Toryu2020

Syd - Thanks for the photos. It is pretty clear that your piece is ubu. While the hamon does run into the nakago, it clearly begins just below the hamachi and the yasuri mei are "finished" just below that. The torokusho says pretty much what I expected not sure any of us can offer more than we have based on the pics. All in all though a fine gift and you should count yourself lucky, -tom

Max et al - With the distinct turnback I am not sure I would call this naoshi, certainly suriage but looks to have been made this way and you may be looking at another late koto piece like the other blade... -tom

Max et al - I like the call to Kyushu on this piece. The looseness of the grain, the indistinct hamon, the unusual shape all remind one of Higo Dotanuki. The nakago has been reshaped to the point it is hard to say what school though if it were mainline Soshu one would hope that it would have been treated better... -tom

Jean et al - Thank you, I am glad to be here and always glad to talk swords. Kantei from photos is always a dicey thing, even with a sword in hand I am wrong 9 times out of 10. Based on what I see in the pictures, there is no color change in the nakago nor any difference in the look of the yasuri mei to indicate machi-okuri. The mekugi-ana appear new, they appear drilled and the placement is odd for an older piece. There appears to be a distinct lack of nie in the close ups of the boshi and the hamon at least that is how it looks to my eye. The jigane looks to be mujihada except in that one picture, but they are just pictures. The torokusho may give us the answer, it might also just say "katana, Mumei", in either case I am curious to know more about the piece and I am grateful for the opportunity... -tom

Got it... -tom

Greetings all - First post here in the new incarnation but I am sure many of you all know me. I would be interested in photos of the shinogi-ji and the hamachi. Does the hamon start there or run into the nakago? Based on the photos I would take a different bent and call this Shinshinto or Gendai Seki work. Might also be of interest to see what the torokusho has to say... -t