Interesting Find - Katana

[FletchSan]

Hi All,

 

I found an interesting Katana which I picked up on Saturday on the way to dropping off two wakizashi for windows (a naginata & nagamaki).

 

I noticed it listed in a local classified as a ww2 sword in the same family for 70 years and got it for only $500 AUD (Around $380 USD) which seemed like a steal and it was on the way to the polisher - so perfect !

 

It isn't in military mounts and is clearly an older sword so I am also having a window opened on this one as well subject to the condition of the blade underneath the rust on the kissaki which is pretty rusted.

 

Hopefully there will not be major pitting under that rust as the rest of the blade looks pretty good. It was covered in dirt and grease which we removed and I hastily took this photo as a shot with my phone, unfortunately not great photo.

 

Hamon is there and the nakago has a very nice dark patina and is suriage & mumei.

 

Not much to comment on yet - though I will post pictures of the window (assuming the kissaki is okay) in a couple of weeks when I get it back as well as the windows of the other two swords. Will be my first windows, so pretty excited and hopeful for this Katana.

 

Does the sugata suggest Koto, perhaps late muromachi ? The nagasa is also rather long at just under 70cm.

 

Also - a piece of what appears to be rice paper was wrapped around the nakago. I assume no significance other than to make it fit the tsuka a little more tightly?

 

cheers,

 

Ben

 

 

[Stephen]

would have still liked a photo of nakago to make call but surely looks koto 

[vajo]

Looks like a nice sword.

The menuki is a fish?

[nagamaki - Franco]

 

 

Does the sugata suggest Koto, perhaps late muromachi ? 

 

 

I'd say so, perhaps early muromachi.

[FletchSan]

Thanks - agree based on the shape alone it looks to be Koto and hopefully the window will help narrow it down. I was probably a little premature posting about this sword given I can't take any more photos just yet. The nakago should also confirm koto given the dark patina and the fact it has been shortened.

 

I have two images from the original ad before it was removed that show the menuki a little clearer which is a fish and also the rust on the kissaki.

 

Do you think there's a chance the kissaki will be okay under that rust? I guess I'll know soon enough.

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[Greg F]

Hello Ben hard to say for sure but I'd guess the Kissaki can be saved by a pro. Good luck

 

Greg

[Stephen]

Agree with Greg, waiting on nakago....

[FletchSan]

Fingers crossed! It's with the polisher so will post better pics (including the nakago ! as soon as I get it back in a week or two.

[FletchSan]

I received the katana back today and was able to take some better photos including the newly opened window and nakago. The kissaki looks to be okay under that rust as well.

 

Measurements

 

Nagasa:  68cm

Mihaba:   2.8cm

Sori:        1.8cm

Kasane:  0.5cm

 

Ben

[Kronos]

Looks good, what did the polisher say he thought it was?

 

Is there utsuri? It reminds of sue bizen i.e. sukesada/kiyomtisu or similar.

[Stephen]

ill stick with koto, love to see it restored.

[SAS]

Nice looking sword.

[nagamaki - Franco]

muromachi naoe shizu would be my guess.

[vajo]

Just for interest.

Why is it only polished on that short part and no full polished.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[Jamie]

Chris, That's called a window. You can have this done instead of full polish to see if the sword is worth the investment of full polish.

[vajo]

Thank you Jamie.

I didn't know this.

[FletchSan]

I'm very lucky to have a togishi live so close to me and the small investment into a window can save you some heartache if the full polish reveals some issues.

 

The window in this case did in fact reveal an issue, so I most likely will not do a full polish on this one but keep it for study as is. It's a bit hard to see in the photos though the hamon dips to the edge and fades near the kissaki.

 

The feedback from the togishi was that it was most likely late muromachi mino den due to the tighter hada, lack of masame, harder/stiffer hamon, course nie and lack of activity in the hamon vs. an earlier muromachi blade.

 

Its a nice sword - just a shame about the flaw with the hamon. I still have a nice little window to peer into and appreciate it though

 

Ben

[mywifesgunakillme]

Can I ask who the togishi that performed the window is? Looks like nice work.

[mywei]

Can I ask who the togishi that performed the window is? Looks like nice work.

 

My guess would be Andrew Ickeringill, as he is the only Japanese trained togishi in our part of the world.

[FletchSan]

Yes, Andrew did the polish.

https://touken-togishi.com

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[Stephen]

Ben well done , your lucky to have Andy so close.

[Brian]

Indeed. Someone fully trained, experienced and qualified. Only wish he would move here

[Stephen]

LOL thought you wanted out of the place, better to move there, oh wait gun control, south Fla ...is the ticket!

[SAS]

Or Arizona or Oregon....you can own full auto machine guns there!

[Ken-Hawaii]

Gun laws are still pretty pissy here in Hawaii, but you'd have Benson close-by. Actually, his deshi does 90% of my work these days.

 

Ken