Gold lacquer cutting test

[Ron STL]

An O-suriage katana with kinpun attribution and cutting test was shown to me today. Sorry, no photos to share. It surprised me to see a gold lacquer cutting test since I thought all cutting test inscriptions were inlaid gold or simply carved onto the nakago. Anyone have any comments of kinpun cutting test inscriptions? At the moment I don't recall who the tester was -- info misplaced somewhere in my computer -- but the inscription looked right when compared to other book examples for the tester. Comments?

Ron STL

[sohei]

Hi Ron, I have a katana with kinzogan mei "UDA TOMONORI KOSON (KAO), FUTATSU DO NI SAN NO DO KASANE KIRIOTOSHI" that has both the Hon'ami Koson origami that says the sword was made in the Joji period (1362), the blade shortened, Naganuma did a cutting test, cutting thru two bodies between the 2nd & 3rd area on the torso. It also has NTHK-NPO papers which verifies the smith; Uda Tomonori and the era (Joji) and province Etchu. Mike

[raiden]

Is your blade a kinpun mei or kinzigan mei? The Honami Koson blade

[sohei]

Help me understand the difference Mike. I see the 'kinpun mei' described as "Appraiser's inscription in gold lacquer of the name of the attributed swordsmith". And the 'kinzogan-mei' as "An inscription inlaid in gold by a member of the Honomi family of the name of the attributed swordsmith on the shortened tang of a mumei blade". Is it the 'kinpun' is in gold lacquer, where the 'kinzogan mei' is the chiseled mei filled with gold? If that is right, I misspoke, and it would be a 'kinpun mei' since the Uda Tomonori blade is in gold lacquer. (I saw the applied 'by the Honomi family' & it threw me off). Thanks, Mike

[John A Stuart]

Yes, you have it. Kinpunmei is with gold lacquer. It would be nice to see your swords nakago to compare the Honami kao. John

[raiden]

So, all of the writing is in gold lacquer? I have seen kinpun attributions with kinzogan testcut signatures.

[Ron STL]

So, all of the writing is in gold lacquer? I have seen kinpun attributions with kinzogan testcut signatures.

 

That's what surprised me with the sword I examined, Mike. It was definitely all done in gold lacquer, both the attribution and the test inscription. Some of the lacquer actually was worn away. On kinzogan test inscriptions I recall reading somewhere that you should see the yasurimei actually across the inlaid test kanji, which is (I believe) that way it is on the two test blades I own.

Ron STL

[raiden]

A gold lacquer setsudan mei is unusual. And yes generally with the better kinzogan setsudan mei , you see the yasurimei going over the gold inlay. Perhaps you can post a pic of the tang?

[sohei]

[sohei]

[sohei]

[sohei]

[sohei]

[sohei]

Ok, I uploaded some pictures. Hide Hinomoto did the translation of the Hon'ami origami. He just sat down and wrote it out, at the sword show, so any additions or corrections would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Mike

[cabowen]

Hi Ron, I have a katana with kinzogan mei "UDA TOMONORI KOSON (KAO), FUTATSU DO NI SAN NO DO KASANE KIRIOTOSHI" that has both the Hon'ami Koson origami that says the sword was made in the Joji period (1362), the blade shortened, Naganuma did a cutting test, cutting thru two bodies between the 2nd & 3rd area on the torso. It also has NTHK-NPO papers which verifies the smith; Uda Tomonori and the era (Joji) and province Etchu. Mike

 

Mike-

 

I don't see anywhere were the name of the tester (Naganuma?) is given on the sword??? How did you come up with Naganuma?

[sohei]

Hi Chris,

I think Hide said it was in the Hon'ami origami. Can you verify that? Thanks, Mike

[cabowen]

Hmmm, I don't see it in the origami (but then again I am not a native reader of Japanese) and wonder how Koson could know this unless he was there when the test was done. I don't think they were testing swords on bodies after the end of the Edo period (then again, maybe during WWII)....Perhaps Morita san can confirm?

[k morita]

Hi,

The cutting tester's name is not written anywhere.

According to the Honami Koson's origami(2nd pic),there was an inscription inlaid in gold of cutting test on the tang befor he wrote gold lacquer mei.

[cabowen]

Thank you Morita san for the confirmation....

[sohei]

Yes, Many thanks! Mike

[sohei]

Markus has translated the Hon'ami origami as:

極

一 宇多友則

時代 貞治

長貳尺貳寸参分余有之

大磨上無銘裁断名判入也

光遜

昭和拾四年己卯

Kiwame (Appraisal)

1, Uda Tomonori

Era: Jôji (貞治, 1362-1368)

nagasa a little over 2 shaku 2 sun 3 sun

ô-suriage mumei but there was once the name of a cutting tester inlaid

Kôson

Shôwa 14 (1939), year of the hare

 

 

I find it interesting that he mentions there once was a cutter name, maybe the name was on a sayagaki? Surely he would not have seen the original nakago...?