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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2018 22:38:29 GMT
Gonna be a lot harder to find a katana for under $2k, but not impossible. Might have to sacrifice some things, or buy out of polish...
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voidec
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Back in the game after like 8 years
Posts: 144
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Post by voidec on Aug 8, 2018 22:51:43 GMT
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2018 22:57:27 GMT
Something so very weird about that sword.
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 8, 2018 23:06:37 GMT
Nagamaki-naoshi with the tip screwed up, IMHO.
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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 8, 2018 23:09:30 GMT
I just realized that the tip wasn't very desirable. Rip and I bidded but I'm sure someone is gonna outbid me
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 8, 2018 23:22:51 GMT
I just realized that the tip wasn't very desirable. Rip and I bidded but I'm sure someone is gonna outbid me For your sake, I hope you're right. The nakago looks to me like a very rough and recent o-suriage job, and IMHO, the koshirae are icky. There's a small, but detrimental, chip up near the habaki, and the scratch patterns suggest that it's been used for tameshigiri since it was last polished.
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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 8, 2018 23:27:38 GMT
i guess I'm more into the mountings on the blade
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Post by zsg1313 on Aug 8, 2018 23:37:10 GMT
I haven't followed this thread entirely but if you aren't specifically looking for a nihonto I would look at Matthew Jensen's offering on the sales page. You could also probably get a custom blade done by James Raw, Pavel Bolf or Przemek and have fittings done at a later date.
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 8, 2018 23:40:52 GMT
i guess I'm more into the mountings on the blade Yup, that's the koshirae. Icky!!!
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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 9, 2018 0:24:18 GMT
I hope someone outbids me
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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 9, 2018 0:36:26 GMT
I haven't followed this thread entirely but if you aren't specifically looking for a nihonto I would look at Matthew Jensen's offering on the sales page. You could also probably get a custom blade done by James Raw, Pavel Bolf or Przemek and have fittings done at a later date. The katana he’s offering is a bit out of my price point
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Post by zsg1313 on Aug 9, 2018 0:58:14 GMT
I haven't followed this thread entirely but if you aren't specifically looking for a nihonto I would look at Matthew Jensen's offering on the sales page. You could also probably get a custom blade done by James Raw, Pavel Bolf or Przemek and have fittings done at a later date. The katana he’s offering is a bit out of my price point Understood completely. Another option to keep an eye on would be bare blades from eBay seller "komonjo" At best those are "illegal" blades made in Japan traditionally. At worst they are Chinese made with a much more traditional looking hada that any other folded blades made in China.
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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 9, 2018 1:07:03 GMT
Do you have a link?
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Post by zsg1313 on Aug 9, 2018 1:12:43 GMT
Nothing available now but I think you can view his recently sold blades to get an idea of what they are like. m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?sid=komonjo&isRefine=trueI've had 2 of his and been very pleased in comparison to any other modern folded blades I have owned. Keep in mind most all are bare so a habaki and koshirae would need to be constructed.
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Post by zsg1313 on Aug 9, 2018 1:25:59 GMT
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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 9, 2018 3:20:25 GMT
oh my that's really nice
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Post by kintaro on Aug 9, 2018 3:57:39 GMT
Honestly voidec, if I could give you a piece of advice, I will advise you to learn more about nihonto to define what you really want, save more money in the same time, and only then buy a higher rank blade you will not regret having purchased.
Like Verity said before, avoid Ebay in the first place and look for sellers who can provide a good expertise. Even if the blade is not papered, the guy will not engage his reputation on a cheap scam, in contrary of an Ebay seller. That's a guarantee on it own. Finally I personally think a desirable nihonto katana start at 3000/4000$, under that price you either face a lucky find or there is a catch, a flaw somewhere, presented as it is or hidden.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Aug 9, 2018 11:47:28 GMT
I think Kintaro gave you solid advice above.
Low end stuff will always have buyers but will always be low. Middle stuff will be a difficult market to navigate. High end stuff will command high prices with very high variance as you need to find a correct buyer. You should not think the sword as an investment. Most likely if you will buy from a dealer you will be really hard pressed to get back what you paid for it. Most likely you'll have to sell at a loss.
The thing is Japanese dealers see thousands of swords yearly, they are very experienced and know their game. They know market prices and do their business very well. I'm talking about big dealers in here, of course there are small ones too (like the ones that deal on eBay). Sometimes you see swords from Japanese dealers find their way into US or EU dealers with big + added on their price tag.
The Japanese dealers at eBay are often selling stuff that wont sell well inside Japan, so they try to push it internationally. Often to uneducated Western buyers (note that sometimes they do have interesting stuff too). Good Japanese dealer at eBay is Kanetoyo (Nakamura-san) but he is experienced dealer and knows his stuff well. Some good international dealers that pop up on eBay are NihontoArt (Nick Ricupero) and Nihonto Australia (John Grasso). You'll not get bargain deals from any good dealers but you'll get better stuff.
A sword you'll get for 1000$ most likely wont ever give you profit, just the opposite. Yes there are few treasure hunting success stories and I know few collectors who have scored amazingly at eBay. But just take note that there are at least 99 fails for every 1 good score.
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Post by Verity on Aug 9, 2018 13:23:46 GMT
Let’s also consider where voidec started. The sense I get is that he “just wants a decent nihonto, darnit!” And I for one, respect that. I have some REALLY nice ones that as Jussi said, commanded a price that most here would not pay. But, I also own a nihonto or two that did not break the bank. Are they art swords? No. But not every collector wants one, and if we consider voidec’s wants then we can say we are not in art sword territory. I kept hearing similar for a long time, “buy books and not swords unless you can afford a $20,000+ piece” and frankly, that is a bit elitist. I mean no disrespect at all. It’s all sound advice and I see what folks are saying (I even said similar up at the front of this thread), but if voidec just wants a nihonto and wants to know he didn’t get swindled then there ARE options. I’ve already linked a few. I’m not gonna try and dissuade him from a nihonto it he wants a nihonto. Of course caveat emptor: the aforementioned warnings and advice. Avoid eBay. There are very few sellers of repute as Jussi said. The ones he listed I either know through an earned reputation or have transacted with personally so agree with his statements, but it is often better to work with a dealer directly. Nihonto is not a day-trade commodity and we need to stop thinking of them (or swords in general) like profit machines for investment like stocks. Nihonto is like collecting art. It is a fluctuating and relatively niche market and yes, often a wash or profit-loss situation if you sell, but I also don’t think voidec is looking to “diversify his portfolio” with nihonto. 😂
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Post by Verity on Aug 9, 2018 13:31:12 GMT
Another note to add, you can also get relatively decent katana with an “unsightly” (but not fatal) flaw in those price points. Fukure are good to look for as they bring the prices WAY down because collectors often avoid fukure. Andy has a kanbun example (1660’s) of such: www.nihonto.us/TERUKADO%20-YOSHISADA%20KATANA.htmKoshirae: check (tho not super fancy) Katana (and genuine nihonto): check Reputable dealer: check In your budget: check
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