Acquiring a real Japanese sword has been on my "wishlist" for a long time. Like most wives mine hates expensive hobbies (custom cars and guns being the worst offenders) but I think I'm getting her to come around on owning a real antique.
However, doing so isn't exactly easy. Private sellers and ebay are always pushing fakes and the only two legit websites I know of usually don't post prices to past auctions or leave listings up after they are gone. I very much like functional beauty; I don't need the rarer stuff with the fancy irregular hamon or unusual shape. I especially like the swords you can tell were made during a period of war that are longer, thicker, and just a bit more robust. Does anyone have an idea how much a papered Koto period sword usually sells for in excellent condition from one of the more common makers? I guess an older Shinto sword would catch my interest as well, 1597 seems such an arbitrary date for the cutoff. The wars of that time continued for almost two decades after that so surely great swords were still being made. If not, then you'd think that later Koto swords would be less desirable also.
I've heard a story or two of"so and so picked up a steal on a Koto sword for 3-5k" but I know that can't be normal and/or they likely bought a fake. Is there a forum anywhere that focuses on antique Japanese swords? The sword forum here is slow but compared to any others I'm aware of it is like rush hour an LA and I'm pretty much on the lookout for more information and discussion on this subject.
However, doing so isn't exactly easy. Private sellers and ebay are always pushing fakes and the only two legit websites I know of usually don't post prices to past auctions or leave listings up after they are gone. I very much like functional beauty; I don't need the rarer stuff with the fancy irregular hamon or unusual shape. I especially like the swords you can tell were made during a period of war that are longer, thicker, and just a bit more robust. Does anyone have an idea how much a papered Koto period sword usually sells for in excellent condition from one of the more common makers? I guess an older Shinto sword would catch my interest as well, 1597 seems such an arbitrary date for the cutoff. The wars of that time continued for almost two decades after that so surely great swords were still being made. If not, then you'd think that later Koto swords would be less desirable also.
I've heard a story or two of"so and so picked up a steal on a Koto sword for 3-5k" but I know that can't be normal and/or they likely bought a fake. Is there a forum anywhere that focuses on antique Japanese swords? The sword forum here is slow but compared to any others I'm aware of it is like rush hour an LA and I'm pretty much on the lookout for more information and discussion on this subject.
