Jacques

Hi, Well... What is art? I think that can be interesting

Hi, I fully disagree, these two criterions can't be separated. an excellent workmanship is required to obtain art. What is a "chef-d'oeuvre"? It is the result of great workmanship. What is skill? it is the capability to accomplish the summit of workmanship. there are numerous violinists on earth how many Yehudi Menuhin or Fritz Kreisler? True, El Capitan in Yosemite park is beautiful but it is not art.

Hi, Gendai (ç¾ä»£) means modern; gendaito means modern sword. Shinsaku (新作) means new (exactly newly made); shinsakuto means new sword, (like shinto but since this word was already used...). Showa (昭和) is an era (reign of the emperor Hiro-Hito). Showato commonly refers to swords forged during the WWII.

Hi, That's right (they are weapons before every thing), but the opposite is not valuable.

Hi, Discussing art about weapons is not a single matter, but, some Japanese weapons became artworks. There were some millions swords which were forged during nihonto history. Mostly are purchased by low-average samourai class; some are by daimyo. Are they same blades, made by the same smiths? had they the same purpose? I don't think so. Many are used on battlefield, others became treasures. As well, When Napoleon wanted a portrait, who made it? Delacroix or "Tartempion Duchnock" (well known for his bad-painting). Swordsmith are classified in accordance with their savoir-faire and their skill. There are smiths who made weapons and their are who made artworks. In every times, the best are the more desired and few can afford their work. that is true for all artistic crafts.

Admin: Split from original topic that can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3360 Hi, I fully agree. :D I've heard a very knowledgeable person saying About Nihon-tô: "art begins with jo-saku smiths", i agree with this too.

Hi, the blade shown by Moriyama san is Kunihiro's, this one incorporates the famous mizukage, special feature of this smith.

Hi, I think the mei reads Kiyomitsu and not Arimitsu.

Hi, This is all i can offer (sorry for the pictures but my scan is out). Bushido, vol 2 n° 2: Bushido, vol 2 n° 3: I hope this can help.

Hi, None measurement How can we determine a jidai? this kind of kantei looks like poker.

Hi, I've not yet checked books but i know he worked in both styles.

Hi, My guess:

Hi, It seems shinshinto Sukesada are few, Fujishiro lists 2, Toko taikan, 2 (the same) shinshinto taikan none; none signed Bishu Osafune (they signed Bizen (kuni) osafune). ps the Sukesada name was sometimes used by Sukenaga or Sukehira.

Hi, Concerning the kuni, can't be Shimozuke? I agree with Reinhard, this mei looks very odd.

Hi, You have a Motonaga blade here Aoki Motonaga (Bunka 1804) was a student in the later generation Hoki no kami Nobutaka school, later he became a student in the Yamato no kami Motohira school and after returned to Owari to work. Motohira (nidai Tenpo 1830 ), son of the shodai, worked in Yamashiro. (oshigata below)

Hi, Nobody's perfect

Hi, cost for translation (first is free) A pineapple juice :lol:

Hi, My guess

Hi, I own one yari (13cm nagasa) which has lost its hamon and i have been told that ashigaru used their yari point to keep going their campfires.

Hi, During Sengoku jidai all swordsmiths made more practical blades than artistic ones. Have i said he made these blades himself? No and it goes without saying for anyone who has a little interest about nihon-tô. I said that to explain forging katana is not more difficult than forging wakizashi. Please stop to distort my ramblings. To Brian, Brian, the question was why more waki than katana or tanto, the heart of the matter is quantity, and not quality.

Hi, Bobby, if you don't own these books, here is what says Fujishiro in Toko Jiten (english translation): And an oshigata: Hope this can be helpful.

Hi, Almost all blade made by Umetada Myoju are wakizashi and tanto, lack of skill? Iga no kami Kinmichi was ordered by Tokugawa Ieyasu to produce 1000 katana within 100 days, these blades are made without delay, are they all artistic swords? I think like Ted, it is mainly an economic and pragmatic aspect. The bulk of swordsmiths are not great artists but only weapon makers. It is not more difficult to make a practical katana than a stunning waki. When a swordsmith is talented to make a good tanto he is also to make a katana. This is my opinion.

Hi, Gassaku are relatively frequent in Mishina school, there are also some in Tadayoshi School.

Hi, Gunome + Takanoha yasuri would indicate Mino rather than Yamato. As for the shape of the second waki it seems Unokubi-zukuri.

Hi, My guess. The nakago jiri doesn't match, the yasuri seem too slanted (in spite of they were more slanted in his earlier works than the later's). The Tameshi-mei is engraved although it must be kin-zogan mei. Concerning the way of engraving, the whole shows differences (specially the ji sone and ko).