Franco

Type of polish, quality of, foundation all matter. Choose your polish and polisher wisely. Ha!

A sword is not only competing against other entries, it is (as previously noted) competing against "like swords", against quality of polish. Entrants should also pay attention to whether or not it's a Toku-Ju year with much stiffer competition. Finally, keep in mind that participation is voluntary. Desire is the cause of suffering.

Confirming, kitae-ware within the hamon cannot be closed or tightened up. Something you'll have to learn to live with. Above the hamon some ware can be closed or tightened up, but they could also open up and become worse. Generally, there are two kinds of nihonto collectors. Those that can live with flaws, and those that cannot. If and when it comes time to sell, swords with flaws may take a long time to sell.

If he's a well rated smith there should be info written up in Fujishiro.

Hello, No evidence of hand forged steel. No evidence of water quenched.

Hmm. It seems that were back to square one. Apparently, I can't even believe my own eyes any more. I'm going to have to break the bad news to the sword owner that he no longer owns a naginata-naoshi. He'll have to tear up the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, and have Mr. Tanobe's sayagaki removed. He'll then have to tell the polisher that he didn't do what he did. All because Jacques says so. It's just amazing the lengths someone will go to, so as to never admit and accept when they're wrong and mistaken. “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” MLK Jr.

Jacques, your problem is that your infinite ego just can't stand that someone knows and understands something that you don't. Especially when you can't figure it out. Secondly, Jacques, I am not so rude a person nor impolite as to be so assertive as to ask and press someone about what is obviously a special talent. I have no right to ask, and neither do you! And if he wanted anyone to know ..... . Besides, how do you think he did it! Hmm, let's see, maybe he used magic polishing dust and water! Or just maybe; ability + skill + experience + patience + drive + time = Final result. Thirdly, are you now suggesting that perhaps I'm not being truthful, or perhaps that I have a vision problem or I'm blind, or perhaps that I'm too stupid to recognize the change from the old "before" polish to the new "after" polish! Or maybe you're suggesting that as soon as I left the room the shinogi somehow meta-morphed back to its previous distorted state. Now that would be magic indeed! Yes, Jacques. See how ridiculous this thread is becoming as a result of your obstinance and refusal to admit when you're wrong. Further, have you ever stopped to consider that even if someone knew something, why on earth would they share it with someone so brash as you! Good grief!

I can say because I saw the before and after. It doesn't matter that I don't know how. What matters is that this polisher knows how! Still digging I see.

It's all about the koshirae.

That is a great question. I wish I knew the answer.

You're right, Jacques, it is very clear. Which is probably why the NBTHK, Mr. Tanobe, and Kanzan Sato all agree with each other. And don't agree with you. First, Sato writes that "nagamaki" refers to the way these swords were mounted. Followed by "Therefore, nagamaki should properly be called naginata." Which blows the copies claim theory out of the water. Why? Because despite the marked differences in shape, they are still "naginata." Further, anyone reading Sato's article should realize that Sato is talking about blades made over multiple time periods encompassing a number of different shapes. To that point, when being reconfigured to other uses, katana, wakizashi, modifications would be adapted and customized to the individual sword. It was not a one cut fits all. Which accounts for the differences we now see in the boshi between the different types of naginata-naoshi. On the subject of "impossible to know." Again, Jacques, you are mistaken. When naginata-naoshi underwent a shape change there was a narrowing. That narrowing changed the appearance of the sword. When properly restored by today's polishers, excellent polishers will recognize this distortion and reconfigure the shinogi to give the sword more of the original appearance, as the maker intended. When it comes to nihonto, it's just when you begin to think you know something that you find out how little you know.

Note to self: follow established (published) definitions. Note to Jacques: you have been citing Kanzan Sato over and over, time and time again, in order to define and support your positions and thoughts. But, having read through the very pages that you posted written by Kanzan Sato, they clearly state something different than what you are saying. And, in fact, Sato supports the NBTHK's position and practice.

De·lu·sion /dəˈlo͞oZH(ə)n/ noun 1.a false belief or judgment about external reality, held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, occurring especially in mental conditions:

Well, Jacques, actually Nagamitsu's double boshi was on a National Treasure "tachi." Chikakage made this double boshi on the imaged naginata which at present is papered by the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon as a katana - naginata-naoshi. Mr. Tanobe agrees with that assessment. According to the sword's owner the polisher also agrees with that assessment. Real? Real? Don't be stupid. Stop digging! p.s. the original image I posted can be clicked on twice to get an enlarged image that shows a full boshi with kaeri.

First, the Nagamitsu with the same double boshi was designated a National Treasure sword. Secondly, I don't think that the aesthetics of the boshi mattered much to the samurai cutting down his opponent, nor the unfortunate person being cut down. Thirdly, Chikakage has been designated a National Treasure sword smith with more than 70 swords rated Juyo or above. I kind of get the feeling that he knew what he was doing. Don't you? Stop digging! Done here with this nonsense.