commissioning a sword reality check

[Mikevorn]

I found out that my wife is pregnant with our first child. I thought that it would be cool to have a sword commissioned to commemorate his or her, (to soon to know,) birth.

 

I don't have a huge budget for the work, (Dr. bills and all,) so I wanted a reality check to see if it was even possible. My price range is between $2000 - $3000. Obviously a new katana is way out of my price range, but I wasn't sure if a tanto would be unrealistic. I don't need a top rated smith to do the work as all I want something that will be sentimental in nature.

 

My question is, is this realistic or a pipe dream, and if realistic, any suggestions or recommendations on a broker or someone to commission through? Sword shop usagiya seems to have options similar to what I wanted....

 

Thanks

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Mike,

If your wife is a woman (seems likely since she's having a baby) this is no wheres near realistic. My wife would brain me if I even suggested such a thing.

Speaking from experience. Grey

[rkg]

Mike,

 

Maybe not a good idea (that loud sucking sound is a huge number of wife points points swirling in the bowl...). think 529 plan contribution instead :-)

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[Chibi]

Mike,

 

you can do whatever you like for your unborn child. An engraved tanto, a lightsaber with your favorite brand logo, etc...

 

The question is: What is the purpose??? You think it is cool? Is it part of your culture (American, British, etc...)???. It certainly is not a part of Japanese culture, boys get Kabuto and girls receive Hina Dolls.

 

I do believe everybody has the right to set their own traditions and values for their family, however I think common sense should prevail, as in saving that money for unpredicted problems or as a foundation for a future college fund.

 

You asked for a reality check, just being honest.

[kusunokimasahige]

Congrats Mike on expecting !

 

What would be better is to wait untill the coming of age date.

 

If you would like to be true to the old Samurai way of life, I think that that would be the proper day for a first sword

(if its a boy)

 

KM

[Alex A]

Mike, i really like the idea. im sure the misses will come round to the idea.........eventually.

Im sure someone will tell you that you may have to up the budget, but hey, this project deserves it! :D

 

Alex.

[mas4t0]

Congratulations on the baby!

 

I would have to agree with the others who have replied; with a young child around you'll find a lot of more pertinent things to spend that money than on a sword.

In any case, a sword would not truly be handed over to the child until at least their teens, it would seem to me a better idea to have the blade commissioned closer to that age; thereby allowing you to really assess if it would be a suitable gift.

[Chibi]

Damm, where the hell is the "like" button here???

 

Ahhhh, not Facebook, sorry everybody ! ! !

 

 

Congratulations on the baby!

 

I would have to agree with the others who have replied; with a young child around you'll find a lot of more pertinent things to spend that money than on a sword.

In any case, a sword would not truly be handed over to the child until at least their teens, it would seem to me a better idea to have the blade commissioned closer to that age; thereby allowing you to really assess if it would be a suitable gift.

[Alex A]

Common sense prevails...dont you just hate being sensible :D

 

Alex.

[Dick Tait]

Buy your wife an eternity ring (one for each child)..............Then buy yourself a sword!!!

[Chibi]

I prefer being practical, rather than being sensible...

 

I would rather invest the 2000-3000 bucks into my child's self defense training, instead of a piece of useless artwork (which only has sentimental value to the one who commissioned it), so that he or she knows how to use an edged weapon efficiently (why punch, kick or dis-balance somebody, if you can stab or slash them and watch them bleed to death instead...), e.g. a kitchen knife or a broken piece of glass.

[John A Stuart]

Wow! From birth to bleeding to death. Lets not stray too far to the dark side. The intention is nice and with some investigation you may find a smith to make one in that range. I would have liked to have had one my father commissioned at my birth. Congrats BTW, John

[kaigunair]

Many of the responses makes me question the place of nihonto in the minds of the members who posted. I'm sure you've already done your budgeting and just want to do something especially nice to celebrate. Down with the nay-sayers ....I too would have loved to have something like this done for me at my birth! What a gesture! Beats spending the cash on fancy baby clothes, toys, or those bling bling stollers (sometimes I think baby strollers have become the new status symbols for wealth) which will end up at a Goodwill thrift store, and you have a family heirloom to boot!

 

In response to your specific request for info, I'd suggest contacting Paul Martin. His website has info on this exact thing:

http://www.thejapanesesword.com/faq-3

 

I posted my experiece on the NMB boards when he helped act as a go between for a purchase with a Japanese dealer. Was a complete gentleman and didn't charge me a thing. I believe there are several other members who may also have such contacts on the board, so perhaps they'll chime in.

 

Once your tanto is made, at a later date you may tire of the plain shirasaya and get it decked out in full koshirae regalia. When that time comes, I'd be more than happy to give you my recommendations to other great members here on the board too.

 

Very cool idea.

 

PS: Congrats! Really, fatherhood is pretty great; moreso when you've been blessed with a great wife too.

[kunitaro]

It is 守り刀(Mamorigatana) tradition.

Japanese royal family and Daimyo family have tradition to make a sword for new born baby.

It is for protection from evil spirit.

When the baby has born, put the sword by the baby immediately.

The sword will protect him/her for life time.

 

賜剣の儀 Shiken no gi (Sword gift ceremony) is the first ceremony when baby born.

 

賜剣の儀（しけんのぎ）

皇室に子供が生まれた際に、天皇から子供の健やかな成長を願い子を守る目的の守り刀を授かる儀式。小刀は白木の鞘で赤い布に包まれ桐箱に入れられ、宮中で天皇の意思を受けた使者（勅使）に託され、勅使が代行として子の元に赴き、子の枕元に供える。

 

Normally, Hirazukuri Tanto with Suguha hamon. wishing steady/stable/straight life.

 

and for the girl, Maru-mune, Yakizume-boshi,

 

for a boy, maybe, o-gunome midare with tobiyaki etc, for wishing him a strong eventful life is also an idea (half joke)

[Dr Fox]

Not having thought of doing this myself, and considering cash flow restrictions, I might be tempted to go this route. Spend as much as I could afford on a blade of worth , and then having time before presentation, set the blade up with fittings themed from the Zodiac calendar of the birth year.

I may be corrected on this! Born 2013 the year of the Snake (hebi). Born 2014 the year of the Horse (uma). This is not a commissioned work, but also not the cost! But your own input, will certainly make this a very personal forever gift.

Denis.

[Jiro49]

If the wife is cool with it and you have the cash set aside, go for it!

 

My son received a boys sword when he turned 5 last year. My wife thinks I'm strange even though her moms family were samurai???

 

Again, if you love swords and buke culture why not!

 

BTW, congrats!

[Alex A]

Its simple Mike, a nice idea, if you want to do it and can afford it, then do it. If theres any hesitancy, then dont. Its never going to be a wise financial buy, like anything in this game. At least you will have something left, something special for you to pass on, sure your son or daughter will see the sentiment one day.....

 

Alex.

[cabowen]

I have ordered several mamori-gatana for newborns....As said, samurai tradition.

 

I think for $3000, given the recent fall in the Yen, it could be done. Let me know if you need help or advise.

[mas4t0]

I have a little anecdote, from personal experience, which I think will be along the lines of the reasoning for some of those who are advising against this.

 

When I was born, both of my parents had decent jobs and they decided to make a special purchase as a gift for me. My father has a passion for watches and had collected them for many years, so they decided that a special watch would be a suitable gift. They spent a LOT more money than I would have liked them to (had I had any say in this). They purchased a Rolex, which would surely have cost over a month of their combined take home pay.

 

It was a lovely gesture and I truly appreciate it, but though I am still stunned by quality of it, watches are not really where my interests lie and I know that it I will never have the same level of appreciation for this as my father would. I would have much preferred them to spend the money on themselves, or for my father to have instead bought the watch for himself (to celebrate); it is afterall the sentiment which is important, not the item itself.

 

I'm struggling to effectively express my feelings, but please do not read this as me not being appreciative, that is not what I'm trying to say.

 

To surmise, the interests of our children do not always match our own; and something of great value to us may not be appreciated to the same extent by our children.

[Mikevorn]

Wow talk about a lot of quick replies. Thanks everyone for the feedback.

 

Here is some additional info I didn't include in my original post; The wife is good with the idea. She is wonderfully supportive of my hobbies, (part of the reason I married her.) I do appreciate Greys concern (I will remember to duck if I come up with more outlandish ideas.) The babies college fund and our retirement are both well funded. The budget I came up is fun money.

 

My main question was meant to be, Can a decent tanto realistically be commissioned for $2K-$3K and if so through who? Based on the responses I am not to far out of the ballpark. Thank you for the links and contact info, once I know the gender I can start following up.

 

Side note; if I got it done, I was planing on displaying it until the child was 18 and then presenting it to them, or possibly waiting and leaving it to them in our will. I am not trying to follow any particular Japanese custom, (we aren't Japanese,) I just think a sword is way cooler than bronzed baby shoes. That said, there must have been something similar happening in Japan at some point in time as "there were orders of guardian swords from the Imperial Family when celebrating the births of new princes and princesses." (Yasukuni-to Tradition and Ideal Beauty translation by Kenji Mishina pg 16)

 

Thank you everyone for the Congratulations and the sword help!

[Clive Sinclaire]

Gentlemen

I gave both of my grandchildren tanto by Jumyo when they were born (they are now 4 and 5years old) as this seemed appropriate. At this age they are quite obviously too young to have physical possesion of the blades, so I signed over and gave the shinsa papers to them whilst looking after the blades until they are old enough to fully appreciate them, maybe in their later teens. If I am still around, I might review matters later.

This works OK for me and the parents.

Clive Sinclaire

[Mikevorn]

Mr. Sinclair, are you the Clive Sinclair that wrote samurai the weapons and spirit of the Japanese warrior?

[Ken-Hawaii]

Mike, also speaking from experience, you might consider getting your child started in martial arts while still quite young. I started at age 5, & I think that's one reason why today I'm interested in Nihonto. My mistake was not getting my kids or grandkids involved - now none of them are at all interested in inheriting our collection.

 

The significance of your gift will be much greater if your son/daughter has the background to enjoy it. Oh, & congratulations!

 

Ken

[Clive Sinclaire]

Mr. Sinclair, are you the Clive Sinclair that wrote samurai the weapons and spirit of the Japanese warrior?

I am afraid so, please don't hold it against me.

Clive Sinclaire

[Mikevorn]

The nihonto world sure is small. I have your book in my library. It was a good read!!

[Dr Fox]

I have ordered several mamori-gatana for newborns....As said, samurai tradition.

 

I think for $3000, given the recent fall in the Yen, it could be done. Let me know if you need help or advise.

 

Chris

 

To satisfy my own curiosity! $3000 for a handmade item does not seem a lot of money to me, what sort of quality is the item of which you speak? are there any illustrations as to what one could expect?.

 

Thanks Denis.

[cabowen]

Maybe something along these lines:

[Dr Fox]

Chris

 

Most impressive, would it only be in Shirasaya for that price?

 

Regards Denis.

[cabowen]

Yes, with a silver, rather than gold habaki.

[Mikevorn]

That is really impressive and very reasonably priced.