Key focus and directions

To start collecting Nihonto, one needs to set the Key focus and directions. Jean, a senior collector has taught me that there is a need for a theme in collecting so that it could be the goal for the collection. My key directions are: 

1. To focus on collecting Koto katana before year 1460, preferably  鎌倉末期到室町初期 or earlier.

2. With Tokubetsu Hozon paper

3. Unique katana/Tachi

4. Focus on quality and not quantities, best that I can afford.

Originally, I was looking at Shinto (新刀) but with the good advice from Jean, I have changed my direction to Koto as koto were made as a weapon of war while the Shinto were made as decorations and ceremonial purpose. From my reading, it seems that the real art of Japanese sword making was lost after the warring period as the Shinshinto has made attempts to resurrect it. In another old articles, it was said that the wound cut by old katana will take a longer time to heal versus those of the Shinto.. Amazing...

Excerpts from the net:

There are several reasons why the old sword is the more valuable. 

The wound inflicted by it is difficult to cure, though it be but a scratch one inch deep; while that made by a new sword heals easily even if it be deep. We know that the narrow, thin blade of the old sword is far sharper than the strongly made blade of the new. This is generally true, although there may be a few exceptions. At this time there are many fraudulent old swords made by polishing away the blade of the new sword. This is readily done, as the appearance of the welded edge of the modern blade is easily changed, and thus the ' midare ' may appear a ' straight' and a ' straight' may become like 'a midare.' 

Old swords never change their character, Ichimoji always remaining Ichimoji however much it is whetted.

In the book "Notes on the New Sword," it is said, that "we must be well acquainted with the art of sword-cutlery or we become as the archer who is ignorant of the nature of the bow, or the doctor who does not understand medicine." The author further gives the details of cutlery concerning the new sword with which there is no difficulty. In the matter of polishing, we must admire it even if it be made to-day. We admire the old sword the more as its 'heat color' is lost with age and as its stuff iron presents peculiar marks, showing the lapse of 500 or 800 years. We can understand its meaning only by the study of the method of polishing. Of course the knowledge of cutlery is not positively useless. But even the Honnami of every generation do not study cutlery, while they are all perfectly acquainted with the modes of polishing. There are some men who commit the examination of their sword to a smith. But the arts of cutlery and judgment being quite different, the latter cannot be acquired without its special study.

The method of sword judgment relates almost exclusively to the old sword, but we can easily judge new blades without the knowledge of its rides. Many of the new swords bear the inscription of the maker. The structure of the nakago is very simple, being exactly similar to their pictures in the sword book. There are many very skillfully forged blades which have often obtained a better price than genuine work, for the reason that their value is fluctuating. This will be the case more frequently in the future.

Some new swords resemble the old work, and are much boasted of, but it is rather contrary to the purpose of the new sword, that being valuable only because it is new. The works of Sukehira and Sanemasa are noble, fresh, and lively. 

We appreciate old swords that look new, but the new swords that look old from the beginning become useless after the lapse of a few hundred years. Even the old blade of which the welded edge is not clearly seen is useless. However slender its edge, good work will appear lively and newer than it really is. Some maintain that the new sword will benefit posterity, serving it as the "old," while the old sword will not be useful to future generations, having fulfilled its purpose. This seems reasonable. Still, always to select the new sword from such a motive is to sacrifice one's own welfare for posterity. This is very foolish, and may jeopardize one's life.