Possible Periode?

[TheGermanBastard]

Ideas appreciated. Those images are all I have. of course I do have an oppinion - based on wishfull thinking.

 

Nagasa is about 63 cm

 

Thank you,

 

Luis

[Alex A]

My quick wishful thinking at 5.30am is thinking Koto, whats your wishful thinking?

[TheGermanBastard]

Pre Muromachi

[Alex A]

Difficult judging just from those pictures, but maybe your right. 

 

Its a gamble buying blades out of polish (as you know), hope it works out for you.

[Ray Singer]

There is an odd appearance to the nakago. There are areas of deep pitting along with flat areas that appear very fresh (flat, lacking texture, yasurimei, etc). The patina seems a bit strange as well (in the way that the appearance is fairly uniform across both pitted and featureless areas). The nakago does not immediately give me a feeling of great age, ie. Nambokucho or earlier.

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Interesting piece. I think full length hi on a shōbu-zukuri blade is not the most common thing.

[Alex A]

Now i look at the nakago on an HD screen, i see what you mean Ray.

[TheGermanBastard]

@ Ray: I see your point. My impression is that teh Nakago is not in well preserved condition for sure. My feeling is that the blade took some humidty / wetness at sme point leaving pitting on some areas.

 

At first I had onyl seen an image of the Nakago and dimissed the blade as a Suriage Shinto piece.

 

It was not until I had seen the Kissaki that I got interested in it.

 

I had the same thoughts as Jussi then: hi on a shōbu-zukuri not beeing seen often. This aroused my interest and puzzled me at the same time.

 

Since the blade is fully out of polish I can not say much about it at all and it is much guessing only. Maybe there are some bad Kizu to be found uppon arrival and it is no worth further investigation at all. I have to wait and see.

 

What are your takes on hi on a shōbu-zukuri blade? Any reference examples? The last one I had was a Mino Koto piece which I sold to a Japanese buyer on eBay many years ago. It was a very meaty Muromachi piece. This one looks to have a more slender Sugata.

[Ray Singer]

This sugata reminds me of Kiyomaro school (and I believe there are examples of this sugata w/ bo-hi from the works of Nobuhide).

 

That said, I'd like to be cautious with an opinion given the photos and condition (not much detail can be seen in the full sugata and workmanship). Unfortunately we've also seen this shape (and unusual nakago appearance) from our friend in Rockville, MD. 

[TheGermanBastard]

This sugata reminds me of Kiyomaro school (and I believe there are examples of this sugata w/ bo-hi from the works of Nobuhide).

 

That said, I'd like to be cautious with an opinion given the photos and condition (not much detail can be seen in the full sugata and workmanship). Unfortunately we've also seen this shape (and unusual nakago appearance) from our friend in Rockville, MD. 

 

Who's that? You mean one of the Chinese Masamune? I fos I can assure that the blade is not coming from a Chinese source but an estate.

[TheGermanBastard]

Some more thoughts please?

 

 

[Brian]

I'd like to see this polished. Or at least a window done. C'mon Luis...what are you waiting for?

[PNSSHOGUN]

Looks good Luis, perhaps before Nanbokucho?  There is alot of damage via rust and sanding though.

[TheGermanBastard]

It has allready been polished bit I do not have good images yet. All I can tell so far is that the damage was resolved and the Hamon is continius. Also looks like no Shintetsu or Kizu.

[Surfson]

Maybe a nagamaki naoshi?  nambokucho or oei?  

[TheGermanBastard]

Koto for sure. I am hopimg for Nambokucho

[Blazeaglory]

Do you own this? Or thinking about buying it?

 

The first pics you posted, I was inclined to agree with Raymond, as the nakago didn't look natural and appeared a bit odd. It also resembled a blade I just posted that appears to be "questionable".

 

But the latest pics you posted are looking better, so maybe you got a home run? I really loved the sugata and shobu Zukuri style. Either way, good luck with the blade!

[TheGermanBastard]

I bought it in rough shape and sent it for polishing. That the Nagako looks a bit odd is mainly due to some having take bad care of the blade. The blade must have been badly rust at some pint and someone then took it to a grinding wheel and a dremel to remove the rust.

 

I think it sued to be a Naginata from the Nambokucho periode

[TheGermanBastard]

Polished

[Blazeaglory]

Polished

 

 

Nice job! Looks really good but I cant really tell if it still has its original turn back? Just wondering

[ROKUJURO]

The photos do not allow a precise judgement. The SHINOGI seems to be a bit rounded. Is this a Japanese polish?  

[paulb]

Jean

Having held it in hand I can confirm the shinogi is not rounded I think you may be being deceived by the hi and the poor photograph (I took it) 

[Brian]

Looks good. What was your impression of age and school Paul?
I love this shape of blade.

[paulb]

Hi Brian

To be honest I don't know. The overall shape and hamon reminded me of two blades I have seen recently both by Oei Bizen smiths. If you check Markus'  kantei second supplement volume page 117 there is a wakazashi by Sukemitsu that has a lot in common with what can be seen on this blade.

[Jason N]

Wow! What a difference a polish can make.