CurtisR Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 Several months back I posted for info. or thoughts on this blade...mumei, nagasa of 65.2cm, nakago of 18cm. The photos were rough, and weren't able to show hada or hamon very well, or the actual color of nakago so I thought I'd follow up with these. I still haven't gotten it pinned to a specific school, but I have a guess which I'll keep to myself at this point. It was looked at in-hand by a gentleman with quite a bit of experience, and he agrees it's koto and o-suriage (Sorry Mr. Bowen - he may still prove to be wrong lol). It came to me in old Edo fittings and partial koshirae, but the ito was badly worn and the kashira missing. Just for your consideration - it's next stop will be Shinsa next year . Curtis R. Quote
CurtisR Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Posted February 11, 2015 To my eye, it appears to be Jizo boshi, but...... Curtis R. Quote
cabowen Posted February 11, 2015 Report Posted February 11, 2015 Curt- Post some photos of the nakago taken from the mune and ha sides. Also, some closeups of the hamon as it ends in the nakago.... Quote
CurtisR Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Posted February 11, 2015 Will Do Chris - I'll take them this weekend and post ~~ Curtis R. Quote
CurtisR Posted February 18, 2015 Author Report Posted February 18, 2015 Well I apologize for the delay....I FINALLY got the photos of the hamachi and munemachi as requested by Chris. I forgot to bring those of the nakago end with me, but will post later tonight. Please enjoy, and as always, comments are welcome. As an aside, I did send the previously posted photos to a well-respected member of the Nihonto community and he gave me his opinion, believing it is not a shinto copy but probably koto. I'm also heading over to the tosogu section and will post pics of the kojiri from the saya, as well as some of the saya itself which has an identified pattern. What is interesting about the kojiri (and fuchi - which again, I'll post later) is that it displays both Mikumon and Kirimon, and possibly a river? They are iron, and old - I'm not claiming they have lieneage to the Hideyoshi clan, but it's a possiblity . Please feel free to take a peek ~~ Cheers, Curtis R. Quote
cabowen Posted February 18, 2015 Report Posted February 18, 2015 Curt- Looking the nakago mune, it is clear that this sword has been polished very little in its present configuration. If it is osuriage, it would in all likelihood had to have been shortened rather recently since it hasn't been polished much. It looks to be quite thick. If it was osuriage, as I said, it would have originally been at least 33" long. Often a koto blade of that length is thinner to compensate for the great length and thus I would find it a bit unusual to have this thickness this far up the blade. If it is ubu, it probably isn't that old of a sword since it hasn't been polished much at all. These pictures make me think more than ever that this is not that old of a sword.... Quote
CurtisR Posted February 18, 2015 Author Report Posted February 18, 2015 Hmmmmm....well, certainly getting mixed reviews between Japan and here Chris, but with even my limited knowledge I agree that it hasn't been polished much at all. I think I'll let it lay in state until Shinsa and then hopefully we'll both know for sure . I still really like it regardless, and I guess that's the "main" thing, yes? Thanks! Curtis R. Quote
cabowen Posted February 18, 2015 Report Posted February 18, 2015 Of course that is the most important thing. Regardless, it looks to be a well made sword. Again, this is just an interpretation based on my take on what is visible in the photos and what is most common. There are always exceptions... Quote
CurtisR Posted February 19, 2015 Author Report Posted February 19, 2015 Agreed Chris! And no worries...hey, that's why they hold Shinsa "in-hand" vs. "Please submit your photos", right?? All is good, and I'm looking forward to learning more....which in the end is what it's all about, IMHO! Thanks to all ~~ Curtis R. Quote
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