new bougth , wakizashi , let me know your opinions

[spanish men]

bougth from ebay shop that have very good reputation selling Japanese antiques 

the main question , its a real wakizashi sword , or a replica ? hahaha

[spanish men]

more photos 

[Mark S.]

My following comments may seem harsh and I really don’t want to be that way because I want NMB to be friendly and inviting.  My advice would be to wait and study until you can at least tell real from replica.  Asking afterwards can be very disappointing.  
 

You state shop has a good reputation, and then you ask if it is real?  If you have to ask if it is real afterward, why would you buy?  My opinion is that it is ‘real’.  As to what it is, or if it is a blade worth owning, I will leave that to others.  Condition is really an issue and it will be difficult to tell much based on what can be seen, or more to the point what can’t be seen.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Not sure where you received the information this seller has a good reputation, basically every mention of him advises to avoid this seller if you're a first time buyer.

 

As for the wakizashi, it is a real Japanese sword at the very least!

[ChrisW]

You've bought a mumei wakizashi from Komonjo.

Is it real? Yes.

Is it worth the money you spent? Probably not. Out-of-polish mumei wakizashi are not a good buy and are generally not worth putting money into for restoration. This particular example doesn't have much to study that can be seen in pictures either.

It is hira-zukuri, but the sugata (shape) seems a bit off to me. That or the angle at which the photos capturing it are exceedingly poor.

[NewB]

+1

 

Buy books and study about what constitutes a good purchase..  OR buy papered in recent polish after thorough research of the smith/school and price evaluation. The rest is throwing money away. Your money, your call though. There's nothing you can 'do' with this blade unless you're a bladesmith and you're buying the steel to create your own blade. Do not attempt to polish or cut/beat it to a pulp, it'd be disgraceful!

 

J.

[Mark S.]

Maybe a few other questions.  Why did you buy it?  What did you see that made you like it?  What do you think it is?  What do you feel you can learn from it?  Is it what you expected?  Are you happy with it?  Why or why not?  

[rematron]

I like these questions. I hope they are answered. 

[AlphaRaider]

I own a bizen wakizashi that's in rough shape. It was abused quite badly before I snagged it up. I actually injoy it quite a bit and use it to show a roufht sword vs soming thing in polish. It's a cool conversation piece, I bit of a study piece.  I just keep it oiled, and view it often. I do imagine what it would look like in full polish. I think its a nice pice to add to the collection. Hopefully it was a good deal.

[Shugyosha]

Mr A, congratulations on your first Japanese sword, the first of many I hope.

 

I think it's easy to forget what attracted us to this hobby in the first place once we grow into it and it's usually the draw of owning an antique, in relatively good condition compared to collectables of the same age and which was possibly carried and used by a Samurai. Mr A has certainly done better than I did with my first blade (a Bizen wakizashi with more holes than a colander) and which I loved dearly until I learned enough to want better.

 

Collecting is typically a journey up a mountain that some of us start from nearer the summit or climb more quickly. Luckily, on a clear day you can get a nice view of the top whilst grubbing around in the foothills.

[uwe]

Not much to add John 👍

Reminds me strongly on my start in this hobby with a bent koto waki in a damaged saya. My goodness, was I excited at that time….

BTW, I still have and treasure it (meanwhile I also know what’s written on the tang 😊).

[WillFalstaff]

Hi A,

On the upside, now you know more about nihonto compared to before buying the blade. Imagine how much more you’ll know if you continue studying the blade, reading up on collecting, and learning the history. As John J. said, we all start somewhere—the key is actually starting.