Guest AznHick93 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Posted March 2, 2014 Posted this elsewhere, as well, but placing it here, too! I used to post under Death-Ace, but my old email is locked! Note: I have no pics as of yet , but plan to soon! There's this Masafusa I've been eyeing since I first saw it in November. Apparently one of the store employees bought it as the price at the Auction they put it in was low and he "prettied it up" with steel wool. Albeit it looked nice before, it still looks good as he knew not to change the geometry of the sword. The damage resulted in very light surface scratches to none with the hamon still clear as day and as visible as a newly polished blade. It is a bring back from the Philippines with high grade mounts (saya has been scratched up a little bit and some of the rayskin on the Ito has fallen off) with a company grade tassel. The blade has two tiny nicks. The handle is 100% intact with smooth it ito due to its multitude of handling with fraying noted where a multitude of tries to remove the mekugi-Ana was attempted. It is signed by the Smith and polisher with two hot stamps (one with a few rows of kanji stating it being made of high-quality rust-resistant steel?). The ham on is a very flamboyant Choji pattern. They have it priced at about $2500, though I know the guys and they could lower it even with partial or outright trade. It is an Army blade. My question is at that price, is it fair or is it high? I am particularly interested in it due to the blade as well as the history (would go well along my 32nd Infantry bring back T38!). I should have taken pics but my phone had died so all I have is words to visualize it. I am going back Wednesday to set a reserve for a piece I've placed with them and although it is an amazing blade, do not wish to jump the gun. Thank y'all in advance! Lev Quote
hxv Posted March 2, 2014 Report Posted March 2, 2014 From your description of the sword being made from rust-resistant steel, it sounds like a non-traditionally made blade. IMHO, $2500 is quite high. Probably $1000-$1200 is fair. Regards, Hoanh Quote
Guest AznHick93 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Posted March 2, 2014 Hoanh, Thank you! I'll take pics during my next trip. Yes it does seem high and it sold for $950.00 at their auction. I'll definitely check out the blade again to ensure no abnormalities other from noted. Lev Quote
cabowen Posted March 2, 2014 Report Posted March 2, 2014 Sounds like Soda Masafusa with the stamp indicating it was made with ancient steel or some such thing. You will most likely not find a flamboyant choji hamon done in a stainless blade. It is most likely traditionally made but the price at $2500 is still quite high in my opinion. Something more like $1800 would be more reasonable in light of its condition. Quote
Guest AznHick93 Posted March 2, 2014 Report Posted March 2, 2014 Thanks, guys! I found this on another thread and the two stamps are the same: /download/file.php?id=45992 Quote
Death-Ace Posted April 11, 2014 Report Posted April 11, 2014 Now that I have my old account back, I was finally able to snap a few pics before an auction in the same place started. Very bad, but in five min, what can you do? Have posted it to another forum and here it is! Any more tips, prices most appreciated! http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/ ... p?t=724721 Quote
rkg Posted April 11, 2014 Report Posted April 11, 2014 I got one of those... Its a confusing piece - I actually suspect they're made with some sort of non-traditional steel (it looks pretty muji), and may or may not be oil quenched - the hamon is pretty complex, and there seems to be ji-nie (though it doesn't show well with the crappy wartime polish), but I've been told you see that sometimes in "better" oil quenched pieces. Its also my imaging test sword so I've got a bunch of images of it - not my best work, but... the second stamp is on the back side of the nakago (and I'm in the middle of tearing all my photoshop machines apart so I (of course) can't find an image of the back side right now :-/ ): http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/t ... o_roth.jpg http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/t ... etail2.jpg http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/t ... 2_crop.jpg In terms of what to bid, I'd be wary of paying any more than you would for an oil quenched piece/be prepared to enjoy it as-is as it probably isn't worth polishing.... Best, rkg (Richard George) Quote
Death-Ace Posted April 13, 2014 Report Posted April 13, 2014 Richard, Thank you for the info! Nevertheless, yours is a beaut! I took a few pics of the nakago and wish I had a good background for the blade but in person, you can definitely tell it's a hand-forged w/ a type of gunome-choji hamon. It's unfortunate, but he states he will only take $2200 as it is "one of the best blades he has ever seen and to go any lower would be too cheap!" Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2014 Report Posted April 13, 2014 It might be helpful if you could post photos of the jiba with some closeups of the hamon/habuchi. The nakago isn't going to be of much help in this case in determining if it is a traditionally made blade, or not.... I have seen both traditionally made and non-traditionally made blades from this smith. They must be evaluated on a case by case basis... Quote
Death-Ace Posted April 13, 2014 Report Posted April 13, 2014 Oh, yes! Sorry about that, was posting these for a translation. I just wish I had a camera or I would have taken better pics along the blade. Next time I go, I'll sure be able to! Quote
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