Tsugio Kawakami

Just a question of curiosity, but what is that in the kogai hitsuana?

I get the feeling that this is osuriage. Can't tell if the hamon stops near the machi or not, though...

Another variation in my personal family mon.

Showa stamp, NoShu Seki Ju KawaMura MasaNobu Saku?

Alrighty, I polished up a large-ish section of the blade near the machi and it turns out that the blade shows ko-itame hada and the hamon presents some VERY slight sunagashi and some nie in a couple of areas. So, this is a hand made blade. Possible that it is shinshinto?

Alright, here are the measurements. Pics are being loaded to photobucket, so I'll edit to link them as soon as I get home from the office. Nagasa: 67cm Nakago: 21cm Sori: torii 23.44mm Motokasane: 6.66mm Sakikasane: 5.25mm Motohaba: 33.12mm Sakihaba:22.92mm

Thanks David! While there are no arsenal stamps, there is also no hada that my eyes can pick up here in the afternoon sun. The hamon, however, is definitely there and bright. Seems to be choji, transitioning to gunome in the monouchi. The hamon stops (looks intentional) just shy of the hamachi. There is potential that this is a showato, though, as its appearance does make me lean towards an oil quench now that I've looked at it for a little while. I'll try to take some pics here in the studio at work. Tsugio

Alright. Sword is in hand, so I'll post some pictures and stats here, shortly. It's a fun blade. Blade seems to be shinshinto, but I'm not entirely sure.

These all look like repros, to me...but I'm not the most knowledgeable on tosogu. I'd pay about $15 apiece, tops. Like I said, though, I could be wrong.

Them's fightin' words!

Yeah, I'd say buffed. ...lots o' fingerprints, too.

Could be rounded out by some unfortunate "restoration". Pics?

Wouldn't the heating of a blade reduce the risk of hagire? It was always my understanding that hagire form from yaki-ire if the temperature change is too great (steel too hot, water too cold) or from impact/flex placing too much strain on overly stressed parts in the steel. Adding heat should draw back the hardness, making it softer and less likely to break, no?

Tachi hira-maki. "Tachi Tsukagashira Kake maki" on that page.

I think gimei, too. Seems too...clunky?

That be the one I'm talking about.

...not that little dot in the hamon on the omote, is it?

That's fatal? I thought that was just undesireable, but not quite that bad...

The menuki are the closest thing on there to real... A posative note: The leather ito is of better quality than what many production companies use these days.

Good advice. Thanks! When the sword gets here, I'll post up some better pictures of the blade and activities.

WELL aware. The only time when that particular Kaneuji came into conversation was during healthy fun. ...Don't I wish, though. :lol: I do not think that this sword is terribly old. Aside from Rich Stein's pages, I can't seem to find any modern-ish Kaneuji that signed niji-mei. Are there any good examples aside from Kaneuji I and the Showa Kaneuji who signed in niji-mei?

Thanks Carlo! As to Kaneuji, is it safe to assume that this is 100% gimei? From Ted's post and the few examples of niji-mei Kaneuji that I've been able to find, this seems the case. I don't know nearly as much as others, though.

Thanks Ted! I'm actually glad you answered this one. I was going to take it to Mike Christianson when it got in to get his thoughts on it. Since you two were so close, I think your opinion and his may be similar. I had thought Kaneuji at first, but decided otherwise since it looked odd compared to the few other Kaneuji examples I saw. I had asked if there were any other markings on the nakago, and the seller said that they hadn't seen any...but I don't know for certain. Won't until it gets here. These are the only other shots I have of it that would be of any use. Unfortunately, they don't answer too many questions.

Hello all! This forum has a wealth of information, and I've been a long time lurker (unregistered). Learned a lot. Now, it looks like I need to reach out for assistance. I've recently purchased a sword (currently en-route), and am in the process of researching it. I'm stuck on the mei, as simple as this one is. _ Uji (氏) is all I have. Help, please? Thanks in advance!