Early Signed Koto Bizen Tachi - Japanese Samurai Sword Start Price USD 3,500.00 Current Price USD 3,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, November 19, 2008 End Time Sunday, November 23, 2008 Location Troendelag See more about 'Early Signed Koto Bizen Tachi - Japanese Samurai Sword' Description Early Bizen Tachi I am selling my Japanese swords collection due to having purchased a house recently. I am sorry for having to part with these fine swords and fittings but my loss is your gain! Please also check out my other auctions for more swords and fittings! I will combine shipping on all items. For sale is a very early Bizen Tachi! Looks like an early Nambokuchi Periode blade to me, possibly made in the 14th century. The sword has a very nice Sugata as associated with old Bizen Tachi swords. I had purchased it from the estate of an US Veteran about 10 years ago and it has been my wish to have it properly restored ever since. But as I am lacking the necessary funds, here is your chance to become its new owner! The blades measures 85.5 cm total and remains a rather long cutting edge of 69 cm. It is 2.9 cm wide and has a Motokase of 0.56 cm. It remains part of its original signature and has had Bohi added at some point of time - probably in early Shinto times. The blade has no bad Kizu but there are some grain openings from repeated polishing. The blade is mainly clean but the Hamon is only visible in several sports due to rubbing marks and surface scratches. Howver it has a very nice old Bizen like Gunome Hamon where visible. I tried my best to capture the Hamon in my pictures but I guess it was unfortunately a rather lousy attemp :) The sword only had a matching Tsuka when I got it 10 years ago. The Tsuka is however pretty nice. It has a pair of gold washed bronce Dragon Menuki, matching Handachi or Tachi silver washed Fuchi / Kashira and a really great Sarute! It is very hard to find an old Sarute but here it is! The Tsuka also has a full shark skin wrap not just two stripes held in places. I found a matching Habaki (it could need some adjustments though) as they years went by and also a Saya with a very good iron Kojiri. These parts can be used for building a Koshirae while the blade istelf should be put into a new Shirasaya after having been polished. Anyway I will inlcude them with the sword. I hate having to part with this one well but unfortunately one can't hold on things for ever so here's your chance. CONDITIONS OF SALE AND SHIPPING: WORLDWIDE SHIPPING! Shipping cost is only 30.00 USD within Europe, to the rest of the world only 45.00 USD. Insurance is avaialable at actual cost. Returns for a refund are accepted within 10 days of receipt minus a 10% restocking fees + shipping Paymenet by PayPal only. Buyer is to cover any occuring payment fees. Please ask if there are any questions prior to the auction's end! Thank you for watching this auction! Good luck! Place a Bid!