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Post by civil on Nov 9, 2016 21:52:22 GMT
Hi guys I already own a wakizashi from Ryan swords which I have added a few things to give it a better look and feel. But now I need a katana to go with it, a one of a kind katana I have spent around £500 on the wakizashi altogether and look to spend around 3-5gs on a custom made katana to my specifications. I have looked all over the net at custom sword makers like Matsuba kunimasa , swords of north shire,walter sorrels etc , but I am yet to find one that is in the price range and there are certain put offs which have lead me to cancel out most.Im looking for advice on a maker which has the following traits/characteristics. 100% handmade and Japanese if possible. 1.custom saya with 6 ridge lines and art (lion,tiger,jaguar) to go with my £400 mini school gold gilded lion tsuba (ugh ,stunning btw) PS going for a dark glossy vibrant green.I think this will go good with the black and gold. 2.a blade with minimal curvature(straight as can be with hamon),folded steel, hamon.ps I like bugei swords yet they don't make custom saya as far as I know. 3.Custom high quality hand made fittings and workmanship.eg Shakudo Nanako ji 4.A hamon like the one shown here www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20WAKIZASHI%20FG.htm5.I have no problem with waiting or with extra costs.Within the £3000-£5000 range I don't want to hassle the sword makers and wait for various replies so if you guy can give me a hand with this on here I'd appreciate it. Many thanks Chris
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Nov 9, 2016 22:06:20 GMT
I've never bought from Pavol Bolf myself, but he is really well regarded as a custom maker. As for Ryansword and Swords of the Northshire, I'd personally avoid them - they're generally known to misrepresent the construction of their swords, and have consistently lied to customers about their products over the years. Also, it's been shown many times that SoN sells the same things that Ryansword sells - a former RS rep stated on the record on FB that they are one and the same company.
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Post by civil on Nov 10, 2016 0:38:34 GMT
Yeah I know all about that dilemma mate Ryan swords aren't exactly professional so to speak .Nothing compared to citadel or bugei ...And thanks il look into that guy .All the best
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Post by Derzis on Nov 10, 2016 3:29:48 GMT
Michael Sabatier might be your choice. Check his site and FB. With +3k Euro you might get your dream sword. It's something I consider myself. www.michael-sabatier.com
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Post by Croccifixio on Nov 10, 2016 6:23:59 GMT
Jesus Hernandez is an option if you're in the States.
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Post by civil on Nov 10, 2016 11:17:56 GMT
Im in the UK my friend Derzis that guy has good stuff and the guys who do bits for him are pretty decent yet I'm looking for more detailed work.
Maybe a Japanese sword smith would be better as he may have more focus on the katana and also may have more experience.
I may have to spend a little more maybe, I have a few photos I can show you guys if I can put photos on here please let me know how
Thanks for that though guys
Chris
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Post by Aurélien on Nov 10, 2016 11:26:52 GMT
Sabatier is an excellent artist (and I don't say that because he and I are French). I saw some of his katana with my own eyes, and I can tell you his blades are master-pieces. Bolf's tsuba are simply stunning.
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Post by civil on Nov 10, 2016 12:00:47 GMT
These are the pics I have compiled regarding the style and characteristics I would like. .My tsuba is on the way to me atm .I saw it and just had to spend the money..I'm not rich at all btw lol .I like the glossy lacquered effect saya but it will be a dark green for me with 6 ridges near the koiguchi. .I like the fade style of hamon shown in the two pics. .And I want a fuchi and koshira like the style shown in the pic, the dotted effect with a big cat in gold and maybe floral decor also. So all in all I'm looking for the most appropriate swordsmith to fit my needs shown here in the pics.Detail and quality is a must and most important.. Again many thanks guys, Chris
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Post by civil on Nov 10, 2016 12:25:12 GMT
I don't know why but I feel that non Japanese smith's have something missing when it comes to aesthetics and design.I do have my theory also the general knowledge o f a Japanese smith would be greater right? Here is some Japanese art I have bought recently. But I'm gonna bear Michael Sabatier in mind also but would prefer a Japanese smith to be honest. Much appreciated Chris Attachments:
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Post by Croccifixio on Nov 10, 2016 13:47:00 GMT
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Post by civil on Nov 10, 2016 14:41:27 GMT
Does Fusataro do custom builds? If so do you k ow the price range for what I am looking for?
All I can find is swordsmith classes.
Thanks Croccifixio.
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Post by Croccifixio on Nov 10, 2016 15:52:26 GMT
Better to contact tamahagane arts they would know the details you're looking for.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Nov 10, 2016 16:09:07 GMT
The unfortunate fact is that you won't be able get a custom sword in complicated custom koshirae from a Japanese swordsmith for 3-5000£'s. You could get a bare blade similar to your desires in shirasaya for that price. You can try contacting Paul Martin @ thejapanesesword.com/ as he can help you towards a right smith for this project. You might also want to tone down the quality requirements a bit. Some of them are easily doable like the saya options. I think something like the high quality nanako is something that will eat a lot of money. There are modern craftsmen who can make this for you but it won't be cheap. I do not mean to say this in negative way but in my honest opinion the quality of the tsuba is decent. I do not mean that it is a bad tsuba (I like the looks of it even though it's very standing out) I just mean that the "high & suberb" quality in Japanese fittings is way up there. You could get decent Mino school fuchi & kashira for c. 450$ for example. www.aoijapan.com/fuchi-kashira-mumeiminoFuchi & Kashira by Tomei as was the pair in picture you posted, 15,000$ iidakoendo.com/1742/For 5000£'s you can get a good second hand modern Japanese sword (but high quality custom order will be more than that). Something along the line of this www.e-sword.jp/katana/1620-1154.htm
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Post by civil on Nov 10, 2016 21:49:44 GMT
Yes I see your point my friend,I may have to invest more or go with your idea of a blade in shirasaya and get all the fittings and have someone put it all together.oh and thanks for the links.
I was looking for a bare blade for a while yet what I was looking for was pretty expensive.I had the idea that having a modern smith do the full build would be cheaper.I like the idea of an antique blade aswell and would prefer it to a modern blade, but won't it cost more?
I really! like the "nanako" so it is a must have I am afraid.
I may have to open the budget up to around £6000 - £8000+.
I will now scour the net in search for parts and see what I come up with, but thanks Jussi big help, great post.
Many thanks guys Chris
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Post by civil on Nov 11, 2016 0:25:47 GMT
Seen as though I have upped my budget. I have purchased a nakato fuchi and koshira from ericowazamono on ebay.i paid about £1000, he let me off £100 which was great.Great guy btw. I just saw this and thought it would be perfect.Pricey ? I don't know really maybe hehe . I took the risk and made the offer because it's the only one I came across which I liked and found suitable. Next step is the antique Japanese blade which may take a while, and then to get the custom saya designed and made. Chris Attachments:
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Post by civil on Nov 30, 2016 12:05:33 GMT
I have got a blade now I am happy with the price, and the fact that it's a kanbun Shinto is just right . what do you all think? Also can anyone tell me about ..TSUSHIMA NO KAMI FUJIWARA SADASHIGE JAPANESE SWORD.? Next is the tsuka ,,I'm in the UK so I don't want to be shipping it around unless I have to does anyone know anyone in uk who does a custom made tsuka and saya ,handmade ? If so please drop me a reply .I'm in West Midlands BTW. All the best guys and thanks . Chris
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Nov 30, 2016 13:31:50 GMT
I like the fuchi and kashira and I think the craftsmanship looks very good. Tsushima Sadashige is a mid-tier smith. He Has been listed chū-saku in Fujishiro. He was a smith from Owari province but also worked in Ōsaka. He has been usually listed active Kanbun, Fujishiro has him listed in Manji but that is just before Kanbun. Unfortunately the old NBTHK papers it has have lost pretty much all their commercial value. In UK you have Kevin Jones at ryujinswords.com/services.htm I'm sure there are others too but he is the first name that pops into my mind.
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Post by civil on Nov 30, 2016 14:34:00 GMT
Okay thanks for your help again mate ^ I will look into that guy thankyou very much. Also what is it about the papers that makes you feel the papers have lost value? Many many thanks Jussi
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Post by skane on Nov 30, 2016 17:09:51 GMT
Michael Sabatier might be your choice. Check his site and FB. With +3k Euro you might get your dream sword. It's something I consider myself. www.michael-sabatier.com+1 more vote for Michael Sabatier.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Nov 30, 2016 18:00:55 GMT
There was a scandal (corruption etc.) in the NBTHK during the early 80's. Don't know it too accurately as I wasn't even born when that happened. They changed their classification system and made other changed that weeded out the bad things. This was over 30 years ago, and that does not mean that old attiributions are incorrect etc. However NBTHK has officially stated that old papers are not recognized by them anymore. All dealers and most of the collectors have thought this way for a long time too. Especially big name swords coming from Japan with old papers should be approached with caution. There has been 20+ years to upgrade them to new papers (which would directly affect the value/authencity), and sending them to NBTHK shinsa when in Japan is easy. For people outside Japan it will be bit costly but if the blade is good then it would be worth it.
So basically in todays market old NBTHK papers are considered worthless by dealers/collectors (you'll see many dealers from Japan that sell in eBay have a lot of old papers as they target more "unknowing" western buyers and as those blades are more difficult to sell in Japan). However I think it's better to have old papers than no papers. Of course the commercial value is not there, but it still gives an attribution/confirmation of signature. Yes there were some shady ones that caused the issues but most of the old papers were perfectly legitimate attributions. Lot of it comes down to what it is attributed to. I'd like more signed examples such as your sword or mumei attributions to fairly low classed schools/smiths.
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