Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - shinsa, or adapting the japanese experience

Lee · 14th January 2005, 11:49 AM

In my personal experience, true scholars in a field usually behave as gentlemen and are willing, if not eager, to share their knowledge in their field of expertise and to explain the basis of their observations. And there are many fine scholars in the field of the Japanese sword who do so. Of course, as with anything, there are constraints, such as time, and barriers get erected in response to an unending stream of "I want to be the greatest swordsmith in the history of man; how do I start to make a sword?" inquiries.

In my opinion, formed in the 1970s, too much of the Nihonto community in the US grew up out of a 'greasy gun dealer' mentality of using their knowledge to buy valuable swords from a veteran or his widow at a gun show; I personally have seen one case in the early 1980s where $125 was turned around for $10,000 within a month. Presumably, these easy pickings are fading away and hopefully in time so will the value of withholding of sharing of knowledge to gain economic advantage.

Appraisals and other documentation of expert opinions are most valuable, obviously, to those not in a position to judge for themselves, such as starting collectors and investors.

...more to come

14th January 2005, 11:49 AM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 931	In my personal experience, true scholars in a field usually behave as gentlemen and are willing, if not eager, to share their knowledge in their field of expertise and to explain the basis of their observations. And there are many fine scholars in the field of the Japanese sword who do so. Of course, as with anything, there are constraints, such as time, and barriers get erected in response to an unending stream of "I want to be the greatest swordsmith in the history of man; how do I start to make a sword?" inquiries. In my opinion, formed in the 1970s, too much of the Nihonto community in the US grew up out of a 'greasy gun dealer' mentality of using their knowledge to buy valuable swords from a veteran or his widow at a gun show; I personally have seen one case in the early 1980s where $125 was turned around for $10,000 within a month. Presumably, these easy pickings are fading away and hopefully in time so will the value of withholding of sharing of knowledge to gain economic advantage. Appraisals and other documentation of expert opinions are most valuable, obviously, to those not in a position to judge for themselves, such as starting collectors and investors. ...more to come Last edited by Lee Jones; 14th January 2005 at 01:04 PM. Reason: To finish the incomplete post