nagamaki - Franco

see ..... http://world.choshuya.co.jp/explanation/index.htm

Ha, it is somewhat humorous, as I was looking at a number of posted examples I thought, gee, this sword looks awfully close and then read the nidai comment. Well, comforting to know I can put off the eye exam after all, at least for now. Yes, Andy Quirt has always been most kind in all of our dealings.

Hi Jeremy, Of interest is the following, if mine I would contact Andy Quirt to see if he still has additional images available including one of the mei for comparison.

Hi Jeremy, Ha, those angles playing tricks! Glad to to know all is good, one reason for pressing the issue is that the little things are important when it comes to nihonto. As for the ? of which generation I will be happy to do some homework to see if I can come with an opinion. However, it seems like Fred Geyer and his extensive experience is the one to seek out for details. Thank you.

Hi Jeremy, Funny, it still looks slightly off (to the left) in this new pic. Perhaps my astigmatism has changed and it's time to have the eyes checked. Just out of curiosity have you actually measured or just eyeing it? Thank you.

Hello Jeremy, Thank you for posting pics of your sword, which I have enjoyed viewing. While I have been up all night, meaning my vision/perception may not be quite clear, I cannot help but notice that the peak of the mune is not centered or am I seeing things? And if I'm not just seeing things, it would be interesting to see and compare the center of the mune of the habaki to that of the sword to see what is going on there as well? One reason for bringing this to attention is to note that choosing an excellent polisher especially for a good sword matters. It also matters to discipline ourselves into looking at such details as we appreciate/kantei a sword. Thank you.

Sad to hear. At the very beginning of my first sword show I sat down on a bench outside the show room and soon was joined by an elderly fellow. It wasn't long before we were engaged in friendly sword conversation among other things as if we had known each other before, it felt very welcoming. That man was Dr. Ford, thank you. RIP.

Shinto Ishido School work is quite a reasonable call considering the shape, the hamon almost touching the shinogi in the monouchi, the tight-er hada, along with other details. Don't see Koto Bizen here. P.S. nice clear images, camera? lighting?

Naginata, long pole mounted. Wonder if this piece was actually ever used, perhaps, displayed across the front of the shop for advertising???

1) http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/6257-jimmy-hayashi-polisher/ 2) http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/5339-domestic-sword-polishers/

Hello, Please feel free to move this to another forum. Received this video link today and am passing it on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmTZnnbqfsc Thank you, enjoy.

Hello Richard, Please keep in mind that there are only 2 fully trained Japanese polishers in North America, and Mr. Hofhine is not one of them. Look forward to hearing what comes from your meeting with Mark.

Hello, Any ware. An explanation, there are typically 2 kinds of collectors, one where a ware doesn't bother them, the other kind is where their eye regardless goes straight to the ware every time. Beyond that, more specifically, open ware, ware any where within the hamon, and ware smack dab in the middle of the sword.

Hello Wes, Things to consider. 1) What do you know about the Ko Uda school? 2) What do you know about this smith? 3) How many Ko Uda swords by this smith and/or others have you seen that are good, poor, mediocre, excellent? 4) How many koto swords (good, poor, excellent) have you seen in polish/papered? 5) How many swords in excellent polish have you seen? 6) How is your kantei ability, skills, knowledge? Nihonto collecting requires years of serious study even before you go out and learn through good and bad experiences. Think about it, people go out and make mistakes buying already papered and polished swords.

1) get mei confirmed and no fatal flaws. 2) yes, a good polisher can deal with and advise you on reestablishing the foundation. 3) a good polisher will cost ~ $120.00 per inch, plus habaki and shirasaya. Which means it still needs to be determined if this sword in the end is worth the expense. But, first things, first ...............

Hello, time ago a sword returned from (Japan) polish came back saturated with oil which soaked through the saya. In time after removing excess oil the stains on the outside of the saya blended in as the wood darkened and went away (evaporated I would imagine). Initially it was a worry as the saya had a new sayagaki, but no problems in the end.

Hi All, to elaborate on this further, it is not just the fact that there isn't a visible hamon. The steel of a nihonto even out of polish, steel-wooled, etc., should still have some reflective quality to it. When you see steel that is flat, what the Japanese describe as "lifeless", it raises the possibility that it has been exposed to a high heat source. Sometimes this occurs on just one side of the blade, which makes detection for the novice even more difficult if not aware. Do some research and you will discover that historically in Japan this was not an uncommon occurrence due to conflict/fires/war to architectural structures. And there are quite a few of these blades out there.

Sounds like exceptions can be made. And when it comes to things nihonto it seems exceptions can almost always be found.

Hello, On the plus side; length, mei, ubu(?), no visible flaws(?) vs. on the minus side; unrated smith(?), work-quality not visible. A polished window put in might be the answer here for a few hundred dollars, plus shipping and time, which may also be helpful in moving forward or should you decide to sell. P.S. looking at the images again my impression and question here would be has this sword been exposed to high heat?

Hi, Depicts Lotus plant (leaves, seed pod, closed blossom) in addition to Koi. Also, thanks to all others here for your generous input sharing.

Shishi? Shishi with thumbs and primate hind feet? Puzzled, too.

The polisher should be consulted ahead of time as to how much metal may need to be removed in the new polish. The shirasaya is not the only consideration here, how tight the habaki will fit after polish needs to be assessed. If a new habaki is needed you're also looking at another new shirasaya. And just because a sword doesn't appear to have problems before polish it doesn't mean the current polish is not in need of foundation corrections.

Saying the papers are false?

You may wish to consider having a 'window' put in (interesting sword) by a polisher like Jimmy Hayashi as there is still plenty of time, which would give the shinsa team a clear view as well as giving yourself and/or the next owner a look of how this sword would appear in full polish.