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ken kata

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Everything posted by ken kata

  1. Hello Forum/everyone.. Sorry to keep posting.. Jacques , Thanks for the Nihonto Meikon research.. Jussi and others, your thoughts for 1400's was strong. That does connect with the NIHONTO CLUB 's helpful site. I use that site often. NOR 407 Oei Era Katayama Bitchu Hawley 20 NMK 745-8 Jacques , you , and others mentioned " Utsushi" ? I do remember a lecture back in a 2012 JSSH meeting, and forgot that word.. Looking back at the "Handout" from his lecture.. He expressed: " Late Muromachi and early Shinto blades were often made imitating the sugata of suriage Kamakura or Nambokucho . Oei tases favored a return to Kamakura sugata, .... " He doubts that Oei bades can be confused with Kamakura. ( Not to be taken negatively. ) Another , different site on Utsushi had: " Utsushi is simply not copying or reproducing a masterpiece or motif from the past. Instead, Utsushi promotes a dialogue between the artist and the masters of the past, connecting past, present, and future. " Funny in that.. Thru the years. and even now... Like for me. If I went to Japan ( like on a package vacation trip) and could stay with a smith for a month, and, at the end, make "My own Blade" there.. Guess what I. or most of you, would "chose" to Utsushi ? 600 years from now, would have lots of "Masamunes ". Thanks for viewing. Alton
  2. HI Jacques, High, "wide". looks high. High/wide is sometimes point to older Blades? I read that in the sword book.. BTW, France's Ciryl Gane just won the Interim UFC Heavy Weight Champion. Hi Matt W. I was in contact with Robert "Bob" Benson about a Kanesada Wakizashi. I might ask him to see what he says about the Shinsa.. He was packing to go to San Francisco. Bob came to visit me once. He liked my Raku Tea Bowls. Bob likes Japanese Ceramics too.
  3. Gentlemen, There is/was lots of odd things about this blade. One big factor, is, like many say/think, it is probably not an important smith. The proof is that, somehow, It filtered down to me.. Being unknown and worn and tired.. The Breaking News is.. I got no Funbari.. questionable Yaki-otoshi. Sai Ha , and, Possible Crack . Maybe Mizukage... Maybe that is why the Nakago might not look Right? or, the Sugata is odd? Did you guys see "Zatoichi's Cane Sword" ( Shitaro Katsu ).. When the sword smith tapped the "Cracked Blade"? I was tapping the end of the nakago and moving up and as I get to the mid section of the Nakago, I get that feeling.. or, is it the Jigane separating?
  4. Here is photos I've been taking as requested , to help me with the Blade. My Camera is like15 years Old.. 8.5 Mega Pixels. Hi Matt, Here is the best shot that came out tonight. Hada and Hamon. Hi Tom, Here is the Kissaki. Looks bust up.. Hi Franko, amazing, I was thinking of that same "Is it live, or is it Memorex" today..
  5. Hello Gentlemen, Hi Jacques . You helped a lot on my other post about Kamakura Polishing. Thanks for that.. It's O.K. I understand.. Some Breaking News!!! But, first, ... Thanks for replying.. Jussi, Here is the Blade with the Hibaki.
  6. Thanks for posting those photos Michael S. The mei on the blade i have is going gimei on me.. Quote form somewhere: Ko-Aoe artist's mei in most cases consists of two characters incised with a thick chisel.Tachi-mei in general on works produced by other schools in the Heian and Kamakura periods were chiseled principally on the haki-omote, while the works of the Bitchu-Aoe artists are often found on the haki-ura of the tachi. Nagamei and nenki (dates) are almost never seen. Here is my original post of the Aoe experience: On another note: About the " Holes" in the Nakago.. I saw , somewhere, that, if this blade was/is old, it was /about the time the Uchigata appeared (? - late 1300's or early 1400's ). and, was displayed as Katana. I am the victim of my own quest for knowledge, as, the old saying was " To teach a guy nothing, is to teach him everything" . Alton
  7. Hi SteveM.. I lost my Facebook account, but, thanks for the time when you were there.. PaulB asked me , in that old post about Ko Aoe... " Alton I cant see much in the images but what led you down the Ko-Aoe path? " I will go to that link Steve... This was from an Old Post by me : Ref. A - The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords TYPES OF MEI Tachi Mei - "There are a few exceptions, such as those by....and the sword smiths of the Ko-Aoe School, who carved their signatures on the inner side, facing the body, when the sword was worn cutting edge downward..".. Page 71 THE AOE SCHOOL The Ko-Aoe School - " The other Family group was called the Senoo " Page 141. Nakago - Aoe-school swords bear a unique two-character signature, which is inscribed on the side opposite that of the usual Tachi. " Page 142
  8. About the "Grooves".. Jean replied with this: Not so frequent grooves, the small/thin one (soe bi) is still incredibly healthy for a 13th century blade. Could be added later. Jean replied this for the Noritsune smiths: Noritsune smiths, One Oshu, 2 Bizen, one Bitchu. The Bitchu one was a son of an Ichimonji smith so the hamon must be in accordance (choji midare). Thanks Jean..
  9. Thnaks Jussi, Micheal and SteveM.. Jussi, This is the original/ first time Post when " I had more ignorance, than I have now "... Noritsune I notice that this does not have a paper. Noritsune is quite rare name, most of them are early Bizen smiths and few other early smiths too. Could you show the signature on this tachi? If it is legitimate signature it is highly valuable. Of course there is always possibility of an unknown smith. Unfortunately I can't say much about the tachi. The highlighted section has some high quality early school Noritsune smiths highlighted. From right to left Yoshioka Ichimonji, Ko-Aoe, Katayama Narishige has the added part in brackets, province unknown, era Muromachi. Narishige seems to be very rare name, only 3 smiths listed during Muromachi in Sesko Index. Kuni fumei is very reasonable explanation in a case like this as signature is rare and there is a high chance the smith is unknown. I have kuni fumei on other one of my tachi and I think it is perfectly reasonable as it is (most likely) not work of famous smiths of same name working at same time period. Attached is a page with a "highlighted" section , that came with the Tachi. The Nakago Mei, and, Koshi Bi on the Tachi Blade.
  10. I do have notes from a previous post on my Blade. one was ... You replied / interpreted to me, with your thoughts on the paper that came with the sword. It mentioned Narishige and about Kuni Fumi , and, you had a Tach in that in was or might not be the work of a famous smith..... I did not post good photos back then.. so, you were only working with what I posted then. I was ,and am most thankful.. Guys.. I was reading the other post , " On the subject of Sugata" by Johan , and, there was a lot of good info. that pertains to what I am trying to do.. As good advice to me , who is trying to "find the one out of 25,000 smiths over the centuries "... I liked Brian's post about " Little Boxes Fixation " .
  11. I remembered I saw the Noritsune name under "The Katayama Ichimonji School " , in "The Main Schools and Evolution of the Bizen Tradition ".. Page i79 of "The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords". But, not sure if this in the Smith.. Got this from The "Koto Schools" site: Katayama Ichimonji Noritsune Rayaku Nin 1238 would those Blades be more like 76 to 82 cm ? although the shape looks close to those ?
  12. Hello all, , good evening. Thanks Chris, for the link. I like that site. Guys.. I am trying to know more about the Blades that I have now. I'm stuck on the Hamon part .. and, not sure how else to proceed. 1) The sugata part was..mmmmm The shape / length was closest to the "Early Muromachi Katana" , by Bishu Osafune Morikage . 1394 Blade length 72.8 cm The blade I got measures 73 cm . I used a carpenter's tape rule .. + or - 1/16" 2) The "Observation of the Jihada" was mmm... " weak " Mokume . hardly anything. I am going to look and read more later tonight. 3) The Hamon is no longer what it was.. So, there is a ? in that part of "Research". The other "clue" is the Tachi mei ... Noritsune ? i do know members say the saying is " Research the Blade, not the name. " I remember seeing the name here and there, but, I don't bookmark that page before I move on., Thinking I know that site enough. Lately, I have been at the " KOTO SWORD SCHOOLS " - Five Schools and The 8 Roads website. I am kind of in a dead end now. Any suggestions on how or where else I might find a way to proceed ? I am reading the books and what I could fine and the links you guys provide. Thanks for viewing.. Alton
  13. Hello Forum/Guys.. I am still researching this Tachi Blade.. Which is tired/worn.. I don't know the correct term/name for this type of hamon. I was looking for examples on the internet, and, came across " Chu sugo ko midare ba upper and Chu sugaha bottom " ( After seeing a description of a Noritaka Ko Bizen Blade ) As I was reading /researching/looking around, the closest blade shape was Figure 162 in the " Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords" book. Also, somehow, I was lead to the Katayama Ichimonji School at another site... Anyway... It is this hamon that I can not fit in to any description of smiths/schools. Could it be that the Hamon is worn down beyond it's original temperament? Added : The midare is only one "piece/hump" that is about 7 inches from the Kissaki. the rest is all Chu Sugaha. Thanks for viewing.. Alton T
  14. Good Morning Guys.. Cold Morning here in Hawaii. Feels so good compared to our hot afternoons. Thanks guys.. Hey Jacques, no worries. You did good!!! Look at me.. i misspelt Markus Sesko's name wrong.. Sorry Markus.. Thanks everyone, have a safe fun day.. Alton T
  15. Thank You for clarifying Thomas.. Thank you Jacques.. How do you guys find these articles on the internet? I try the different terms/names to search for, and most times get selling / store websites.. I went looking for that site and tried to search for Honami Myohon, and, according to Marcus' Honami Family Book, there, it explains that they could not verify because al the Family records was lost. " In the middle of the 13th century, HONAMI MYOHON studied, dissected and deepened the ancient empiricism..." I was wondering if they meant the Mid 1300's ? After the Kamakura era...? Anyway, Thanks for all the help. I was generally asking if the "Original Kamakura Guys" saw what we see today, in those Kamakura Blades.. Hey Guys.. Nihonto is a great past time. But, I don't have $$$$ to buy and admire Blades, so, the next best thing is to get into get interested and, try learn in all the aspects of what makes Nihonto so great.. Thanks for viewing.. Alton
  16. Thank You Thomas. "swords of the Heian and Kamakura period have lost a little something over the years, polishers of old could not bring out the activity the way we can today. However if these blades were seen as Meito in those early days how spectacular they must have been fresh out of the forge!" So, the Blade was "Beautiful" when 1st. forged and polished, and thru the years, needed to be "re-polished" , but, could not be done as good as when the blade was first made, until now. Was that because the lost of Togishi Knowledge/ Techniques of Sword Polishing was lost as the same way making the Kamakura Blades was Lost or forgotten, and, in Modern Times, the the Togishi re-immerged / gaining in higher knowledge /quality polishing in what we see today? On another thought.... I was watching "The Art of the Japanese Sword" video that Paul Martin sells.. In that , an interview with sword maker Kawachi Kunihisa says in the old days, Swords were "Beautiful" because the way the cut. Did he mean , Not emphasizing on Polishing but more on Physical characteristics ( for strength and sharpness/ edge hardness.. ) ? " Polishing today is more developed than it has ever been - we see things today the collectors of old may not have seen " I'm glad for that.., in these modern times, we are really fortunate to "see" the most out of the Early Blades. Thanks for posting and viewing. Alton
  17. Hello Forum/Guys, One aspect of Japanese Swords that fascinated me, was the the way " Modern Day "Smiths yearned to re-create the masterpieces of the Kamakura period. In that, I also was wondering if, in those times, were the Blade's "Polished" as good/nice/relieving as the Polish/Finish on those Old Blades have on now. Being re-polished in our modern times? Basically, was the polishers in those early times better ? Like, their techniques/secrets are long lost like the Blade maker's techniques? Or, does Modern technology, availability of newer/different stones, and, communication/information as time went by, improved the Polish/polishing quality? And, if so, would the modern day Nihonto World see different things in the Blades that a "Better Polish" would/might bring out? Thanks for viewing, Alton T
  18. Hello Forum/Guys, Thank You for all your post and thoughts. No need to look further. Thank You. I originally asked for shirasaya makers that reside in Hawaii. I was hesitant to send the blades out of Hawaii for the shirasaya work. No postage cost/risk, and a saya maker here in Hawaii would be easier to communicate with and no traveling. That is why I was asking for makers in Hawaii. Thanks for Bob Benson's website link Steve. I saw Bob, too, had links to the " Beauty of Japanese Swords" series/episodes from GINZA SEIKODO ( Thank You Mr. Saito , great videos ) , which was one of the reasons that stirred up / re-energized my time/interest back to Nihonto I just loved the way the guess speaker, Steward Ueno , spoke and explained about Swords. I wish I met him while he was here.. I also saw NMB's fellow member Robert Hughes .. Very interesting and informative Mr. Hughes , Thank You I've watched the series/episodes many times already and I still replay them because there is so much content. I also play the videos while I look at my Blades, for both the lectures and the Piano jazz Background music they use. I like/love listening to Japanese Piano Jazz Trios.. Thanks everyone. Be safe.. Alton T
  19. Hello Guys.. Thank You all for replying.. Jason and Mark, Steve, Chrs.. Thanks for putting into perspective . and, feels good hearing from you guys that have better Nihonto knowledge. Hi Steve, I've been surviving. I did not want to send the Blade out of state.. I was hoping there was someone here in Hawaii. I did see the other post with USA Craftsmen/Artisans of the crafts, but, I was thinking they are way to busy with more important / significant work. And, Thanks B. Hennick .. i would imagine the unnecessary risk and liability and the many collectors that might be worried and wanting constant up dates and /or scheduling, and, may lead up to conflicts. Best to keep those professions "Profession".. I think i going try make my own. I did make one Saya long time ago, for a matt cutting Sword Blade. ( Not Japanese made) But, If I make one for my "Nihonto", it will not be "Real".. like everybody's one. BTW, I found out, there is no Akio Hattori, who was suppose to be the son of Ichio Hattori. Alton < Thanks all..
  20. Hello Forum/Guys, I was looking around for post about the feasibility of buying/putting low cost blades into Shirasaya from their Koshirae . I do have two Blades, 1600's Hoki No Kami Nobutake ( Nedai) w/ Robert Benson Papers, and 1866 Shoji Yamon Naokatsu, both are in WW II dressings. Both in "As found" existing Polish. Do you guys feel these Blades "responsibly " , needs or should be put into Shirasaya's ? I live on Oahu ( Same island as KenHawaii ). 1) How much is a shirasaya ? 2) Is there any Shirasaya makers in Hawaii? 3) What would be your "Guidelines" on "When/if to Polish and store into a Shirasaya" ? as the worth of the Blade and condition of the Blade.. Thanks for viewing, Alton
  21. Hi Brian.. I am not in business, but, for my swords, I do make my own Display Stands. Non Traditional.. Distressed.. Wabi Sabi https://kenkata.weebly.com/ You might think of / make your own personal taste/style for your Swords..
  22. Howzit guys. Nice finding Ed.. What a treasure that someone is selling. I , and, I'm sure others, would have loved to see the foot (Kodai). Hey , SteveM.. appurtenance translation please.. Had the other early Edo Oribe for 4500 from Cab. Added: Just seen Steve's post.. I did not think of that.. Momoyama.. That's cheap for Momoyama. Looks like mid Edo.. I forgot, Thanks for posting Ed..
  23. Rotated your photos. Easier to see ...... Just added to the replies below : I did not reduce it.. I just rotate it in "MS Paint".. Just thought I'd help...
  24. Do you guys think that is correct? The blade is not a WW II Blade. So, I "assume", that "it is what it is".. Added reply to Post below: Thanks for the addd post Steve
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