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Post by treeslicer on Aug 6, 2018 19:06:14 GMT
Resist the urge until you have thoroughly educated yourself in the subject, or you are doomed to get swindled. The rest of us posting in this thread have been active in the nihonto (and in my case, several other antique weapons) market, as well as in scholarship on the subject, for a long time. I'm sure all of us also made some expensive and embarassing mistakes getting started. "Read the manual before using". well I'm sure I can rely on you guys to give me the best advice. I won't make a purchase till I pass it along you guys and get your opinion I'm also more than willing to help, but remember that self-reliance is the superior path.
BTW, I much prefer Churchill's quotes on getting fired on and missed ("Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result."), as well as on the questionable traditions of the Royal Navy ("Rum, sodomy, and the lash").
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Post by Verity on Aug 6, 2018 19:11:37 GMT
well I'm sure I can rely on you guys to give me the best advice. I won't make a purchase till I pass it along you guys and get your opinion I'm also more than willing to help, but remember that self-reliance is the superior path.
BTW, I mush prefer Churchill's quotes on getting fired on and missed ("Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result."), as well as on the questionable traditions of the Royal Navy ("Rum, sodomy, and the lash"). Also get a copy of the “connoisseur’s book to Japanese swords”. Best first book to buy to figure out what you like.
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 6, 2018 19:15:09 GMT
I got the samurai sword handbook, that was quite informational
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 6, 2018 19:15:56 GMT
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Post by Verity on Aug 6, 2018 19:51:17 GMT
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 6, 2018 19:55:31 GMT
I got the samurai sword handbook, that was quite informational If you mean John Yumoto's book, that's an excellent introduction to the subject. I'd also advise reading heavily at this site, www.japaneseswordindex.com/, then start looking at all the pictures you can at serious dealer's sites like Aoi's, at high zoom when necessary.
I feel that The Connoisseur's Book, depending on drawings rather than photos, and being essentially a kantei cribsheet, might be too advanced for voidec at this stage. Once he's seen enough swords to make the drawings live, that's the time to buy it, IMHO.
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Post by Verity on Aug 6, 2018 19:58:42 GMT
I got the samurai sword handbook, that was quite informational If you mean John Yumoto's book, that's an excellent introduction to the subject. I'd also advise reading heavily at this site, www.japaneseswordindex.com/, then start looking at all the pictures you can at serious dealer's sites like Aoi's, at high zoom when necessary.
I feel that The Connoisseur's Book, depending on drawings rather than photos, and being essentially a kantei cribsheet, might be too advanced for voidec at this stage. Once he's seen enough swords to make the drawings live, that's the time to buy it, IMHO. true. Your sound advice is valid. But I feel NO one interested in nihonto and who may buy one at some point should be without a copy of that book.
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Post by kintaro on Aug 6, 2018 20:01:47 GMT
I don't know enough to advice someone about nihonto in deep but you can for sure find help here on SBG and there: www.militaria.co.za/nmb/
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 6, 2018 21:38:40 GMT
Thanks a lot guys, appreciate it
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 7, 2018 16:39:53 GMT
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Post by Verity on Aug 7, 2018 16:43:08 GMT
don’t know sohei well but showa yes often sells bundle swords or tired older blades. Nothing top tier but I’ve seen some decent offerings. Also daimyou-something often sells some as well. The worry I often have with some of these sellers is either a.) shill bidding or 2.) lots of collectors looking for “hot deals” and subsequently ballooning the price in the last hours of the auction.
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 7, 2018 16:44:59 GMT
what do you mean shill bidding?
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Post by Verity on Aug 7, 2018 17:01:21 GMT
what do you mean shill bidding? fake accounts to bid and spike the price by creating a bid war but the accounts bidding are fake.
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 7, 2018 17:05:13 GMT
oh what the why
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Post by Verity on Aug 7, 2018 17:17:05 GMT
some unscrupulous sellers do this despite it being against eBay policies. To be fair, I have no proof these sellers do this. I just have suspected it in the past when bidding on auctions from some.
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 7, 2018 17:36:39 GMT
That’s just rude
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 7, 2018 17:45:53 GMT
some unscrupulous sellers do this despite it being against eBay policies. To be fair, I have no proof these sellers do this. I just have suspected it in the past when bidding on auctions from some. It's sometimes hard to distinguish seller dishonesty from ordinary bidder ignorance, and then there's the eBay trolls who amuse themselves by creating bogus accounts, and making outrageous bids that they have no intention of covering. I prefer to contact the sellers, and negotiate a "Buy It Now" sale. You can do that while the item's at 0 bids on an eBay auction, and at any time on a "Buy It Now" sale, whether there's a "Make Offer" tab showing or not.
I find that Daimyo's $10 base auctions are good for buying tosogu and koshirae cheaply. Everything else, I contact them and negotiate.
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 7, 2018 17:48:17 GMT
Welcome to Earth. You "come in peace", right?
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voidec
Member
Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 7, 2018 18:02:34 GMT
I wish I could get one for 400 bucks that be nice
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 7, 2018 18:55:47 GMT
Also daimyou-something often sells some as well. daimuyou54eb: www.ebay.com/str/worldarmorantiquedaimyouI think his son has a store, too, but can't remember the name. Started with a K? Komonji? I wish I could get one for 400 bucks that be nice I bought my first nihonto for $400. Granted, it's a mumei, Shinto, probably Seki wakizashi in bad amateur polish with only a scrap scabbard for storage. My second was much more expensive, but I had the opportunity for a layaway and split the bill over six months. Still a mumei wakizashi (naginata-naoshi) in old polish, but at least it has old koshirae. Been out of the nihonto market for a few years, but was never as deep into is as some of the folks here.
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