GARY WORTHAM

Greetings to Jacques & Jean, Yes, pictures would be great and soon, in the future, i will go there. Yet, those with great sword books, may have further insite into this smith. There is, in Hawleys, another Norihisa, 1521, late Muromachi, that maybe this is the one. Adddtional thoughts ???? Gary Wortham

As a long shot, I have a 70cm katana - signed Norihisa, that I believe to be koto Bizen. Hawley's book has him as 1334, late Kamakura.

koshi-zori, 2.4cm sori, hi = bobi with soebi, jifu utsuri, chu kissaki, boshi - midare komi with kaeri, ko-mokume, and chu midare hamon, nioi deki, Can't really find anything on this smith and surrounding details & info. Figured those with better books might fill in the blanks.

Now that's about all I can say till I become trained on the art of photography of blades. This is a vision of the near future.

Let me know any thoughts and ideas of age, school, smith's info, etc. Thanks !!! Gary Wortham

On a Koto - Nobukuni 3rd tanto, I see that the theme of the Chinese Buddhist monk, Kazan is on the tsuba, holding his scroll, containing the wisdom of the world; and is matched with the menuki of his faithful servant, Jittoku; as one of the menuki, carrying his attribution on a broom on his shoulders. However, the other matching menuki, seems to be another individual, of whom I am not sure of the identify, and how it ties into the overall theme.

My cluster questions: the other individual; fittings > age, maker, school, etc. As well as all thoughts of wisdom and brilliance.

Gary Wortham

Great ideas, suggestions, thoughts, and challenges. Never thought it would be easy. Very high tech, glad my minor was in physics. I can see, I will have a separate, full, binder; of sword & fittings photography, how to do it. Thanks !!! Gary Wortham

You're right Steve. Started a binder of directions, instructions, suggestions, visions, and aspirations to begin my 2009 efforts of my sword's photography, as well as their fittings. Why would I think it would be simple ???? A challenge is what makes it worth while and more sporting. Thank goodness retirement is less than 6 months away, and I'll have the time and patience. Gary Wortham

Thanks Brian. It looked a little complicated, but I will dig into it and see if I can make it would. I'm up to the challenge. Gary Wortham

Thanks Jean, but I have searched the archives and found nothing, except the reference to Darcy's instructions, which he removed due to people abusing his most generous information. If you or another can assist me further on this subject, thanks in advance. Gary Wortham

Boy, I have tried to photograph the blades over the years, with miserable results, including today. The fittings seem to come out really good to great, and I feel the darker color and contrast of their material & shapes lend to the gentler results.

I see so many great, detailed, close ups of blades, at various sites, that make me sick with envy, of the skill at hand. I have looked for directive articles on the ABC of this process, and have come up short. So, I reach out to the vast network of photo wizards for their magic.

I use a new Sumsumg - digital - SL310W - 13.6 mega pix - 28mm wide lens - dual image stabilizer - zoom 6.0 & 21.6mm.

A lot of info that really doesn't make sense to me and how to use it. My Apple MacBook Pro 15.4" can handle anything put in it, But, garbage in is garbage out.

Help me !!!!! Gary Wortham

Well, it seems that the more you work at it, the more difficult the journey becomes. That's the greatness of this line of education and study.

Additional photo of tang - a little better + bohi more visual & signature of a more normal look.

measurements of tang width:

at bohi - 25mm

2nd mekugi ana: 24mm

3rd: 23mm

4th = bottom: 21mm

tip of tang - nakagojiri: 19mm

Description question of boshi: looks to be a strong hakikae but could pass for kaen.

jigane activity: hamon looks to be ko-nie, with a lot of activity within it.

Reflective nature of metal and my camera are not one with nature, my new challenge. Gary Wortham

Hi Jacques, the bohi ends in the tang, 12mm above the top mekugi ana. Enlighten me as to your thoughts that this portrays. Gary Wortham

Greetings; to Franco & Jacques = answers to questions;

Bohi - both sides

Nagasa - 69cm

Motohaba - 27mm

Motokasane - 7mm

Sakihaba - 20mm

Sakikasane - 4mm

Let me know how this data fits into your current line of thinking. I always ask my sword study teacher, over the years; What do you see ???

Gary Wortham

Ok, I tried a few close ups and 3 were meager at best; 1 = boshi, 2 = lower blade activity, and 3 = overall blade. 2009 goal = photography closeups of blades !!!! Gary Wortham

Iris flower heads - came from Christie's 11/5/1980 catalog - Important Japanese Swords and Sword Furniture - page 29 - item # 40.

Gary Wortham

Thanks for all the great ideas, comments, and advice so far. Jean, nice call on the son or pupil of Go Yoshihiro, and 1342. Thanks exactly what I felt it could be. I have never had it papered, just not found the right time, but will someday after I retire.

The nakago was mentioned as cleaned, by another. Well, as a long time collector and student of the study of Japanese swords and fittings, I can assure you it was not touched by me, and the collector I got it from, years back, was of the same respectful nature. Maybe the lighting threw you off on the appearance.

As for more pictures, my skill is developing with the photography, and has just reached the fittings level. As anyone with blade photo experience can say, that is an art within itself, to capture the blade, boshi, and the activity within them. Yet, this is my new personal challenge, and if I am successful, I will add photos. Thanks !! Gary Wortham

OUCH, that tsuba from the Nihontocraft website, is a nice try and gesture, but there are a ton of major differences; ex. age, workmanship, metal, motif, school, and more. Really looking for the tsuba eggs, to pull this rabbit out of the hat. This board had a wealth of resident brainpower. GARY WORTHAM

Ok, here's one of my tough ones !!! 69cm blade length, 1.7cm sori, tori-zori, tachi mei, mokume with itame, ko-choji madare hamon, boshi - kaen [ hakikake ], late Kamakura or early Nanbokucho, hi - marudome, chu - kissaki, and kiri yasurime. Comes with a great piece of it's history of WWII Japan acquisition. Would appreciate any and all ideas of age, signature, smith, historical data, etc.

I know how difficult it is for thoughts holding the actual blade, so this is a long shot; yet the mass winds of wisdom has greatly impressed me more times than I could count over the years.

Gary Wortham

Used this old tsuba as a replacement on a Yoshihiro mounted katana. 79mmx79mmx3mm. Shakudo fukurin on iron plate. Could use some help on identification of age, school, smith, etc. Very unusual hitsu ??? GARY WORTHAM

Had these menuki added to an old Kiyomitsu katana, as part of it's completetion of being fully mounted in fittings. Could use some opinions on school, age, smith, etc. GARY WORTHAM

Well, with only 24 days to the best sword and fittings show of the year, I am amazed there is no hype, excitement, and enthusiasm, for the ability to immerse oneself in days of the artifacts, of which we have invested so much time and money. Of even more importance is the source of the new blood of this hobby [ yeah right ], a wee bit more than that; and the chance to learn from the veterans, whose knowledge is irreplaceable. You need to go, it will make you feel good, you'll be a better scholar for the experience, and the one's who didn't go, are always sorry for the bad decision. See you there !!! 8/14 > 8/15 San Francisco

Gary Wortham

Well. this tsuba is part of a nice, fully mounted Shinto katana [ papered ] piece, that has keep me in the dark since I bought it in 1998 at the SF show. Curious as to anyone's thoughts on age, school, smith, etc. GARY WORTHAM