Is this Nanbokucho period Tokubetsu-Hozon Nihoto worth it?

[MikeIke447]

So I stumbled on this beauty and wanted to know is it worth the 13k price tag that the dealer wants? The sword is unsigned these are all the specs below. Is it worth buying what is your opinion? Thank you!

Kaji: Single silver
Blade length: 2 shaku 3 sun 0 rin (69.6 cm)
Warp: 5 minutes (1.5cm)
Mekugi hole: 2 pieces
Original width: 2.8cm
Tip width: 1.64cm
Layer: 0.5cm
Sword weight: 625g
Era: Nanbokucho period

[Natichu]

I'll leave it to the more knowledgeable members to chime in, but the one thing that jumps out at me is how little ha-machi is left. My very limited understanding is that isn't usually a good indicator when it comes to blade health (though some flexibility is likely necessary there given the age). The thin kasane and light weight given the length may indicate plenty of past polishes, but I may be wrong on what one should expect for the era. 

[Ray Singer]

This does not really provide all the specs. I would suggest posting a photo of the kanteisho, information about the attribution and perhaps a link to the listing. Photos here are greatly compressed and very little detail of the blade can actually be seen in this post. 

[nulldevice]

The only one who can truly answer that is you. It seems to be somewhat reasonably priced for Yamato Shizu work considering it comes with Hozon papered koshirae. Looks like it could be a nice blade with an attribution to a master smith in yamato style of work. 

 

I'd suggest reading this article: https://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/YamatoShizu.pdf and comparing the sword in question with the various Juyo+ blades you can find with the same attribution. 

 

As mentioned above, there is almost no hamachi remaining, maybe even no hamachi at all as you can see the nakago actually cuts back in making that part of the haba skinnier just to give a very small hamachi. 

Edited July 30 by nulldevice
grammar

[nulldevice]

As a slight correction to what I said above, I found this tidbit from the linked article that I believe is of importance when discussing a Yamato Shizu attribution on a mumei blade:

Quote

2. If an unsigned Juyo Blade is described as the work of the Shodai Yamato Shizu it is the work of Kanauji, If it does not say Shodai it is the work of his students who remained in Yamato. 

 

I don't know if any TH papers go to this level of detail to differentiate between Shodai Yamato Shizu or just a Yamato Shizu attribution on the kanteisho. In this listing, the attribution is simply "Yamato Shizu" so that may be something worth considering. 

 

[atm]

I found the sword you are asking about: Aoi Art

[MikeIke447]

I cannot provide better pics the sword in question is this one https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-attributed-to-yamato-shizunbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-tokenkoshirae-nbthk-hozon-tosogu

[Lewis B]

The offset hamachi (whats left of it) is odd. 

 

[MikeIke447]

Do you think that the price range for this sword is right? 

 

[Lewis B]

It's seen many polishes, hamon runs off the edge in places and the omote is less impressive than the ura side. The deki is still impressive despite the polishes. Quality papered koshirae and recent TH papers for Yamato Shizu with very early (#17!) 1951 registration number are all plusses. However the blade and koshirae were papered a few decades apart and probably a recent marriage (typical AOI tactic).

 

If the sword speaks to you and you can overlook the deficiencies, it's a fair price. 

[Rivkin]

This is a strongly nie deki blade which shows much more at an angle than from above. This means its either tired or hadori is quite bad. Because from above you can see hamon in places and in places you can't (i.e. nie is too small), its tired. Same for jigane. It is likely was a high tier blade but it aged.

It is also not the most classical Yamato Shizu. There is a lot of very periodic gunome, rough jigane. Someone else (say NTHK NPO) can possibly attribute it as Mino Kanenobu, or even Shikkake (though NPO seldom attributes to Shikkake), it does not look like it has darker jigane, otherwise even Fujishima Tomoshige would be possible.

 

But take in mind it is a custom to criticize Japanese dealers and their stock considerably more openly than other dealers.

[Alex A]

That kind of money gets you excellent signed blades.

 

The blue ito would have to go.

 

You did ask.

[Rawa]

Compare to other swords atributed to this period. Use Jussi list. 0.5 motokasane 

[Rayhan]

Sword has been over polished and I think a bit expensive for what it is. 

[MikeIke447]

Thank you all for your opinion I will continue the search for a blade that is worthy of its price tag. I appreciate each and every response thank you all for taking time to reply!