Possible old Tachi

[Utopianarian]

I recently acquired an old sword. The shape is intriguing. Strong sori. I don’t know what possible time period it may be from. Lots of nicks in the Ha and somebody made poor attempt to polish one side of the blade. Confused if possible muramachi, Kamakura or Shinto copy. Will post more pics later. Working a ton of shifts and need to get some sleep.

[Ray Singer]

The sword seems to have an unnatural sori. Do you have better photos we can evaluate?

[Utopianarian]

More pics

[Utopianarian]

More pics

[Surfson]

What are the dimensions? 

[Utopianarian]

26.5 inch nagasa. Motohaba 2.6cm sakihaba 1.6cm sori 2.86. Kasane 0.535cm Very small Kissaki and the Hamon is present throughout the sword but very hard to capture in pics.

[Mark]

the close up of the nakago seems to show scale, maybe it has been in a fire? If so saiha is possible and would affect sori

[Utopianarian]

I don’t know if it was fire damaged which may explain the unnatural shape and the Nakago is kind of rough to the touch and not smooth and waxy

[Utopianarian]

Yes lol I guess I was typing at the same time as your post

[Utopianarian]

The Hamon from what I can see appears unaffected but Nakago does

[16k]

I own a Shoshu den hitatsura sword that shows a lot of similarity with yours, though the sori (2.2 cm) is less important. Mine is a shortened Muromachi tachi, so I wouldn’t be surprised if yours was one too.

[Utopianarian]

This sword is so light and so much smaller scale than the rest of my swords. It appears to look like a thin Calvary sabre than a sword

[16k]

That is the feeling I got when I had mine in hand. It was my first Koto sword and it felt so light in comparison to a Shinto blade. Yet, it is razor sharp!

[Utopianarian]

Yes this one is razor sharp as well which is surprising for how bad the condition it is in

[Ray Singer]

Saiha is the first thing I thought when I saw your opening photo. In the additional detail pictures I can see areas of the surface flaking off the nakago. It may actually be an early sword, but is difficult to evaluate in this condition (and considering all factors including the large fukure, it would likely not be one worthwhile to restore). 

[Utopianarian]

Thank you Ray, yes I think you are right. I will just chalk this one up to lesson learned. Glad I didn’t spend much on it. It definitely fits the bill for an interesting study piece.

[Grey Doffin]

Exaggerated, unnatural curvature is one of the tells for retemper.  I have seen more than a few blades that probably started life in late Koto or early shinto, that were caught in a fire, and before the retempering they were ground/polished to have a small kissaki; the subsequent strong sori along with the ko-kissaki are meant to fool the unsuspecting into thinking the sword is much earlier.  My best guess is this is one of those swords.

Grey

[Utopianarian]

Thank you Grey, I am just happy I have many knowledgeable people such as you guys and a communication board to talk to others. Thank you very much for the wealth of information and knowledge that take years to acquire. I have the highest respect for you guys.

[Katsujinken]

Also note that the kissaki has been reworked, and badly. Notice how the bohi extends well beyond the “yokote”. This sword has seen a lot of abuse. Tough to say where/when its life began. I agree with Ray and Grey.

[PNSSHOGUN]

What an interesting old soldier! There's something fascinating about old swords like that have been through just about everything but the kitchen sink.

[Utopianarian]

Yes definitely I bet the sword has some stories to tell

[Alex A]

I once found it difficult to capture a blades true sori in a pic, came across exagerated, more like a banana

 

2.86cm does not sound too epic curvature.

 

Get someone to take a look at it, in hand.

[ChrisW]

I agree with Alex on this one. A blade with such a long history deserves to be looked at in hand before any judgement is passed. Pictures simply don't do the vast majority of nihonto proper justice.

[Utopianarian]

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try. Thank you for the advice

[Alex A]

Not much left in the blade, judging by whats left at the Hamachi and the Kasane.

 

Pity about those nicks in the edge, last thing it needs.

 

Can you make out hada or any hamon left?, I cant tell.

 

As mentioned, might well be an early blade, if so, what to do?  

[Utopianarian]

I tried my best with the pics to get a good view of the Hamon. Believe it or not the nicks come close in some areas but do not go thru the Hamon. I also note the Hamon does run the entire blade even though in some pics may not appear so.

[16k]

Loads of nicks though!

[Utopianarian]

It appears like there may be a lot of activity in there but not sure. I know it’s in bad shape but what do you guys think

[Utopianarian]

Yes prob like 50 or so which vary in severity length and depth. There are even a few on the mune

[Alex A]

I would get an opinion by someone in hand and take it from there, 

 

Maybe there is a experienced polisher out there that can give an opinion and possibly do something with it, without hitting you with too much of an hefty bill.

 

Good luck.