Looking To Buy First Nihonto

[Rhizosphere]

I am looking to buy my first Nihonto. Looking for a papered, hopefully signed, Muromachi period katana or possibly wakizashi. In full polish with little, preferably, no flaws. 

My price range is around $2,000. I could go a bit higher. In Koshirae would be nice but I may be asking to much for a papered Katana in Koshirae at this price range. I am really a fan of Bizen blades. I enjoy tight grain patterns and well presenting hamon. But I am open to things. I am still in the looking and learning phase. Already returned one blade that was badly represented and am currently waiting on my return. So I am not in a big rush.

[Rhizosphere]

Correction. I meant to say, Hizen, blades. But am open to either if anyone has anything available.

[klee]

Unfortunately, a papered, full polish, near flawless Hizent To for around $2000 might be a bit unrealistic

[Rhizosphere]

7 hours ago, klee said:

Unfortunately, a papered, full polish, near flawless Hizent To for around $2000 might be a bit unrealistic

Ill take something other than a Hizen. As long as I like the blade. I can deak with minor flaws for the right blade and price. Could go as high as $2400 atm.

[klee]

An interesting piece in that price range.

 

At 58cm it is technically a wakizashi but this is a Katate-Uchi ( single handed ) katana which became a staple of Muromachi warfare 

 

 

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A041123.html

[Rhizosphere]

1 hour ago, klee said:

An interesting piece in that price range.

 

At 58cm it is technically a wakizashi but this is a Katate-Uchi ( single handed ) katana which became a staple of Muromachi warfare 

 

 

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A041123.html

This is actually right up my alley! I wanted a long wakizashi. But a one hand katana is even better. Too bad its in Japan and it will cost me a leg to bring it over. It is amazing though.

[Rhizosphere]

Just now, Rhizosphere said:

This is actually right up my alley! I wanted a long wakizashi. But a one hand katana is even better. Too bad its in Japan and it will cost me a leg to bring it over. It is amazing though. It doesnt say if the sword is papered though.

 

[klee]

@Rhizosphere

 

it says on the listing under' Attachment ' that it has NBTHK Hozon papers.

 

At 350,000 yen ( about $2200 ) and aafter shipping , tarrif etc,  it will probably be about $2600 give or take. Not bad at all for what you are getting 

[Rhizosphere]

1 minute ago, klee said:

@Rhizosphere

 

it says on the listing under' Attachment ' that it has NBTHK Hozon papers.

 

At 350,000 yen ( about $2200 ) and aafter shipping , tarrif etc,  it will probably be about $2600 give or take. Not bad at all for what you are getting 

No. Not at all. So far, this is the best thing I have been shown next to one Canadiansm gentlemen's Wakizashi. 

[klee]

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A030925.html

 

Here is another good one that is slightlly cheaper ( also shorter ) and mounting  . Has a brand new NBTHK from May 2025 . The NBTHK attributed it to the Kai Mihara school . I would disregard the Kurashiki museum paper.

 

Kai mihara is a very good school in my opinion but check with Tsukada san ( owner ) and ask for more photos of the kissaki/Boshi. It could be just the angle of the photograph but looks like it could have been reshaped. This is not an issue at all most of the time as swords were repaired often but you want to make sure there is no problem with the boshi 

[Rhizosphere]

58 minutes ago, klee said:

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A030925.html

 

Here is another good one that is slightlly cheaper ( also shorter ) and mounting  . Has a brand new NBTHK from May 2025 . The NBTHK attributed it to the Kai Mihara school . I would disregard the Kurashiki museum paper.

 

Kai mihara is a very good school in my opinion but check with Tsukada san ( owner ) and ask for more photos of the kissaki/Boshi. It could be just the angle of the photograph but looks like it could have been reshaped. This is not an issue at all most of the time as swords were repaired often but you want to make sure there is no problem with the boshi 

I messaged them. That one is nice and in koshirae with signed Tsuba! What do you mean by reshaped? Boshi is the hamon correct? It is early edo which isn't exactly what I wanted. I appreciate all the help by the way!

Edited December 31, 2025 by Rhizosphere

[klee]

The NBTHK attributed them to Kai Mihara. This school was active during the Muromachi period. 

 

Yes when the kissaki is reshaped, the boshi is often reduced in places and you always want to make sure that it is clearly visible 

[eternal_newbie]

6 hours ago, klee said:

Yes when the kissaki is reshaped, the boshi is often reduced in places

Here is a good example from Darcy's old website courtesy of the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20060908062818/http://www.nihonto.ca:80/kissaki/

[Rhizosphere]

7 hours ago, eternal_newbie said:

Here is a good example from Darcy's old website courtesy of the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20060908062818/http://www.nihonto.ca:80/kissaki/

That was very informative, Klee. Thank you.

[Rhizosphere]

14 hours ago, klee said:

The NBTHK attributed them to Kai Mihara. This school was active during the Muromachi period. 

 

Yes when the kissaki is reshaped, the boshi is often reduced in places and you always want to make sure that it is clearly visible 

I am reading that 2nd generation Nanki Shigekuni was active esrly to mid 1600s? Idk how i got this font btw lol

[klee]

"The NBTHK hozon paper identifies it as Kai Mihara, while the Kurashiki Museum paper attributes it to the second-generation Nanki Shigekuni"

 

NBTHK attributed it to Kai Mihara

 

I would disregard the Kurashiki papers

[Natichu]

1 hour ago, klee said:

"The NBTHK hozon paper identifies it as Kai Mihara, while the Kurashiki Museum paper attributes it to the second-generation Nanki Shigekuni"

 

NBTHK attributed it to Kai Mihara

 

I would disregard the Kurashiki papers

Just for example on that point, you have this on Touken Komachi as well (quite a nice sword to my eye, but with a few knocks against being likely shinshinto suriage and mumei):

 

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_ja_tachi&katanaA021125.html

 

Kurashiki papers to a jojo-saku ranked smith, and then four months later NBTHK papers Hozon to...Takada. Not to knock Takada (I have a lot of interest in the school) but that seems like a pretty significant downgrade. 

[lonely panet]

theres some good starting piece's here at sensable prices,  that should make anyone happy.

 

but somepeaple will always find a reason not to buy

[Rhizosphere]

5 hours ago, lonely panet said:

theres some good starting piece's here at sensable prices,  that should make anyone happy.

 

but somepeaple will always find a reason not to buy

Just making sure I pick whats right for me at my price rang. And that I understand what I am buying. I'd hate to spend the cash to only find something better the very next week.

[lonely panet]

so my comment was accurate,  the first 10 blades you buy will never be the best for you at this moment.  because your still learning what is  good, and what is GOOD for the price range.

your price range might be  "big" for you. but is in the low lower end of the market.  

 

your trying to buy a FULL package, but that means there's no value to add,  no learning curve just buy, look/study and move on.

papers only give you someones elses opinion,  if you buy mumei and study you learn your opinion.  this takes 10 blades and time

 

go forth and learn, instead of pigeon holing your self to a budget 

Edited January 1 by lonely panet

[eternal_newbie]

1 hour ago, lonely panet said:

your price range might be  "big" for you. but is in the low lower end of the market.  

 

To add to this - at the price range you're looking for, and even up to double that amount, there's always going to be something 'better' (or at least compelling in a different way) than anything you can get. By the nature of the market, anything in that value range is going to be lacking in some way, so what you're really hoping for is someone selling something decent at a lower price than it should be; and you're not going to find that here or at a reputable dealer, because anyone fitting that category would know what they have and roughly what it's worth.

 

I would recommend spending at least a portion of that money on some good books; if not the usual Nihonto guides then at least one or two catalogues from a museum exhibit (the Sano Museum ones have English indexes, which is nice) so you can look at the best of the best and see what sort of shapes, hamon and jigane appeal to you and then look for scaled down versions of those in the range you can afford.

 

If you must have a sword, right now (and I can understand the urge, I really can) then look for something that appeals to you personally, even in spite of any flaws or shortcomings, even if you can't really explain why. Something that, when you look at it, you just feel really moved or inspired on a personal level, and then when it's in your hands and the initial buzz starts to fade, use it as a jumping-off point to learn more about your own personal tastes and goals in the field - the things that drove you to pick that particular piece. At this lower-end, the best you can really hope for when it's time to move the piece on is to get back roughly what you paid for it; abandon any hopes of selling at a profit and using it to buy something better. The real value you gain will be knowledge and understanding - if not for the blade itself, then about your own aesthetic preferences and desires that led you to that point.

[Rhizosphere]

1 hour ago, lonely panet said:

so my comment was accurate,  the first 10 blades you buy will never be the best for you at this moment.  because your still learning what is  good, and what is GOOD for the price range.

your price range might be  "big" for you. but is in the low lower end of the market.  

 

your trying to buy a FULL package, but that means there's no value to add,  no learning curve just buy, look/study and move on.

papers only give you someones elses opinion,  if you buy mumei and study you learn your opinion.  this takes 10 blades and time

 

go forth and learn, instead of pigeon holing your self to a budget 

I just want to make sure I get a blade I can actually resell if I want.

Edited January 1 by Rhizosphere

[Rhizosphere]

43 minutes ago, eternal_newbie said:

 

To add to this - at the price range you're looking for, and even up to double that amount, there's always going to be something 'better' (or at least compelling in a different way) than anything you can get. By the nature of the market, anything in that value range is going to be lacking in some way, so what you're really hoping for is someone selling something decent at a lower price than it should be; and you're not going to find that here or at a reputable dealer, because anyone fitting that category would know what they have and roughly what it's worth.

 

I would recommend spending at least a portion of that money on some good books; if not the usual Nihonto guides then at least one or two catalogues from a museum exhibit (the Sano Museum ones have English indexes, which is nice) so you can look at the best of the best and see what sort of shapes, hamon and jigane appeal to you and then look for scaled down versions of those in the range you can afford.

 

If you must have a sword, right now (and I can understand the urge, I really can) then look for something that appeals to you personally, even in spite of any flaws or shortcomings, even if you can't really explain why. Something that, when you look at it, you just feel really moved or inspired on a personal level, and then when it's in your hands and the initial buzz starts to fade, use it as a jumping-off point to learn more about your own personal tastes and goals in the field - the things that drove you to pick that particular piece. At this lower-end, the best you can really hope for when it's time to move the piece on is to get back roughly what you paid for it; abandon any hopes of selling at a profit and using it to buy something better. The real value you gain will be knowledge and understanding - if not for the blade itself, then about your own aesthetic preferences and desires that led you to that point.

This is exatly how I ma approaching it. I am trying to pick something that appeals to me personally. But doesnt jave some major flaw i personally will hate. But I am also trying to buy intelligently. Not for profit. But just so I CAN sell it later on if I want. Also. Half the fun really is choosing and researching them all. Seeing what's there.

[Rhizosphere]

Also, I am STILL waiting on my return for the first sword guys. Should have it tomorrow. I am trying to avoid that whole problem again as well. Buy I did learn alot just having that blade in hand. Even though I returned it. It was much different than viewing them on a screen. And also, there aren't many things I have spent this much money on. I recently got a new job. Paying well. And I'd like to get myself something nice I've always wanted. So I don't want to jump the gun. But I am eager to purchase. 

[eternal_newbie]

6 minutes ago, Rhizosphere said:

But just so I CAN sell it later on if I want.

 

It'll be a genuine nihonto of some historical value; it will always sell, whether on here, on the Sword Buyers Guide, on Reddit or on Facebook marketplace or even the 'Bay. Just don't expect to turn a profit, and don't be surprised if you lose a little (especially taking postage etc into account).

[Lewis B]

On 12/31/2025 at 1:17 AM, klee said:

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A030925.html

 

I really like the fittings on this koshirae. The signed tsuba, fuchi, kashira and menuki would not look out of place on a much higher priced blade. The quality of the workmanship is very clear. 

[eternal_newbie]

8 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

I really like the fittings on this koshirae.

 

Agreed, they look like a koshirae-shi's attempt to make a somewhat more ornate version of the formal Samurai koshirae required by the bakufu, probably for a rich client (merchant?).

[Rhizosphere]

2 hours ago, Lewis B said:

I really like the fittings on this koshirae. The signed tsuba, fuchi, kashira and menuki would not look out of place on a much higher priced blade. The quality of the workmanship is very clear. 

I do too! Do you think the tip of the blade has been reshaped? This is the one I am considering the most.

Edited January 1 by Rhizosphere

[Lewis B]

Yes, it does look to have been modified slightly. The kissaki might have been tipped or chipped at some point. Some better images of the boshi would be worth acquiring before making a decision. 

[ChrisW]

My humble opinion would be to talk to several dealers (especially any that might be close to you -- moreso if it can be within driving distance) and find a piece that you like a lot. Then appreciate it in person, and finally work towards a price that you can live with. Setting out with a price in mind first is good for the wallet, but may not be as good for satisfaction with what you might end up with.
 

A signed and papered Muromachi katana in old polish is a possibility. But a new polish alone with most polishers these days runs for a lot more than just 2k. The little to no flaws part is also a big factor in this case; as most lower condition blades of that eras will have flaws from being polished down. For example, I have an attributed Den Oshu Hoju katana in shirasaya in old polish for $2200 but if someone asked me for what you're looking for at that price level, I would politely decline even an effort to search for them. There is just nothing left at that price point to make the search worth the effort.

At the price level you're looking at, you're probably going to have to accept a less than optimal polish or a blade with a fair few flaws or both. Its nothing personal to you, it is just how the market is. I would also probably be acceptive that it is almost certainly going to be in shirasaya, rather than koshirae. Since even minimally appropriate koshirae adds more than 1k value to a blade.

My best advice would be to try to approach I suggested at the start of my post. You should end up with something that you'll enjoy a lot more and have a more solid resale value when you decide to move it on!