NTHK-NPO shinsa results/Katana pictures

[LGMartialArts]

Greetings! I'm a new member to this forum and am asking a request. I received a katana I entered into the NTHK-NPO shinsa that was recently held in Florida. I also got the judging sheet, but can't read a lick of kanji and would appreciate it if someone could please translate it for me. I originally bought this katana as a Mumei ShinShinto piece, but someone on another forum roughly translated it to be actually a Shinto blade. Thanks in advance.

[cabowen]

Den: Tosa Kozuke Daijo Yoshikuni

 

Enpo period

[LGMartialArts]

Thanks! That clears some things up.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Congrats on having your blade pass shinsa.

 

Please sign with at least your first name on all posts, per Brian's rules.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Ken

[LGMartialArts]

No problem

 

Luis Garza

[LGMartialArts]

Here are some pictures of the katana... BTW, this is staying as an heirloom for my family. I will NOT sell or trade it. That being said, how much would you all consider this katana being worth? Most of the fittings were sold off by the previous owner btw, except for the mokko tsuba and saya.

 

Sheathed

 

Another pic of it sheathed

 

Unsheathed for the first time

 

Nice activity on the blade

 

Different angle

 

New(ish)Tsuka wrapped in lacquered leather

 

New(ish)Tsuka pic 2

 

Saya/koiguchi

 

Saya/koiguchi 2

 

Kojiri

 

Kojiri 2

 

Saya/Kurikata

 

what looks like a tiny little kuchikomi on the hamon a few inches from the habaki on the left side of the blade (ha is facing up). The activity on the blade is subtle yet amazing imho even with the "flaw"

 

another "flaw", this time a few inches from the kissaki

 

same "flaw", different picture, plus you can barely make out some light staining on the blade

 

kissaki nicks - barely visible

 

reverse side of the kissaki, you can notice the nicks a little better here

[J Reid]

I'd value the blade at maybe $1500-$2k. Are the menuki antique? The kanteisho does help it hold value. However, Kissaki is in poor polish and the kodogu seems to be repro/ low quality. Koshirae as a whole is not original "enough" to add much to the overall package. Pinhole in the ha is not a great flaw to have. I would fear polishing the whole blade again due to that tidbit. Could probably clean up the kissaki for $2-300 to bring the overall value closer or just over $2k in the open market.

[LGMartialArts]

the tsuka was supposedly made in Japan, but other than that, don't know much about it or the menuki. The ShinShinto koshirae it had before I bought it was sold off seperately tto a collector by the guy who sold the sword to me.

I am considering sending it to a togishi in the states next year (that's the time frame he gave me) to get his recomendation towards a final polish (which I'd rather do) than a full restoration polish since I think that'll take too much "meat" from the blade.

[LGMartialArts]

After doing doing some research while in the process of buying this katana last year, I found that this sword sold for $3,950 back in 2008, with the ShinShinto koshirae, mind you... because of that, I think your valuation is a little on the low side. I suspect it's worth more than the $1,500-2,000 you mentioned, especially now that it has kanteisho papers on the way.

[J Reid]

I hope you don't take this as a hostile response, and more as constructive criticism.. But.. The sword you post as reference is in much better condition and comes with a koshirae that adds value. Moses Becerra is also a very good dealer who, often, gets top dollar in his sales.

[LGMartialArts]

no insult taken... that's why I posted the caveat about not having the original koshirae and sending it off to a togishi for a polishing job :D

[cabowen]

If you send this to an amateur, odds are you will regret it. There are several areas that look like they may open. If you send it to a professional, it will probably cost more than it is worth.

[LGMartialArts]

No amateur, I promise... I'm sending it to David Hofhine for an evaluation/final polish only from http://www.swordpolisher.com I'm still saving up $ for it though, since I know it won't be cheap. Like I mentioned in the OP, this sword is staying in my family, no intention of selling it.

[Guido]

No amateur, I promise... I'm sending it to David Hofhine ...

You might want to ask him where and when and from whom he learned polishing ...

[Brian Ayres]

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17115&start=15

 

I'd talk to Kunitaro about a polish.....

[LGMartialArts]

Thanks for all the suggestions, comments, etc... I know I'm a newbie when it comes to collecting nihonto ,but I also know that I have a connection to this sword, as it's my first true nihonto. That being said, I also know what it isn't. I understand you're trying to help out and prevent a possible "catastrophe" (my words, not yours), but my intentions are purely honorable here. I know this isn't a national treasure, I know it's not the greatest Shinto example in the world, but it is special to me. I am NOT planning a complete, full out restoration project, costing many, many thousands more than the sword is worth, but even if I did go this route, who's to say that that's wrong? Again, thanks for the advice/comments/suggestions. I will take them all into consideration since I have respect for those of you who have countless hours studying/owning/handling nihonto on a regular basis compared to my one and only.