To be or not to be?

[Dr Fox]

Can the WW2 collectors help me out here?

I have here what supposes to be a gendaito blade. Some of the points to consider in making such a call, are here, but I am not over enthusiastic on that judgement.

So why unhappy?

The mei is not like a lot of the signings by this smith.

The nakago is devoid of any other markings, star, showa /seki or date.

The blade does not exhibit pronounced hada or nie.

The hamon can be seen to ‘washout’ or change in two areas along the blade, this is mirrored in exactly the same area on the blades other side.

Hope the photos show what I am trying to illustrate.

Please feel free to tear into this one.

[cabowen]

Looks like a gendai-to to me, from what I can see....

[Kai-Gunto]

Looks like a gendai-to to me, from what I can see....

Me too.

[obiwanknabbe]

Can someone please tell me if this is an example of Kun-1399 (without totally giving it away to others who may be trying). I am using this as an opportunity to practice with my shiny new copy of Slaugh.

 

Thanks

 

Kurt.K

 

If so...Is it just me or is the yasurimei different? Nakirishimei?

[Dr Fox]

Hmmm, well there you are then. Don't know now, what more there is to say!

With an 11-word answer from Chris, and that confirmed by Thomas with 2 words. That must be as good as it will get.

When I said tear into it, I didn't mean that hard! :lol:

Thank you both, appreciated.

[george trotter]

Hi Denis, don't dispair...there is not a lot of knowledge on some of the WWII smiths.

 

It looks gendaito to me.

The mei matches his style of writing (rounded "kuni") IMO, although the Mori strokes are a little different (early style?).

The yasuri are different but I have seen such yasuri variation on WWII swords myself... kiri-sujikai in a pre-RJT Kunishiro and sujikai on his RJT-period work.

I have also seen hamon and mei style difference in a RJT smith work and his postwar work...so that is 2 smith variations in just one collector's experience, and yours makes three!

I also owned a blade by your smith (see lousy pic)...it is nijimei and takanoha yasuri, but was an amazing saka choji.

As you see, the "toshi" on mine seems a variation on yours again. Mine also was not dated and I don't remember any stamps either (long time ago). You will see also that mine is signed katanamei and yours (like those in Slough) is "correct" tachimei.

With these points mentioned, unless some info emerges that proves he had assistants doing work for him, I think this one of yours is the same smith as Slough p.93, KUN 1395, KUN 1399, the quality looks good from what I can see and the variations are wide enough to be in the realm of "normal" for him...certainly not a bad sign IMO...so, just enjoy!

Hope this helps,

[Dr Fox]

Thank you George

 

All aside, your information is ‘yes’ very help full.

 

Also seeing the complete kanji for ‘kuni’, where mine is obscured by an ana is a bonus.

 

If I may draw attention to the occurrences of the interruptions in the hamon! Would this be described as “kuzure”? I have seen it in reference that it can occur.

But as it appears 4 times on the blade, and at exact opposites in location, in this instance is it planned and deliberate?

[george trotter]

Hi Denis...glad to help.

I am not sure I can comment on your query from a pic.

It seems to me that there is a "dullish" sugu type hadori line running parallel above the hamon line.

Can I ask...was the polish on your blade original WWII hadori of a suguba style?...or to put it another way, when you hold it to the light, does the hamon stay the same distinctness as you move the light glare up and down, but all below the "hadori line"?

I have seen this hadori line effect sometimes and it can cut straight across hills and valleys also.

Being now 70 years old, a lot of the hadori is worn off but a "shadow line" remains .

Just looking at the pic, the portion you mention seems to be a slight kuzure to me too.

Here is a pic of a RJT blade of mine...it has what I have labelled "kuzure". (it also has a sugu hadori polish as the hamon is too active for busy WWII togishi).

 

Regards,

[Dr Fox]

George

 

The blade has had a modern polish, the blade is not in WW2 state.

 

In an attempt to indicate my question, at the photo edges, is where the hamon loses its ‘pattern”, the hamon goes into the question area? which is on both sides of the blade (see edge nick). This is repeated further towards the kissaki, and again its on both sides of blade.

[george trotter]

I see what your'e talking about, but I don't think I have seen that feature before, so I can't really comment.

It might be a well known feature so think that might be a question for other experienced members...there is a lot of hamon knowledge here.

Regards,

[Dr Fox]

Fair comment George

 

Its because it is a mirror event that had me puzzled. Best sit tight and see if any ideas are forthcoming

[cabowen]

When the nie flows over into the ji, it is called nie-kuzure. This looks somewhat like what is happening on your blade. It is possible the smith meant to make swells at these locations that did not completely form.

[george trotter]

Thanks Chris, that is how I understand kuzure too...I had noted mine as nie-kuzure on my data sheet...there are other, more "typical" patches of nie-kuzure on my blade also, but I'd have to hunt out the pics.

Denis, I think Chris is right...I think I was not understanding your question about mirror event...the smith was probably making a matching hamon on both sides, this is quite common in all ages. Maybe in this case, his kuzure is just a little weak.

Regards,

[Dr Fox]

Brilliant!

 

Thanks both, its deliberate, and that was the suppose I had, and you both confirm.

 

:D

[george trotter]

Just as a point...could the kuzure be 'weak' now because the blade had a polish?

What I was thinking was that if the feature is kuzure (which would not be as deep/strong as the true hamon) and the blade was chipped/dirty...would the polisher have to take off a fair amount of metal at the hamon (to get rid of chips etc) and thereby remove some of the nie kuzure which may be a bit "shallow" compared to the hamon proper, and thus it now appears "weak" as a proportion of the bright nie have been removed to a certain depth, so now looks paler than the "true hamon"?

Just thinking out loud.

[Dr Fox]

George

 

As regards polish, I know that the blade was polished for effect, not as a remedy for any ills. Thats the way the owner liked his blades.

 

This blade is a healthy item, and its dimensions seem to be as the smith would have proportioned it, the hamon runs true to the ha as would be expected. There is the small chip which if needed could have been removed but was not.

The area I questioned leaves the hamon line and moves towards the shinogi, in fact to suggest that a pronounced feature, was intended to be at that point, on both sides of the blade sounds right.

 

Now if I may pick up on your point! Polishing along the hamon? I get what you suggest, but may I ask, would that cause the line of the existing hamon to move towards the shinogi? as opposed to keeping the line, and weakening the hamon pattern as we see it?

 

I will say this, the more this blade is close examined, the more I can appreciate a collectors view of this subject. Its spot on!