Thinking about going after this one, need second opinions

[BigHatLogan]

https://ebay.us/m/Jyt14Y

[BigHatLogan]

Still trying to pick my first nihonto. This one has caught my eye, it is a mumei but the papers seem to suggest a maker.

[Toki]

Personally I like how it looks.

However I will leave any suggestion wether to go for it or not to the more experienced members here.

[Sansei]

Nice blade. Although, for me it would probably be more like the second or third sword. Not the first. 

[Rawa]

At least seller don't hide chips on kissaki. Try not to bid until last minutes. 2k22 - 6k$ yaikes.

Is it common to hunt with katana in usa? 

[Alex A]

The first picture was enough to put me off so stopped looking after that.

[Trenchnut]

Caveat emptor

[Rawa]

How ebay works now? Is minimal price in this auction? I saw recently T3 gunto was sold in auction for less then 1k$ to reappear for buy now auction with 2k$ price. 

[Lexvdjagt]

I would personally say that the main concern you should have is condition. The images made by the seller do not seem to show some damage that can be seen on the more recent image, for example the large chip on the kissaki. Generally if you see someone simply laying a sword on a stone in the wild, then you should distance yourself immediately as the seller does not know how to take care of Nihonto.

 

[Schneeds]

Doesn't appear to have a shirasaya either, unless I'm missing it.  Paying 6k for a blade without one seems odd to me... maybe he lost or damaged it? Another bad sign. 

 

In my newbie opinion, if your budget is very limited, you are better off waiting for something in the for sale section here on NMB that catches your eye.  Very reasonable and sometimes great deals appear there. 

[Rawa]

Men is it even katana? Isnt it o-wakizashi? What exactly this atribution means? 2 shaku is 60.6 cm or 23.86 inch. Funny offer I would tell so lets stick to atribution. It wasn't classified as 刀. 

脇指無銘 - wakizashi mumei 

So 6k for long waki. If minimal price was set here we will see couple of enlistings. 

[Rawa]

Measurements are poor for muromachi era blade. And probably pumped up a little bit. It will be funny to watch. Will it get 3k$? It's another fine lesson to stick with papers not dreams.

[drbvac]

ALl things considered according to the papers it has mounts and a koshirae - if to goes for less than $2000.00 and the papers are genuine then the sword is for all intents and purposes - free

[Death-Ace]

Wouldn't be a bad first blade. Kai-Mihara is a good school! I agree with other statements to keep checking this board, the FB group, and other sites just in case.

 

Sometimes, you can find good deals in other places, like some militaria sites or auctions, but for your first, an in-polish, papered blade in excellent koshirae would be a perfect choice. However, I would think carefully if the hakobore would be off putting or not, or if this school or style would entice you. Some like "flashy," others like subtle. Some like koto, others like newer. A lot of us like them all lol. It's all a matter of preference! 

 

I will say that this blade has been there for a while, lowering in price with time and now finally on auction. Be careful that a bidding war doesn't start. I've seen some swords that were listed at a certain price and then with bidding, goes over what the prior BIN price would have been, usually two folks who didn't see the blade earlier or get FOMO.

 

Unfortunately, swords are not usually a quick, turnaround (or even long-term for certain ones) investment unless one finds something "special" as a out-of-the-woodwork find. If one tires of a blade or needs to make room, you'll find them eventually sold for cheaper than originally purchased, and some will stay on the market for a hot minute. That is good for the buyer, who can make offers as they see fit, but to the seller, more loss, but maybe necessary. 

 

There are deals everywhere online, just not everyday. This is just my two cents, just ad long as you're happy with whatever you decide! 

[tlzkaasen]

I reached out to that seller  last week. He was honest and mentioned he personally banged the blade on a wall going through his house. 

[Rawa]

Winning bid 2247$ 

[tlzkaasen]

Rawa, you think too much?  That Koshirea alone might have been worth that price.  Tokubetsu Kicho NBTHK certificate for the fittings if I'm reading that right. Older certificate, but better that nothing in this case. .(Predecessor to modern Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon)

[BigHatLogan]

I got outbid last second @2100. Oh well

[tlzkaasen]

BigHatLogan, sorry man. 

[Mark S.]

There are always more blades.

[Rawa]

5 hours ago, tlzkaasen said:

Rawa, you think too much?  That Koshirea alone might have been worth that price.  Tokubetsu Kicho NBTHK certificate for the fittings if I'm reading that right. Older certificate, but better that nothing in this case. .(Predecessor to modern Hozon/Tokubetsu Hozon)

Looks like blade have decent polish. There will be some minor kizu - kitae ware etc. [Blade is 500 years old], koshirae saves it. As both seller and buyer are from usa its good price. Someone sold it in 2k22 for 6k$ afterall 

But all questions will be answered after buyer will have it in hand as you can't see real state of blade on available photos.

[tlzkaasen]

1 hour ago, Rawa said:

Looks like blade have decent polish. There will be some minor kizu - kitae ware etc. [Blade is 500 years old], koshirae saves it. As both seller and buyer are from usa its good price. Someone sold it in 2k22 for 6k$ afterall 

But all questions will be answered after buyer will have it in hand as you can't see real state of blade on available photos.

I was the buyer. Almost slept past the ridiculous early morning bidding. I've been in contact with the seller for a good week +. I took a leap of faith and had to look past those awful photos of the blade on the rocks, the blade in the woods (LOL). I have no idea why he would hurt his marketing like that.  He should of kept the original photos.  I have photos of ever Japanese Sword & firearm I've purchased over the last 30 years.  $2200 for a decent lineage, papered and some really, really nice papered koshirea - I'm good with it.  We'll all see next week.  I'll see if I can take some photos.  I can't take photos like the shops in Japan.  Those guys take it to a whole new level.