Kyu Gunto wakizashi signed 'Norimitsu'

[WellsFargo]

Good morning gentlemen,

 

I came across a sword for sale here in the Netherlands.

It is a Kyu Gunto with a koto wakizashi blade signed 'Norimitsu' and dated 1523.

the mount has a silver mon from Asano family.

I have asked to see the blade in person and am waiting on response as the pictures provided show very little.

For some reason I apparantly have a weak spot for old blades in kyu gunto mounts, hence my interest.

I would like to own this sword, but the problem is my limited knowledge and the fact that the sword is not papered.

Translating the mei is not difficult, but determining if it is not gimei or otherwise is reaching too far for me.

I have been searching for info and found an Ebay auction with this exact sword. It sold for US $ 860,- in July this year.

The previous seller gave the following info on the blade:

Length cutting edge: 45,3cm

Total length in koshirae: 86cm

motohaba 2.6cm

sakihaba 1.9cm

moto gasane 0.5cm

saki gasane 0.3cm

Unfortunately no information is given on kitae / hamon.

I would be interested to hear your opinions, as far as possible, even though it is probably just a mass produced wakizashi with little collectors value.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Regards,

 

Jan-Wouter Thijssen

[1tallsword]

in order to even try to judge the hamon ect. we need better pics of blade. some better pics of nakago and mei as well would help.

[hxv]

My immediate knee-jerk reaction is gimei. The sword has been shortened, and relative to the placement of the nakago ana (non-original), the mei and nengo look very, very suspect.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[kusunokimasahige]

A few remarks about this.

 

If you have seen it on the site Marktplaats, from the seller "waki" from Callantsoog,

do not even go near it. The man sells overpriced junk and presents it as real, in a perfect state and special.

Especially his tsuba of which many are and have been fake.

 

By all means, if he invites you go see the sword in person, and his collection, but be on your guard.

 

One further advice, never ever buy from marktplaats. (it can be okay for some stuff but not swords in my opinion).

Marktplaats is cumbersome and there is no buyer protection in place whatsoever.

Many times in Dutch TV shows like "Opgelicht" which deal with fraudsters of any kind, Marktplaats shows up.

 

Please, if you want quality, go to established dealers like for instance:

http://www.japanszwaard.nl/

 

Or give Lody Duindam a call.

 

KM

 

 

To the rest of the members, check the site for yourself here :

 

http://www.marktplaats.nl/z.html?query= ... distance=0

 

http://www.marktplaats.nl/z.html?query= ... distance=0

[WellsFargo]

Wow! Thanks for the heads up, Henk Jan.

Yes, that's the seller.

So glad I asked here first.

My interest is gone.

[kusunokimasahige]

I have been following this seller for a few years now on Marktplaats and have seen ,uch of the stuff he sells.

 

In my opinion it just does not cut it. I asked him a few questions some years back and the answers were

factual nonsense. Not that that matters much, but before you spend 2250 Euros on something which just

is not worth it would be a terrible pity. If you check his other stuff and do that say, once a month, you will

see what I mean.

 

Anyway, I will pm you the info on Lody.

 

Best wishes,

 

KM

[WellsFargo]

Hello Henk Jan, i already know Lody. I bought a wakizashi from him but thanks for the pm.

It was actually a different site than marktplaats (antiekewapens.nl) and yes he's asking € 2250 for this sword. Again thanks for the warning.

[kusunokimasahige]

http://www.Antiekewapens.nl is a great site but even there it often is caveat emptor.

 

They often have great guns for sale though As well as cannon at times

 

KM

[WellsFargo]

Oh yes, a lot of nice pistols and revolvers on that site. That 's actually the reason why I visited the site in the first place. And then I saw this kyu gunto.... Ah well... The search continues.. Henk Jan, I am actually also a member of the Dutch Token society, but unfortunately never had the time to join any of the meetings. That's probably one of the best places to find nice swords...