Sometimes I miss my wakizashi

Back in the early-1980s I bought a WWII Japanese admiral’s flag (a large one, to be flown from a ship) for $75 at a swap meet. Shortly thereafter I met a guy who would trade a wakizashi for it. The wakizashi had a WWII handle, tsuba and scabbard, which were obviously incorrect. I took the wakizashi to a Japanese sword store and found out that it had been made c.16th Century and the tang was signed. I really liked that sword.

But I was young, and I needed money. A friend really liked it, so I sold it to him for $150. I asked him a few times over the years if he still had it, and if he’d like to sell it back. ‘What? My prized possession?’ Nope. He’s keeping it.

Sometimes I really miss that sword.

!

That’s me being speechless.

You**…sold**…a 16th century wakizashi…

for $150!!!
:eek:
If there was ever a call for the “putz” smiley outside the Pit, this would be it.

I can see the appraisers at the Antiques Roadshow already lining up to slap him.

Well to be fair… I did only pay $75 for it. And I was a kid! :o

At least I know it’s in good hands.

My dad once sold an early pressing of Alice Cooper’s “Killer” at a garage sale for $1.

He found out a few years later that that particular release was worth around $200.

So like, what’s a 16th Century wakizashi with a signed tang worth? What’s it worth in El Paso?

Well, presumably less that a Hanzo katana.

So… more or less than a Nazi battle flag and paratrooper helmet? What if you throw in an Itallian Fascist helmet?

And that relates to the movie joke how?

I don’t know about a Koto period wakizashi, but a quick search turned up a Shinto period one in similar condition for $475.

Of course values depend on period, condition of the blade, condition of the accessories, maker, etc. and may reach several thousands of dollars. But given that I got my blade so cheaply (from a guy who, in the 1980s, would not trade a certain katana for a very nice classic Triumph), and that this was 20 years ago and there has been inflation in the meantime, I probably got a ‘fair’ price for my wakizashi. As I said the fittings were WWII. Also there were a couple of small nicks and scratches on the blade. Still in very nice condition for a non-serious collector, but not anything special for a serious collector.

But I still miss it sometimes. I should have kept it.