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Katran

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Looks high quality and very interesting item. I do not focus on items of this period but I do know Korekazu and he is highly appreciated smith in general.

 

Like Jacques I don't in general like discussing price all that much as the items are worth different amounts to various people. I can put in links to few Korekazu blades currently listed for sale in Japan so you can look them as a reference.

http://hyozaemon.jp/product/korekazu/

https://www.seiyudo.com/ka-070420.htm

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Dear Katran.

 

Do please add your name to your posts as we all do, you can do that automatically in your profile.  I have purchase from this site and was very pleased with the transaction if that is your question.

Jussi has just offered two comparators, the sword in question has everything going for it, good polish, shirasaya, good papers, nice koshirae and an interesting signature as well as being by a very good smith.  What's not to like?

 

All the best.

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Oh, you’ll find plenty of books, Mike. Here’s a reply I gave to another Mike in another thread, but I think it fits your question too:

 

"First, the books. There are many very good books and some are compulsory. I started with John Yumoto's book and it is still the one I’d recommend as a starter even though it is very dated. Why? Because it’s a good read, not boring and it will give you all the primers. Virtually, when you’ve read that book, you think you know everything there is to know about Japanese swords... which, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth! :)


Still, it’s great because you’ll get all the minimum vocabulary required and will know to make the difference between The different forms of Hamon and Hada. Trouble is it will also give you some prejudice about swords quality (for him Koto = masterpiece, Shinto =crap, Gunto being the mother of all crap), so just forget that part.

 

Then, I’d go with "Fact and Fundamentals". It’s not the one experts recommend but I do for two reasons. First, once again, it’s a good, entertaining read and second, he somehow makes you comfortable, insisting on the fact that many things are just opinions. For example, if you have trouble making Mokume from Itame, he’ll comfort you saying that they’re virtually the same (they’re not exactly) and, for sure You can read some sources that will state such and such swordsmith uses Itame while another will call it Mokume. I’ve seen it plenty of time. All this to insist on the fact that some sources are to be taken with a grain of salt and you have to forge your own opinion.

 

Finally, the next compulsory read is "The Connoisseur's book..." That one is necessary but I don’t think you need to read it in one go. Too much information there. Pick a school, read about it, look at the diagrams and find pictures on the net t see some actual examples and how they conform to the description. It’s a long term work and will take years.

 

Other than books, you have pictures, this site and the opportunities I never had: in the USA, you have sword shows. Go to them! Nothing beats seeing a sword in person. Once you’ve seen a sword by a particular smith or school, chances are you will know one the next time you see one.

 

And of course, I never had the opportunity to have a mentor. If you can find someone near you knowledgeable, do it. There’s nothing like it! He’ll point to you things that took me years to find out by myself!"

 

Other than that, you also have great sites like:

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com

https://markussesko.com  all of Markus' books are a must if you ask me

http://www.sho-shin.com
http://ohmura-study.net/900.html  If you’re interested in military swords

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/

 

There are ,any others and, of course, NMB! :)

 

 

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I’m a bit surprised nobody pointed out yet that you are not supposed to lay a bare blade on a hard surface, as you risk scratching it. Maybe someone can point to a good link for sword care and maintenance? There is a document in “Nihonto info” -> “Research” -> “Japanese sword care and etiquette”, but I suppose that one can find something more detailed.

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Also, don't touch the blade as your fingerprints will generate rust, keep it oiled (with the right amount of the right oil), clean it only with a microfiber cloth, and so on and so on. I don't own a sword, but I see these recommendations repeated again and again in this forum. I am sure that some of the helpful sword-lovers here can point you to an adequate source of information.

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Congratulations Mike.  Is this your first blade?  If so, you started at a top level maker and sword.  I have a blade by this guy that was discussed a couple of years ago.  Please do take proper care of it.  It is very easy to scratch these by improper care or to allow them to rust by not keeping them oiled.  Enjoy!

 

 

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This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

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