Advice on getting a katana

katana · 19th June 2007, 09:27 PM

acquiring a 'genuinely' old Katana is like finding a needle in a minefield. The Market is 'littered' with high quality fakes and 'millions' of poorer construction.
Even the experts get their fingers burned.....this really is a specialist field .....where the risk factor is extremely high as prices are so extreme.
I have held a fantastic 18 th C katana....unbelieveably balanced, an absolute beauty with a lovely Hamon.....a work of art.....this sword 'talked'...but even then the owner wasn't 100% it was genuine

Bill please be very, very careful if you decide to invest in an antique version. A recently made quality katana sounds a good idea. There are still very experienced swordsmiths in Japan that still make them in a totally traditional way....including the production of the steel used in the blades...but these are extremely expensive

Bill M · 19th June 2007, 11:18 PM

This is obviously going to take more research. As I view wonderful sites like Rich Stein's website

http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

and

http://www.aoi-art.com/

and

the Nihonto Forum

http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessageboard/

I begin to realize that there are some good quality antique swords that are not a lot more than the new models.

These new swords are pretty, and I can see why people would buy them, but for my money, I can't see spending $1,500 for a fake sword- a pretty wall decoration, when I could put that $1,500 towards a real one.

A good friend has only one Japanese sword, but it is from the 1500s. It looks nothing like these new ones. It's sturdy and sharp, and could easily cut off your arm to this day. It is made with a core and hamon and outfitted with a fine higo dragon gold inlaid tsuba and sword fittings- it's really cool to see this kind of workmanship and functional utility, I just don't think I'd get the same feeling from one of these modern sword. He paid $1,200 for his sword about 20 years ago. It is probably worth about $5,000 now.

Regarding new swords, I don't know Japanese, but have some experience with Chinese swords and I would not buy a new made Chinese sword. I just don't think it would keep my interest. Why would I expect a new made Japanese sword to?

I find one underlying quality in things I like to collect. If it is really good, I see new things in it almost every time I study and spend time with it. This can be a fine Kerman Lavar "Persian" carpet, or an old sword from Timor.

There is still a quality that only older antique pieces can have. So I am revising my search for a really nice antique Nihonto. May as well get something that will increase in value.

I believe that if I can network with the right collectors I can find something that I like and that it will be genuine.

But I may also get a cutter from Paul Chen in his "Pracctical" or better line that I can go out in my field and take on a big stand of Kudzu! I already got the black drawstring pants! Just need some of the split toe sandals!

Heee Yaaaaaah!

Bill M · 19th June 2007, 11:18 PM

Rich,

Would you please email or PM me?

19th June 2007, 09:27 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	acquiring a 'genuinely' old Katana is like finding a needle in a minefield. The Market is 'littered' with high quality fakes and 'millions' of poorer construction. Even the experts get their fingers burned.....this really is a specialist field .....where the risk factor is extremely high as prices are so extreme. I have held a fantastic 18 th C katana....unbelieveably balanced, an absolute beauty with a lovely Hamon.....a work of art.....this sword 'talked'...but even then the owner wasn't 100% it was genuine Bill please be very, very careful if you decide to invest in an antique version. A recently made quality katana sounds a good idea. There are still very experienced swordsmiths in Japan that still make them in a totally traditional way....including the production of the steel used in the blades...but these are extremely expensive

19th June 2007, 11:18 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	This is obviously going to take more research. As I view wonderful sites like Rich Stein's website http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm and http://www.aoi-art.com/ and the Nihonto Forum http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessageboard/ I begin to realize that there are some good quality antique swords that are not a lot more than the new models. These new swords are pretty, and I can see why people would buy them, but for my money, I can't see spending $1,500 for a fake sword- a pretty wall decoration, when I could put that $1,500 towards a real one. A good friend has only one Japanese sword, but it is from the 1500s. It looks nothing like these new ones. It's sturdy and sharp, and could easily cut off your arm to this day. It is made with a core and hamon and outfitted with a fine higo dragon gold inlaid tsuba and sword fittings- it's really cool to see this kind of workmanship and functional utility, I just don't think I'd get the same feeling from one of these modern sword. He paid $1,200 for his sword about 20 years ago. It is probably worth about $5,000 now. Regarding new swords, I don't know Japanese, but have some experience with Chinese swords and I would not buy a new made Chinese sword. I just don't think it would keep my interest. Why would I expect a new made Japanese sword to? I find one underlying quality in things I like to collect. If it is really good, I see new things in it almost every time I study and spend time with it. This can be a fine Kerman Lavar "Persian" carpet, or an old sword from Timor. There is still a quality that only older antique pieces can have. So I am revising my search for a really nice antique Nihonto. May as well get something that will increase in value. I believe that if I can network with the right collectors I can find something that I like and that it will be genuine. But I may also get a cutter from Paul Chen in his "Pracctical" or better line that I can go out in my field and take on a big stand of Kudzu! I already got the black drawstring pants! Just need some of the split toe sandals! Heee Yaaaaaah!