advice on first sword purchse

[Dyami]

hello, I'm hoping to make my first sword purchase and wanted some advice. My price range is about $800. I know this is exteremley low and a collectors piece is out of the question. I would like to purchase a wakizashi and wondered if anyone could direct me to some quality makers. The purpose would be the start of my sword collection and something to defend myself with at home if the need ever arises.

 

I'm new to this forum; perhaps it is only for people dealing with authentic collector's pieces? I've already learned a lot from the myriad of interesting posts and look forward to gaining more knowledge through the board, thanks! -Dyami

[John A Stuart]

Hi Dyami, By your post I understand you wish to commission a new sword (shinsakuto)? Well at that price it isn't likely. It is a lot of work and modern tosho have to make a living. However you can get a lower level shinto or shinshinto wak in that range. What worries me is the self defense aspect. I recommend a good lock or a good pair of trainers to avoid the situation. The trouble you could derive would not be worth losing a few baubles over. Besides, a pick handle or baseball/cricket bat is more daunting in the hand of a determined defender than a sword. Swords lately are unjustifiably getting vilified from misuse by villains breaking the law without more grief from expected justification in home defense.John

[Dyami]

Swords lately are unjustifiably getting vilified from misuse by villains breaking the law without more grief from expected justification in home defense.John

 

John, thanks for the advise. I'm not sure I understand what you meant in the quoted sentence. Did you mean that swords are getting misused by villains, or perceived to be misused when employed against villains in one's home?

 

also, I was looking at different makers such as http://bugei.com/product_601_detailed.htm

[Brian]

Hi Dyami,

Yes, you are correct that this forum deals only in genuine and collectible Japanese swords and related items. Modern copies are out of the scope of our discussions unfortunately.

I think for what you are looking for, Bugei forums (http://www.swordforumbugei.com/phpBB2/) might be of some help as they do discuss the modern swords. Use of any genuine (or fake even) Japanese sword for defence, casts the art objects that we collect in a bad light, and is therefore not promoted, discussed or entertained here. We have already seen a backlash in the UK over this, so that subject is not allowed here, I hope you understand. I suggest checking out our "for sale" section here often as sometimes something genuine comes up in your price range. However if you do purchase a genuine antique sword, please respect it enough to not use it for any other purposes besides study and appreciation.

 

Regards,

Brian

[John A Stuart]

Hi Dyami, There have been attacks upon people by villains using cheap knock-off replica Samurai swords that has caused prohibition in various countries.This causes collectors to run a gamut of legislative hurdles to import legitimate Nihonto. A few bad apples ....etc. As to Bugei trading, I am familiar with that outfit having had conversation years ago and buying various things through them. There are some dedicated kendoka associated with them. However, they do not trade in Nihonto in the strictest sense but, at one time had contact with a smith in Japan for whom they acted as agent. There are some talented American smiths with whom they do business but this is not the forum for their wares, I believe. I support these smiths and the study of sword arts but, this is a forum for traditional Japanese swords and fittings. John

[Dyami]

thanks for the posts, sorry to have raised an seemingly very sore spot on the forums Which are these countries that were mentioned as having cut down on sword imports?

 

-Dyami

[paulb]

major ones in recent year are Victoria State in Australia, Scotland and most recently England and Wales. Without the continuous efforts of many people over several years it would by now almost certainly be impossible to import buy or sell Japanese Swords in the UK. All of this legislation has been due to the medias insistance on using the term "Samurai Sword" every time someone was attacked with a sharp object, combined with a number of morons being able to buy replica swords for under $30 on the internet and then trying to kill each other with them.

Forgive those of us who get twichy when people start talking about using swords for defence We have spent too many days, weeks and years debating with government to prove our interest had no relationship to the violenmt application (attack or defence) of swords.

Regards

Paulb