I was wondering if its done on the whiting of the kissaki mune is that a togi's nagashi? see Kantei time hi res pix.
Looks like Mike steped in while i was posting
Thanks Mike
One in the Twin cities Andy Qurit, Fred Wiessberg or( Hagiyama )of NCJSC, he runs SF Token kai, and a few others can give you there take on it,but to Verify authenticity it needs to go to shinsa. look in the links for NBTHK.
Ok last post from me on this wanted another pix that removes the zigzag Brian was talking about...not the full image but reduced for you guys with dial up.
now she can be put to rest until late this year when Shinsa is done.
yea you only get that when its reduced to 1280 pix its not there in HiRes. hard to get the true color when using a strob flash...see above pix for the nice black patina. its going off for July Shinsa (NBTHK), im like Peter on this Naotane den. maybe wrong and older hope so.
Some added photos for you all to look at.
a local photogapher and I spent a hour on these. hope you like them.
and for high Res shot, worth the down loadtime.
http://www.members.aol.com/h2obro1/OtantoHiRes
Yes IMHO
but like all that have came before me, it needs so be in hand by the likes of Bob Benson or Big Mo, you got the links above in links page and the one i posted.
Anne
I did not know you were considering full restoration...if so id go here
http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/swordpolish.htm
he also could get it papered for you but that would take the total to well over 4000.00
and yes for each page opend in Nihonto means ten more have to come.
Ford when your right your right but pull out your tape measure to 2.8, have to think the sori is deeper. zori about not reading it closer.
the maintenance box is the best deal, you'll have your Uchiko ball and hammer to remove the peg, To take the wood box and find a quite place in the home is very calming to spend time with the sword, to hold it out from you, study the sugata, power it to remove old oil, then add new. its kinda Zen like if you get your mind into it.
Anne
to my eye the sori is deeper than one inch. in your new pix (sword sori) if you place the yard stick on top instead of under it(next to the cutting edge) from tip to munemachi then measure from the deepest point between the two. id think it would be closer to two inches.
To care for it a uchiko-ing and oil once a month would be fine, i'd get a hold of David McDonald and ask what it would be for a rewrapped and if he wants the blade. I know he has wood or steel nakago's he uses to wrap the tsuka, anyway he'll let you know. why it was unwrapped is hard to say. i've seen ppl do that to take the handle off not knowing it just needed the peg removed.
btw the two new boshi shots fan freakingtastic. boshi may be flame or kaen. I also like the shot of the blade sans every thing just a beaut.
Was hoping the heavy hitters would chime in Darcy, Guido, Rinehard, & Ted T. How about it guys? its not my sword so you can let the owner know what you think he has, im pretty sure it will go to shinsa as he mulling it over now. So who will be first and if you'd like diff pix let me know.
Thanks Nigel i cant wait to see it.
Rick you got it down, here is a pix from Hawley showing the style of dragon with ken but its right on as to which you point out.