meiji period sword

[gringo]

hello,

this is a japanese sword, shortened in 1868 and mounted in western military furniture. i believe it was a customs police non commissioned officers weapon.
it is a good piece of steel, both temper line and grain are visible when you handle the weapon, not so clear in photos.
there is no signature on the tang.
pm if interested. thank you, donald

[gringo]

i guess i want too much for this blade...could i please have some imput on what the market would bear on this piece....

thanks folks, donald

[jonet143]

i don't see a sale price. how much do you want?

[gringo]

well..here is the embarassment part..i have been asking around 2,500.00.
people at the gunshows seem real interested..but no takers.

[jonet143]

have you checked ebay? that will tell you what you can sell it for on an open market.

[gringo]

i will go try that..thanks.
donald

[jonet143]

sorry, no real help donald. i know next to nothing about japanese swords or their worth.

[gringo]

the distance between prices on japanese metal is so severe...i don't think there are ten people in the us would could say for sure...ebay has prices from 200. to 29,000.
whew...and without a signature...who knows?
i believe i am in the ballpark..but my price must be retail and everyone wants below cost.
i have a difficult time believing a 200 year old hand made 19 1/2 inch straight razor is not worth something to someone.

thanks again, donald

[dudleythetogi]

The mounts aren't the most desireable to the average Nihontohalic,you cant see any specifics in your pics for the money you are asking.You would have to make sure there are no perpendicular cracks thru the hamon,no core steel peeking thru the skin,no ware(pronounced something like war-ay)forgeing flaws such as longitudinal openings in the skin.The hamon travels around the kissaki(tip)all the way to the end and may even turn back on the mune(spine or back edge of the sword).The sword could be retempered,there are tell-tale signs for this that most experianced sword people know to look for.The hamon cant run off the edge at all,usually just after the ha-machi(notch at the edge before the nakago(tang)There are exceptions.
Greg

[CCBill]

What Greg said

[gringo]

well, i had someone want 110.00 an inch to polish it so he could "identify" the blade.
pt barnum huh?
EVERY japanese sword "expert" holds their breath and forgets how to talk when they handle this weapon...perhaps it is an old leaf spring an' i should send it to the recyclers.
i just went to the "expert site" on japanese blades. seems this blade doesn't exist, all it's counterparts are machined.
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

[jonet143]

how did you aquire it?

[gringo]

i aquired the weapon in 1991, a friend was involved with the demolition of several sections of homes for the new runway/interstate project in the late 70's in phoenix.
the blade was found hanging in the rafters of one of the garages torn down. it was removed by my friend. i had some SS material, a privates tunic. my friend wanted the tunic, and offered me several long blades in trade...this weapon was in the corner of his collection room, ignored, dust covered, spiders...at least it was dry.
i made the trade...as an antique dealer, there is a moment, when the "expert" sees a piece...and rather than go goo-gaa-prurty, they go silent. a lot like playing big stakes poker... don't give anything away.
this blade consistantly has that effect on the japanese sword experts.

donald