16k

What an absolute beauty! Is it an utsuri I’m seeing?

Quite nice, Ray!

Nice sword. Very good first purchase. Congrats!

Neil, according to the author (Ohmura San) they did, but he didn’t attach the picture. However, he says the the micro photographs did prove that the welding between the shingane and Karaganda was absolutely perfect. This is why I call those swords the best that there are. They may not be traditional but with a modern technique, they succeeded in doing what the swordsmiths had tried to achieve. In a way, this is the best you can do with a sword.

Here are your cross sections:

And a fine one, Bruce! As for the faint bo-utsuri, might be one ... or not. I have two swords that show these (not Koa, but I don’t think I’ve checked for utsuri on them) and I realized they had some bo utsuri. I was a bit surprised as it was never mentioned in the descriptions, and one of those swords had been through two very competent sellers that had never mentioned an utsuri. Actually, I think those are "fake" utsuri created by a different pressure on the ji by the togishi. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me could confirm that.

I go with the guys, a blatant fake with acid treatment. Boshi is all kind of wrong, and let’s not even talk about the kanji. Sorry man, but that’s the truth.

Nice and cheap!

Ben, as far as the last part of your answer, I believe it is unlikely. The sleeve was a tube and the core inserted inside, then probably shaped with a power hammer, so there shouldn’t be any demarcation line. Bruce, your memory is correct, although I think only the first hundred swords or so were made that way and given to the Manchurian army, probably as a publicity stunt (now, if I remember my history well too! ). Then, seeing they were onto something, they brought in a couple of real swordsmiths to teach the guys who’d done it on their own to do things properly. Then the real production started and I don’t think it varied much after that. So the Hada, imho, can come from three reasons: - as others have mentioned, it is the natural Hada of the metal (most probably) - said natural Hada varies according to the skill of the polisher - we know they used an outer sleeve and inserted the lower carbon rod inside. Much is said about that rod, but unless I missed something, no text I have read discusses the manufacture of the outer sleeve, so who knows?

spotted the number but had missed the acid etched Hada!

I think you could hesitate between a tourist piece and a fake, but the numbered habaki is usually a dead giveaway.

Not just the Hamon! I don’t like the shape of the boshi either.

I’ll go with my friends there. Looks like a Chinese fake.

That’s an interesting description which prompts another question for me. If, say, a temper line, different on each side and narrower on one come to disappear through polishing while the other side, wider remains healthy. Does it impact the integrity of the blade? Technically, it is still tempered, right?

The question being, is it bar stock? I understand that it wasn’t a simple bar but some sort of pipe. The process was probably Industrial indeed, and the "Hada" not a real one. Still, I own two and one has clearly a stronger Hada. In this (terrible) book, they show a pic of a Koa with a rather prominent Hada. https://www.amazon.fr/Modern-Japanese-Swords-Beginning-Gendaito/dp/150777012X/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_fr_FR=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&dchild=1&keywords=Japanese+swords+modern&qid=1619108898&sr=8-1

Of course you can! Rasp it against a concrete wall once or twice on each side and it’s as good as new!

As Chinese as they come.

Thanks guys, makes me feel better. There I was thinking, man! I really triggered a s**t storm involuntarily!

I know “nioi gire ” Michael, but I always thought it was when the Hamon stops and then picks up later making a "hole" in the tempered area. Is it just the same when it disappears at some point never to reappear after? I believe that is the case here.

I don’t think there is a name for it but it means one of three things: - the sword has been used a lot and the polish is gone. That can be solved by a new polishing - during tempering, something went wrong and the area isn’t sufficiently tempered. - the sword is tired and the polishing went past the tempered depth the last two can be cosmetically corrected by a competent polisher BUT, is will only be cosmetic. They’ll draw a false Hamon line to cover where it doesn’t exist anymore. If I had to offer a guess, I’d say your blade is tired.

Is this still about my thread? Guys, if so, get over it, it’s long been locked and I have no intention to mention the subject publicly ever again...

I keep looking at it and I am indeed "flumoxed"... it looks so real for a fake, and yet too good to be true. Still, special orders certainly existed and a special order wouldn’t necessarily be numbered. If only gut feelings were necessary, I would lean towards genuine. But I’m probably wrong, of course. EDIT: then again, can’t make up my mind. The surface looks like a Koa, yet the Mino Hamon looks oil tempered... aaaaargh! My head!

Real deal and antique. Others will translate I’m sure. Nice find. Once the signature has been translated, it would be great to have pictures of the blade.

I would go with early Shinshinto or late Shinto. I think the sugata looks Shinto but the very clean nakago sure rings Shinshinto.

I don’t think it is a wartime blade either. That looks much older.