Newbie question

[Bill005]

Hi folks, am Bill and I'm happy to be a member of this amazing forum. Just some few questions.

1.I'm looking to purchase my first Japanese dagger to add up to my collection and have an eye for the Japanese sword tanto, dagger in shirosaya mounting. I need advice if that's a good choice.

[Battara]

Glad you're with us too. I'm sure some of our nihonto people will give you better advice than I.

A few things I have learned:

• Study, study, study - knowledge is power and research can help you find what you like, and then you will also be less likely to get screwed.
• Go to reputable dealers with good reputations. You can take a piece back if you discover that something is wrong with it.
• Talk to knowledgeble people or even join a nihonto society. They know the ins and outs, and who the good players are.

I hope this helps. It sure has helped me avoid some very ugly losses. I am still not ready for getting into nihonto - yet (still studying)

Now if you aren't ready for nihonto but are looking for gunto and kai-gunto stuff, I still say the same thing. There are fakes on the market in both nihonto and gunto/kai-gunto stuff out of China.

[Battara]

FYI - pricing and commentary on dealers are not allowed on this forum. However, you can privately email individual members for this information.

[Treeslicer]

I'm a newb on this forum, but not at all new to nihonto. Nihonto Message Board is arguably the best specialist nihonto forum, http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php , Nihonto Club is one of the most informative specialist nihonto sites, Sword Buyers Guide is a combination commercial and enthusiast site aimed at people buying and using modern replicas for backyard cutting, but has a lot of beginner info on it. It also has a very active forum with a Japanese Swords subforum that also has postings about genuine nihonto, and is possibly the best place to go to talk dealers and values, including active auctions and other stuff prohibited here, and is beginner friendly.

This forum specializes in almost everything but Japanese. I came here originally because it's just about the only place on the net in English that has experts on the Indonesian keris and the Philippine barong/bolo, both of which I have some of.

So far as I know, the only Japanese "daggers" are the tanto, and a smaller weapon, the kaiken, mostly carried by samurai women for self defense and suicide, so you don't have a lot of type choices.

[Roland_M]

Originally Posted by Bill005

Hi folks, am Bill and I'm happy to be a member of this amazing forum. Just some few questions.

1.I'm looking to purchase my first Japanese dagger to add up to my collection and have an eye for the Japanese sword tanto, dagger in shirosaya mounting. I need advice if that's a good choice.

Hello Bill,

some detailed pictures of your dagger of interest would be helpful.
Never forget, that you have to add at least 750$ for a new polish, if the old one is worn out.
Study, study, study is a good advise but he problem is, that most books tend to show only top quality stuff. This means you will learn, how a Sajo Owazamono blade looks but nothing about average quality swords. Most of the Nihonto offered in the internet are average or lower quality. High quality nihonto (at least a Owazamono mei) are very rare.

In my opinion the Nihonto-forum ist worth to study.

An in my honest opinion it is really helpful for learning, if you buy a low quality blade full of KizuKitae, Cracks and so on by mistake. After such an experience you will learn what you have to look for.

For basic understanding the Internet is good enough. If you understand the picture I added and if you can sort out the blades correctly, you are an expert.


Roland

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Bill005

Hi folks, am Bill and I'm happy to be a member of this amazing forum. Just some few questions.

1.I'm looking to purchase my first Japanese dagger to add up to my collection and have an eye for the Japanese sword tanto, dagger in shirosaya mounting. I need advice if that's a good choice.

1. Welcome to the forum!

2. For more information about Japanese blades you may want to join "Nihonto Message Board" forum.

3. Send me private message.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

3. E-mail me.

I don't know if he can do that!? I can't contact for example new members.

Regards,
Detlef

[Ian]

There may be some restrictions on e-mailing to new members and new members e-mailing other members. The Private Messaging function should work however.

Ian.

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by Ian

There may be some restrictions on e-mailing to new members and new members e-mailing other members. The Private Messaging function should work however.

Ian.

Hello Ian,

I meant Bill to send me a private message (edited my previous posting) as I tried to send him a private message but couldn't. Maybe he can.

Regards,

Marius

[kai]

Hello Marius,

New members don't have PM during the "probation" period...

Regards,
Kai

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by kai

New members don't have PM during the "probation" period...

That's what I've meant!

[Treeslicer]

Yeah, we do. I have to wait to see my posts, but I can send PM's.

[Battara]

My apologies - I meant no disrespect Bill005

I do agree about the Nihonto Forum - a great resource.

One or two folks from there are members here as well (me included ).