Sword Shows (Part Two)
Sword Shows (Part Two)By Russell McCartney |
Do sword-show attendees usually haggle over prices, or does that tend to upset vendors? There’s some friendly haggling over prices, and there are some dealers that are firmly set on getting the price they want. When it comes to asking for a lower price, most dealers and collectors are good-natured. If you use good judgment, you’ll be fine. No one wants to be badgered when he’s definitively said, “No,” to an offer. If it gets to that point, you’ve pushed too far and just haven’t been paying attention. Can you normally get a better deal at a sword show than on the Internet? Unfortunately, the Internet is a haven for fraud. There’s an old saying: There’s a fool born every minute and two people to take advantage of him. If you really want to buy a sword online, follow two basic rules: Know who you’re buying from and make sure he has a name in the industry. How can you tell if a sword is what the vendor claims it is? Are there certificates of authenticity? At a sword show, you’ll find that most vendors will let a serious buyer get a second opinion from another legitimate dealer. They’ve all known each other for years and are generally in agreement on what various swords are worth. If a piece of paper is that important to you, be prepared to pay a little—and sometimes a lot—extra for it. Real certificates of authenticity come on nice paper with Japanese stamps and insignia. At gun shows and on the Internet, you take a calculated risk with any newly made reproduction. There are decent new blades that do the job they’re designed for. You shouldn’t expect to pay a lot for one of them. What’s the best/worst thing to shop for at a show? For example, is it impossible to get a good deal on an antique blade but easy to buy a reasonably good and fairly cheap production sword? Or is it smarter to look for smaller items such as parts and accessories? First, there are some good deals to be had at sword shows as long as you know what to look for. Use common sense. Don’t look for a good sword at a gun show or even at most knife shows. They’re called “sword shows” for a reason; they’re events at which real collectors and custom sword makers come to show, trade and talk about forged and folded handmade katana-style swords and other Asian weapons. The movers, shakers and true craftsmen that are carrying on this magnificent tradition are there for show and tell for the spectators and to deal with each other. If you’re in the market for a working sword or a collector’s piece, this is the place for you. Word of warning: Most are sufficiently savvy to not sell a sword to someone who won’t take care of it. As for sword fittings, you must understand that each piece is different. Every one of those old pieces was already fitted to a blade. Don’t expect them to magically fit your sword. When it comes to making one fit, know that it can be a huge job unless you want it to rattle like bells on a reindeer. Making old parts fit properly is labor-intensive and usually requires special tools. If you don’t attach the handle securely, for example, it will pose a danger to everyone around you. If you insist on shopping for new furniture, leave your blade at home and come to the show with tracings or micrometer measurements of your sword’s old furniture (tsuba, seppa and fuchi/kashira). That will get you as close as possible to finding suitable replacements. Then look for swords that have nicely done furniture and begin a dialogue with the dealer to determine what it will cost to have your sword similarly refitted. Do vendors usually have a return policy? Sword shows are a slow and contemplative study in the finer details of bladed weapons. Things usually unfold like this: Enough conversation on a particular piece takes place for a bond to form between the seller and the buyer. Do your part and be an informed consumer. Know what you’re after because whether you’re shopping at a sword show, a knife show or a gun show, once you buy it, it’s yours. Closing comments? Don’t be intimidated by the information provided in this column. In no way should it prevent you from attending a sword show and learning the differences between the weapons on display. Sword shows aren’t glamorous, highbrow affairs. They’re for folks like you and me who are fascinated by the details of an art form that’s never been copied or reproduced. About the author: Russell McCartney is a San Francisco-based seventh-degree black belt and the founder of ishi yama ryu battojutsu. |
