-
Posts
5,023 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
14
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Posts posted by ROKUJURO
-
-
Michael,
this symbol is not a heart. It is called INOME, and it is shown upside-down compared with our heart symbol. The literal meaning of INOME (猪目) is " wild boar's eye". It refers to the "never twitching wild boar's eye" which is thought to be a sign of bravery and determination.- 2
-
MORIYAMA SAN,
thank you for the correction, I was wrong! -
Colin,
you described it exactly as it was with me! The same booklet, the same year, the same excitement! Then INAMI HAKUSUI followed, together with many others. Books were indeed the only source of information at that time right after the dinos.....
I bought many books from Mr. Skafte in Denmark, but we had a local bookstore (Harrassowitz) that had specialized in Asian litterature. And they had an employee who could even translate the book titles for me! I spent hours there (mostly alone) down in that silent Japanese book department, and it was like an expedition to a strange, but somewhat familiar world!
- 2
-
I cannot comment on the age of the KOSHIRAE (might indeed be younger and even MEIJI) but I think the blade is older than that, possibly EDO era. It is a true TACHI, as the MEI shows. It might not have been used on a battlefield but was perhaps more a representation sword.
-
Hylke,
to answer your question: Unless it is now close to or longer than 56 cm, it wasn't a KATANA (2 SHAKU or 606 mm). Only a few centimeters were cut off the NAKAGO, so WARA (from FUJIWARA) and the smith's name are missing.
To guess the original length of the blade, you could add the distance between the MEKUGI-ANA to the actual length. This is just approximate.
In case you want to post more photos, I recommend to proceed as follows:
- pictures of the NAKAGO (tip always pointing upwards) and of the naked blade (full length)
- taken directly from above
- with light from the side
- well focused
- showing details like HAMON, HADA and HATARAKI- against a dark background to get a good contrast
- and presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the blade itself
- 3
-
Richard,
why would someone use pennies when soft copper is available? Pennies are probaly made of a copper alloy to make them harder.- 2
-
Chris,
I will keep posting this as I feel it is very impolite to throw in some hastily and incompetently made photos and let the members try to get something out of it.
My opinion is, if someone wants help, they should make it easy for those who are expected to help. And that has nothing to do WHO made the photos, it is the responsibility of those who post the images.
A newbie can be excused as they usually don't look how it is done, but an experienced member might know better.
It is not personal, it is just the way it could be made better.
And yes, the sword in question (GENDAI-TO, not Gendai) looks non-Japanese to me as well.- 1
-
Chris,
after more than 2.000 posts, you certainly know how to post images!
- pictures of the NAKAGO and the 'naked' blade always with tip pointing upwards
- taken directly from above
- with light from the side
- well focused
- showing details like HAMON, HADA and HATARAKI- against a dark background to get a good contrast
- and presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the blade itself
-
Not removing the handle will probably save you from a disappointment....
-
François,
there are many videos about this subject available on YouTube, some better, some good, some with these 'inaccuracies'. Many are in Japanese, but that is not a problem as the pictures tell you all you need.- 1
-
Merci François!
- 1
-
All has been said above. No invasive methods, no chemical treatment, no wax, no cooking in whatever.
-
Looks like an ITOMAKI no TACHI, but parts of the ITO is not well restored.
Would be interesting to see photos of the NAKAGO as the value of most swords lies there and not in the mountings.
If you post, please:
- pictures of the NAKAGO (tip pointing upwards) and of the naked blade
- taken directly from above
- with light from the side
- well focused
- against a dark background to get a good contrast
- and presented as cut-out so nothing detracts from the item itself
-
Gustavo,
there is no swordsmith named 'MONESADA', modern or old.
Concerning the inscription on the blade, I think our language experts will be able to read it. Just post again here:
- pictures of the NAKAGO (tip pointing upwards) and of the naked blade (full length)
- taken directly from above
- with light from the side
- well focused
- showing details like HAMON, HADA and HATARAKI- against a dark background to get a good contrast
- and presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the blade itself -
Jonas,
of course we could imagine a scenario of that kind, but usually, the blades are cleaned after practice. TOGISHI also touch the blafdes they are working on, but without negative effects. -
No, I don't think so. Probably the finger stains have been polished away in the meantime. But more likely that people in the past knew that touching a blade is not only bad for the steel but also an insult against its owner. There was more knowledge about handling blades correctly, and there was more respect, I believe.
- 1
- 1
-
6 hours ago, 1kinko said:
You can buy the wood to make your own saya from Namakawa Heibei......
Just in case somebody wants to contact them: it's NAMIKAWA HEIBEI.
- 1
-
Howard,
if it had a meaning like a KANJI, it would have to be read vertically. You may already know that after having handled so many swords. But I think it is something accidental. -
Artur Oskroba has stopped making TSUKA MAKI because of health problems with his hands. He recommended Sergio Martins to me:
Sergio da Silva Correia Martins
Den Haag
00351 919 438 42
sercabel@hotmail.com
They have the same Japanese teacher.- 1
-
22 mm would be really short! On the image, it looks longer....like 22 cm. It's not a dagger, but probably one of the WWII 'pilot TANTO' or 'KAMIKAZE TANTO'.
Before you make a KOSHIRAE (not Koshire), it would be a good idea to have it polished.
I don't know if it is a MEI, but it seems to end with MUNESADA.
-
Geraint,
yes, of course ! I apologize! -
It is obviously meticulous work, and it is slow where necessary for good results. My impression is, it's the same with most crafts!
Making bamboo fishing rods is a special work. You don't just need fine fingers and a lot of patience for that, it also needs a special condition of mind! It is like a philosophy!
Not for everyone!
By the way, I liked the colour of your 'gunstock' as it is! I hope it will come out the same after the next round of work!- 1
-
The "twisted rope" design MIMI is also seen on TACHIBANA TSUBA, I think.
Your TSUBA is small, but it's a good one! -
Looks cast to me, possibly copper. Certainly not bronze.
In my opinion, it is not so pretty.
Japanese sword identification
in Nihonto
Posted
Thomas,
to help us identifying, please post
- pictures of the NAKAGO and the 'naked' blade always with tip pointing upwards
- photos taken directly from above
- with light from the side
- well focused
- showing details like HAMON, HADA and HATARAKI - HAMACHI, MUNEMACHI and KISSAKI are important
- against a dark background to get a good contrast
- and presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the blade itself