Lewis B

No not a member but the site clearly wants to encourage new participants who they hope will become paid up members. Attendance is via email confirmation and open to non members (for a fee, but waived if you're a noob). Therefore I would expect a response.

No I didn't have any other email contacts. I will send a message now. Thanks

Hi I'm trying to register for the next NBTHK meeting in Solingen Germany next month. Sent an email to info@nbthk.eu a week ago but never received a response. Is the group normally so slow at responding to emails? Is there another way to register?

I wasn't under the impression Shintetsu was a design feature of the swordsmith at all, in any era. Merely a product of excessive polishing with thinner Kawagane, commonly employed in the Muromachi period, exhibiting the effect after fewer polishing cycles.

How would this construction appear as the outer Hagane (light blue) is worn away through repeated polishing exposing the Kawagane (mustard)? Would it look different to the core Shigane? Harder to distinguish especially if the jihada is mokume?

Does this look like Shintetsu?

Here are a couple of examples I found online. The first one is a Naotsuna and the second a Ko Hoji Sadatsuna, both Juyo papered. I get the impression Tanobe is in the camp of letting it slide and does not degrade the quality of the blade much when they exhibit such Shintetsu features (circled in red).

Superb job all things considered. Now your eye won't be drawn to the defect which helps you enjoy the viewing and ownership experience.

In the course of my continuing education in the field of nihonto something has me perplexed. Its Shintetsu or the appearance of Shingane through the jihada. I have seen multiple examples of juyo papered swords with extensive Shintetsu along the entire jihada. For some Den its actually a kantei feature eg for Aoe and Rai schools, with Markus Sesko giving a specific name ie sumigane-hada or namazu-hada, on account of their very thin Kawagane. I have seen a couple of Tanobe sayagaki giving these same blades the superlative chinchin chocho seal of approval. There is even one report of a kantei session being so impressed with the quality of the exposed shingane on a blade that it was mistakingly attributed to Norishige on account of its Matsukawa-like 'jihada' pattern. My understanding is that the Shingane or Kawagane as in the case of 7 layer Soshu kitae style construction, was folded on early Koto swords and of a similar quality to the Kawagane or Hagane resulting in a clear chikei-like pattern being exposed when the outer layers were polished away. If this feature is generally considered a negative and indicative of a 'tired' blade, then how are these blades getting such accolades. Is the attribution over riding such a 'defect'? To me it seems very subjective. Ultimately, the answer as to whether it is good, bad or acceptable is, it depends.

Quite a common subject matter in Japanese art. Loads of netsuke have a similar theme.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm about 3hrs drive from Solingen. I sent an email to info@nbthk.eu to register. As for the sayagaki, I have a partial translation (most important bits): "Raised Shinogi that sharply points back towards the Mune (Shinogisuji). The Hamon is Suguha based with strong Nie, there is Yubashiri, Nijuba and Hotsure with Uchinoke being present with Hakikake Boshi. There is Gunome within the Suguha which indicates Shikkake, overall the air of Yamato den is very strong, a superior piece. "

Yes, thats the attribution

There was a slight split in the seam at the opening to the shirasaya. Before applying fresh sokui I'm attempting to fix it with the warm water technique. I have the 2 halves wrapped tightly with twine and I'll leave it a couple of weeks to cure and dry. In the meantime I installed the blade in it's koshirae where it does look attractive. Based on the sugata and 770g weight (nagaso of 70.6) I assume it's safe to say this would be from the Nambokucho era?

Sayagaki

Nakago

Sugata

Don't think I've seen a mark like this stamped on the nakago of a Kamakura era katana. Was this something that was done when the sword was shortened? What does it say?

Practicing some photos of the blade using a tripod and studio light. Really need to get a macro lens for this kind of photography. Please excuse the bright dust particles.

Well flooding in the UK is a bigger issue these days. True, the risks increase with wide temp fluctuations combined with high humidity, eg in winter, which I can see as being potentially detrimental, so 'tight asses' should definitely oil their blades.

Correct on 2 counts Panet.

Advice is (usually) free. And he has one of the best Western Togishi on his doorstep. If Andrew says it's a hopeless cause then I'm in agreement. Then its time to turn it into a Maguro Kaitai Shou

Reach out to Andrew Ickeringill. He is unlikely to take it on himself as already mentioned but probably knows a competent polisher in Australia who could help. John, the owner of Nihonto.com.au might have connections too in Aus. A sympathetic restoration is what you need.

I agree. Needs some better pics to really understand how much steel has been abraded and what is left at the kissaki. It might be possible to reshape the kissaki but that is above my pay grade and still have a boshi. I personally wouldn't give up hope, but I also wouldn't use it as a practice piece either.

When I was writing I was looking at the last picture, but after looking again at the first image the relief in that image looks a lot better. Apologies for casting aspersions.

Cautious to pass comments but my personal feeling is that something (many) things look off. The green oxidation looks applied or forced, the quality of the carving is equally unconvincing. To me it looks like a reproduction. How was it described and where?