WTB Tanto

[frank kelly]

Hello all. I am looking for a tanto in full koshirae. UK only I'm afraid in order to avoid problems at customs.

Condition to be in good polish and preferably Muromachi period, but consider all available.

Papered if possible. Budget £600, but might be able to push further if papered.

[Matsunoki]

Hi Frank,

Do you come to the Birmingham Arms Fair (June 22nd)?

I will have a few Tanto. Mounted and shirasaya.
Might need to stretch that budget a bit to get anything worthwhile.

Always best to deal face to face with the sword in your hands. You’ll know exactly what you’re buying. 
Colin

[frank kelly]

Hi Colin. I agree that buying blades face to face is best, but I trust the members on this site!.

 

I won't be able to make it to Birmingham, but if you can send me details of what you have I'll take a look. I can push my budget if it's something that I can't resist.

 

Thanks 

 

Frank

[lonely panet]

I think everyone wanting to step into tge world of collecting really need to start looking at there budgets. 

 

Its a expensive hobby and 600 isn't going to go far or buy much in the way of quality.

[Alex A]

£600 will never get you a papered tanto.

 

If you go to the arms fairs and are lucky you might find something, usually in old polish for that kind of price and parts of the koshirae missing.

 

Once bought a signed Koto tanto in the sales section here for the same price, with koshirae but parts missing.

 

The UK is not a good place to shop for swords, very limited and an immense number of swords in crappy polish knocking about. Personally, consider the UK a destruction site for these amazing antique blades that have lasted centuries.

 

Saw this the other day, its the kind of tanto you come across here for that budget, its not a recommendation. You should of course do your homework on any potential purchase.

A Shoken school tanto by Kunimune circa 1864 | Garth Vincent

 

[frank kelly]

Thanks Alex. I agree that good blades are difficult to come across in the UK. I've generally been looking at auction site, and am aware of the dangers of such. I picked up two Muromachi in good polish in koshirae and shirasaya last year, one of which was papered, for £1500 each plus commission. I was able to view before purchase, and both had been assessed by Bill Tagg. I suppose I should lift my Tanto budget towards £1000.

Thanks again

Frank

[Alex A]

Worth bearing in mind that a lot of signed Koto tanto dont really need papers as obvious they are legit. 

 

Stuff like your average low value Niji-mei late Muromachi Mino tanto can be straight forward to work out.

 

That would bring the price down, hopefully.