Filipe Posted January 27, 2016 Report Posted January 27, 2016 Hey guys, I was shopping around and noticed this decent looking nihonto that is being advertised as Koto Bizen, would like some oppinions before considering putting down 1500 euros, it also seems like it really needs a polish. Filipe Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 27, 2016 Report Posted January 27, 2016 Filipe,I read BIZEN KUNI no JU OSA......(KATANA MEI). Seems that the three last KANJI (FUNE plus smith's name) had been lost with the SURIAGE. If this is a genuine signature, the blade may be from late KOTO to early EDO period, I believe. Perhaps KANBUN because of little SORI. The signature is in the style of BIZEN blades I have seen, but the NAKAGO patination does not look good for me. Concerning the condition and the value: difficult to say without seeing it personally. You cannot enjoy it in this state and learn from it, but a polish might be more than € 2.000.-- plus HABAKI, SHIRA-SAYA, SHINSA, handling....I am not sure that you will get your money back on a resale, and you should not buy without knowing what you have there. If it was GIMEI, I think you will loose. Quote
Darcy Posted January 27, 2016 Report Posted January 27, 2016 Blades signed like this with JU coming before OSAFUNE are Sue Bizen blades. This habit starts somewhere in the mid Muromachi and is finished in the Momoyama period around about. This blade is showing a bit of a funky habit in the KUNI where there is a vertical middle line. Hard to tell with the photos. But the KUNI character should let you try to bear down on who it might be among the Sue Bizen smiths. Anyway by numbers it's going to be one of the Sukesada smiths. 1 Quote
Filipe Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Posted January 27, 2016 Thank you for your responses, do you guys think its worth paying the 1500 and getting it polished? Or should I keep my eye open for something else in this price range? Im a bit new to this but eager to learn. Filipe Quote
Brian Posted January 27, 2016 Report Posted January 27, 2016 Wait. For a little more you will find something in polish and better. 1 Quote
Pika007 Posted January 27, 2016 Report Posted January 27, 2016 Even not for a little more, he can do much better for the same price. Iv'e seen very nice stuff for 1650$~ish on ebay recently, including a good condition sukemitsu that slipped between my fingers (for 10$ bid difference...) Quote
Filipe Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Posted January 27, 2016 Hey guys I found one that looks a lot better for around 800 euros, what do you think? http://imgur.com/a/kBJ2x Quote
lonely panet Posted January 27, 2016 Report Posted January 27, 2016 call me a noob, but that hamon looks devoid of any activity, would have thought there would be some nie, sunagushi or yo. but the kissaki looks well finished. could this be a modern smith working in a mino style? EDIT, hope I didn't put my neck on the block Quote
Filipe Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Posted January 28, 2016 I found another one that looks leagues better than all the other ones, bids are around 1050 euros right now. http://imgur.com/a/A6810 I just realized I accidentally derailed the post and got sort of off topic, really sorry... Filipe Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 28, 2016 Report Posted January 28, 2016 Signature is TAMBA no KAMI YOSHIMICHI, a number of famous smiths who's signatures have been faked endles times. Condition seems nice, so if you want to run the risk to buy a GIMEI blade and like it.....It is always a risk to purchase an item that you didn't hold in your hands previously! Quote
Filipe Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Posted January 28, 2016 Out of curiousity, where could I commision a tsuka and a saya for a blade to be made? Quote
b.hennick Posted January 28, 2016 Report Posted January 28, 2016 David McDonald is a member here and could certainly make one for you and wrap it appropriately. He can supply the fitting (fuchi/kashira and menuki) or you can supply them. He does excellent work and has even won a prize in Japan for his handle wrapping. Most people like to assemble matching fittings such as this set which I will have for sale in Tampa. https://picasaweb.google.com/107048654546933667076/BIRDFITTINGS2015 1 Quote
Stephen Posted January 28, 2016 Report Posted January 28, 2016 Nice theme Barry, like the link site, fast with no extra adds Quote
Filipe Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Posted January 28, 2016 Thank you very much Barry, how much would those fittings cost me? How can I get in touch with David? Filipe Quote
b.hennick Posted January 28, 2016 Report Posted January 28, 2016 David McDonald is in the members list. The set of fittings is $900. I then posted to the sale section so as to not violate the rules. Quote
Shogun8 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Posted January 28, 2016 What's a ballpark price for a simple black-lacquered saya and tsuka with simple Edo iron fittings? John Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 28, 2016 Report Posted January 28, 2016 Hi Filipe, There is a post in FAQ above about relative new comers and their wish to own and have polished and mounted their sword, and why it often doesn't make sense. You should read it. Now would be a great time in your collecting career to spend serious time and maybe money in learning. Attend shows, read books, look closely at everything available, and ask questions (and then reread those books). The more you know before you buy the happier you will be with what you bought and you'll be much less likely to spend foolishly. Grey 2 Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted January 29, 2016 Report Posted January 29, 2016 Grey is absolutely right, Filipe - buy at least a few good reference books, & read/re-read them until you can tell at a glance what you're looking at. Only then should you start looking at Nihonto to collect. We've all been there, & know how hard it is to wait while you're learning. Do it, anyway, & save yourself a ton of money when you do buy. Ken Quote
Filipe Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Posted January 29, 2016 I feel like there might have been a small misunderstanding, im not looking to start collecting per say, I'm looking to buy a blade that will see moderate use, Iaido, Toyama Ryu, I don't intend to buy many more swords after this one, I'm just looking for a good quality Nihonto. Filipe Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted January 29, 2016 Report Posted January 29, 2016 Are you sure that's a good idea, Filipe? I've trained in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu for more than 25 years, & my Sensei won't allow shinken, let alone Nihonto, in the dojo. Have you cleared it with him? That being said, this board is for the preservation of Nihonto, & iaido is definitely not targeted at that! Ken Quote
Filipe Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Posted January 29, 2016 Ken, I have, we use shinken in demonstrations and in trainings when things aren't too crowded or when we don't have that many new guys, I also pratice alot on my own, so having a sword that is a bit more than a normal shinken is something that seems only right to me, that being said I also do apreciate the beauty of the sword, but im not a big collector as I tend to pick a favourite item very fast. So my intention was to either buy an Edo period nihonto, as their mostly affordable and of good quality, for some reason I tend to think that gendaito are made with more emphasis on the aesthetics which really drives the price up, but I may be completly wrong. I came to you guys for some advice on how/what to pick and look out for. I want a good quality sword, to use and keep, beautiful in its functionality, if that makes any sense. Filipe Quote
Brian Posted January 29, 2016 Report Posted January 29, 2016 Look at the 2 bargain swords Joe is selling in the For Sale section today 1 Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted January 30, 2016 Report Posted January 30, 2016 So my intention was to either buy an Edo period nihonto, as their mostly affordable and of good quality, for some reason I tend to think that gendaito are made with more emphasis on the aesthetics which really drives the price up, but I may be completly wrong. I'm surprised that this comment didn't generate some heated arguments, Filipe, but I guess it's a quiet day on NMB. I'll admit that my wife & I also use Nihonto in the second iaido ryuha we train in, & I've caught hell from certain people for doing so. But since Japanese swords were made to do battle out in the elements, the fact that we train outdoors on the side of a mountain makes it appropriate to use them. Good luck in your search. Ken Quote
Filipe Posted January 30, 2016 Author Report Posted January 30, 2016 Why did you expect it to generate an argument? Am I incorrect in my assumption, as I said, I'd like to learn as much as possible, why did some people give you hell? Filipe Quote
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