Shinsa papers translation

[bigjohnshea]

Hello all,

Hope you are well.

 

I submitted two waks for the NTHK shinsa in Florida. They both failed shinsa, one due to gimei no doubt, the other most likely due to not being polished. I was submitting primarily for an attribution.

 

Could someone help me translating the papers? I don't even know where to start. I am most interested in whether or not attributions where made, and what they were.

 

Thank you for your help.

Cheers,

[bigjohnshea]

Closer photo

[bigjohnshea]

Second paper

[bigjohnshea]

Closer image

[cabowen]

First one failed due to Gimei, attributed to Echizen Shimosaka around 1650. Second one failed due to low quality (程度不良).

[bigjohnshea]

Thank you Chris.

So does low quality mean it is a badly made blade or that the quality can't be determined due to the condition of the blade?

Cheers,

[cabowen]

probably a bit of both....

[bigjohnshea]

Okay, thanks very much Chris. I think I'm still going to try and have the second sword polished. It's not much longer than a tanto so it shouldn't cost too much to clean up. Would be nice to atleast be able to enjoy it.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

[cabowen]

I would use the money to buy something better. Sow's ears don't make the best purses and all....

[Stephen]

+1

[kunitaro]

Boshi Section (of second paper) is written 駆け出す (Kakedasu)

It is meaning that Hamon of Boshi is off at Kissaki.

[cabowen]

Yes, and there is that....

[bigjohnshea]

Interesting... Thank you for that. Looks like a flaw (perhaps) was missed by the merchant I purchased it from.

[bigjohnshea]

Is it possible that because the sword is in a poor state of polish that the boshi simply couldn't be seen during the shinsa?

 

I can't see it very well right now, but I'm going to oil it and try and get a better look.

[John A Stuart]

I would look carefully in the pic at the boshi where there is hadori but the tani 谷 of the hamon runs off the blade. Unless my eyes deceive me. This is actually quite common on tired tanto with hoso or chu gunome hamon. John

[bigjohnshea]

I cleaned it up a bit and got the light right. I think they are correct. There are a few spots not just on the boshi where the hamon vanishes completely.

 

Hmm... glad this was found.

 

Thank you all.

 

Cheers,

[Jean]

Is it possible that because the sword is in a poor state of polish that the boshi simply couldn't be seen during the shinsa?

 

Sweet dreams, John, these guys have seen thousand of swords and when there is a doubt, they scrutinize the area carefully ( there are at least 3/4 specialists in the shinsa).

[Marius]

John,

 

you have bought this blade from Andy Quirt at http://www.nihonto.us. Andy is one of the good guys, so why don't you ask him for a refund. In his description (http://www.nihonto.us/MINAMOTO%20IYE--.htm) this serious flaw has not been mentioned.

 

Ah, the joy of buying blades out of polish...

[Stephen]

right not all boshi turn back, but that woudnt be a boshi perse, Hadori can make it look like that, the team knew what they saw.

[bigjohnshea]

I had posted the link to site where I bought it earlier in the thread, but purposely took it down. Andy and I have discussed this, and I decided that since this was a consignment blade the easiest thing to do would be for him to issue a credit toward a future purchase. He agreed to this. He was willing to do a total refund but the credit he issued me is about 75% of the purchase price and I'm happy with that. I think that is fair. I will keep the sword and apply that credit to a future purchase with him. Flawed swords need love too, and I don't mind giving it. :-)

Cheers,

[cabowen]

Good for you both.

 

This last shinsa was quite interesting in that there were more than a few swords submitted that failed that were rather recent purchases from several different well known dealers, all of whom had guaranteed the mei, quality, etc. Seeing how each person and dealer handled the issue was a very enlightening experience.

[Brian]

Kudos to Andy for standing behind his sales. Sign of a dealer worth working with.

 

Brian

[Marius]

Brian is right. And this is an example showing that it is really worth to go with a reputable dealer.

[Derek]

Last year, at the Chicago show, Andy spent over an hour of his time sharing his nihonto knowledge with me. Not to make a sale, but because he really loves nihonto. Definitely a great man.

 

Derek

[benatthelake]

Thank you Chris.

So does low quality mean it is a badly made blade or that the quality can't be determined due to the condition of the blade?

Cheers,

 

John: Can you post pictures of the blade? It is a learning point to see blades which have not passed.

 

Greatly appreciated.

 

Ben M.

[John A Stuart]

It is on the bottom of page one. John

[bigjohnshea]

http://www.nihonto.us/MITSUSANE%20KATANA.htm

 

Decided to use the credit I was issued to put toward this blade, as a future restoration. Seemed like a worthy candidate to me.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Cheers,