Gold Dragon Menuki

[Prewar70]

Sounds good and happy to see your post and appreciate you taking the time. I will get out my wire brush Dremel tool and see if I can clean it up. Just kidding I am having major guilt over the wrap.  I’ll post some pictures in the next couple of days and see what you think.

[Chishiki]

Don't feel too bad, you are not the first.   I bought a wakizashi once and everything  about it was average......apart from the menuki.  They turned out to be solid gold shishi and papered to waki-goto.   I had it rebound with more appropriate menuki and moved it on.

[Prewar70]

Thanks for that.  I cleaned it up and it was much dirtier than I realized.  Happy to take other pics of these don’t work.  
 

[Chishiki]

Look much better looking now after a wash.  I'm confident they are gold, well as best as I can be.   You need better photos, take a shot looking straight down from top and bottom.   Additional photo of it laying next to a ruler [in centimetres].  If your camera is old ask someone to help out.  I've taken dozens of photos just to get that one perfect one.  Your menuki are not top tier, they look middle quality but better photos will help.  You can then decide to put them back on the sword or replace them.   You will learn a lot by comparing yours to papered examples on dealer sites.  Gold menuki prices have gone up quite a bit over recent times.  Dragons and shishi are the most sought after.

 

The thing to look at with gold menuki is the crispness of the work.  Look inside the mouth to see how defined the details, the crispness of the claws and scales.   Gold is soft so they can wear down, but the points like inside the mouth will not.  I have some menuki by 4th generation goto master and they tested at 21ct.   But 17ct is very decent.

Edited Tuesday at 02:43 AM by Chishiki

[Prewar70]

Great I will do that tonight as soon as the U S and Belgium game wraps up.  If these were yours would you consider submitting for papers?
 

[Prewar70]

[Prewar70]

[Prewar70]

Edited Tuesday at 02:19 AM by Prewar70

[Prewar70]

[Prewar70]

[Prewar70]

[Chishiki]

I would have them papered.   Not to establish quality but authenticity.  As Piers said, there are gold substitutes.   This is a real problem and it zaps the confidence out of the market for buying online, ebay and yahoo etc.   At least with hozon papers you will have authenticity and they will make note that they are carved from gold.   They are a decent size as well at about 4cm by the looks.   By their size and thinness of the plate they may be something like Mino.  Just a guess.   Lastly, keep them secure in a correct byox and handle them carefully.   I wonder if I see a partial crack about 5mm back from the tip.    If it is treat it carefully. 

Edited Tuesday at 04:20 AM by Chishiki
Extra info

[Prewar70]

Mark, 

 

I really appreciate your input and help.  The “crack” I think is a stray thread or lint but I will double check.  Getting them submitted sounds like a worthwhile and fun project.  Do you have a recommendation on who I could contact as an agent in Japan to help me?   I used Paul Martin on a sword years ago.  I wonder if I could submit the entire koshirae as well.  The TSUBA I think was a later addition due to the lack of a good fit and no seppa but everything else is en suite.  Just a thought.  

Edited Tuesday at 04:25 PM by Prewar70

[Chishiki]

26 minutes ago, Prewar70 said:

Mark, 

 

I really appreciate your input and help.  The “crack” I think is a stray thread or lint but I will double check.  Getting them submitted sounds like a worthwhile and fun project.  Do you have a recommendation on who I could contact as an agent in Japan to help me?   I used Paul Martin on a sword years ago.  I wonder if I could submit the entire koshirae as well.  The TSUBA I think was a later addition due to the lack of a good fit and no seppa but everything else is en suite.  Just a thought.  

 

[Chishiki]

My pleasure.  I wouldn't bother papering your koshirae.   As for shina, it's a real headache these days with too many applications and not enough spots.   It sounds like you need to approach a mainline dealer in the US who is a member of the NBTHK and request they submit your menuki when they are sending their own lot over.  It's going to cost you a handling fee and you probably won't see your menuki months for 6 months plus, such is the logjam these days.   Sorry I can't be of more help on that.  Just email, contact the dealers and see what response you get.   Check the NBTHK website for shinsa fees and then add the handling charge and then decide if its an expense you are prepared to take on.   I'd say if they paper to something like Mino, considering their size, their value may be around 2000 to 2200usd....based on your photos.  Good luck.  If they fail i will be hiding in the wilderness.

Edited Tuesday at 05:09 PM by Chishiki

[Prewar70]

Great thx Mark.  And a good laugh too.  I figure nothing ventured nothing gained, learning experience first.