'd steer clear of this one.

 

Simon

[Martin]

Hi,

 

I can absolutely confirm what Henry says.

I often made the experience thinking: "Wow, this is a really nice Tsuba, let´s try to buy it". But after some months/years of studying and having seen really good pieces, my taste changed quite a lot and I got more and more ambitious and choosy on the pieces I bought.

Resisting the urge of buying admittedly doesn´t work ALWAYS :D - but keep in mind that your tastes will change during the time you collect.

 

That´s at least what I experienced

 

cheers,

[mike yeon]

I agree with the rest of the folks here. I went through a buy everything phase years ago. Picked up 5 blades in a span of 4 months. I own none of them now.

 

Always keep in mind that "there will always be another blade that comes along". The koshirae is sub par in my opinion. It would be cheaper to make another saya than repair that one. The blade looks shinshinto or even later. For 3000 euro I dare say you can find a nicer package.

 

Good luck in any case.

 

mike

[Reinier]

thnx guys!