Japanese sword on ebay

[Chad1]

I'm just trying to learn something about Japanese swords with the plan on getting a nice one.

I saw this on ebay and wanted to hear if others thought it looked okay.

Thanks for the input guys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/JAPANESE-WW2-SUP...QQcmdZViewItem

[Bob Coleman]

In My Opinion, This Sword Is Overpriced. The Blade Is A Ww2 Era Arsenal Produced Blade. There Is No Reason For Three Seperate Holes To Be Found In The Tang Of A Modern Blade. This Leads Me To Believe That The Handle May Not Be Original To The Sword. I Would Wait For A Better Sword At A Reasonable Price.

[Edokko]

"Fujiwara Yoshinao of Seki", and yes defnitely a war-time made sword by a smith purveying to the military at the time. The multiple mekugi-ana (peg holes) probably came from several mounts the original user had (Gunto koshirae, minkan-koshirae etc), and will detract from the value. I agree it's way overpriced, there are much more better swords at that kind of price.

[Chad1]

feedback

thanks for the responses guys.

It's good to know for comparison to others.

[b-m-n_animal]

My opinion of this blade is that it's an earlier seki blade the acceptance stamp (not arsenal stamp) is in the form of a blossom as opposed to the square form one used during WW2 (I'll have a look when I can get to my books for the date this stamp was used) .

The three holes do indicate that it was re mounted as said previously
and would have possibly been in the earlier 'D' hilt.

The price is a bit on the steep side but the later swords are starting to raise in value and this does look to be in good condition and looking at the Hamon (the wavy line on the blade) it appears to be a well made sword.

regards from UK

[cbuehler]

Actually it is a nice Gunto. The price is not all that high in my opinion. Nice mounts and tassle as well. They are not going to get any cheaper.

CB

[b-m-n_animal]

Just wanted to add that it's dificult to make out the blossom shaped stamp and looking in my copy of "Military swords of Japan1868-1945" by fuller and gregory it could be one of 4 but 2 of them are unlikly. Id say its from between 1926-42, and yes looks to be a nice gunto probably once mounted as a kyu-gunto this pattern was changed in the early 1930's to the more common shin-gunto so that narrows it down even further if it was remounted. very likley to be a very well made blade . . but not having the chance to look at it in the flesh it's allways difficult to say.

[cbuehler]

Well, now its over $1500 which is more than it is worth. Things are going crazy on ePay lately and I have just about quit using it as a source.

CB

[ScottW]

Heh,gasolines not worth 3 bucks a gallon,but that's what I paid for it this morn. I too find Ebay to be a dreamer's paradise of value,BUT,it IS the market as we know it,the MAX shows may be a more level playing field as to setting the actual value of militaria, but the fruits and nuts on Epay can't be ignored,assuming they are actually sending in the money after the auction. I usually reserve final word on a realized price for a few days till I read the feedback on the sale of said item. If it didn't get relisted,then,well,that's what ONE of them sold for ,like it or not. I personally have struck gold every time I've sold an item,I've just been lucky I guess . Sold $650 banged up NCO swords,$200 for run-o-the mill tunics and kanji flags,$300 m-90 helms with cracks,all well described and photo'd. I set no reserve low start up prices and the bidders do the rest,not me. And I have perfect feedback to show for it. The only way I can explain the phenomenon is WAY too many uneducated(as to price/condition factors) so called "collectors" getting in a mass -gotta have it- frenzy. On an upside,sometimes you can catch a gem for cheap while nobodies watching.

[behblc]

I have to agree with Scott W - although swords are not my thing the generally the same principles apply -ebay does throw up some crazy prices and there is aprice which should not be paid.
Some sellers chance their arms and if someone buys why should they complain .