loui Posted April 9, 2015 Report Posted April 9, 2015 Hey Everyone, I've seen nakago like this over the years but I cannot remember what it is called, anyone remember, and the origins? Thanks! Louie Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 How about a Kiri nakago that is likely o-suriage. Ken Quote
loui Posted April 10, 2015 Author Report Posted April 10, 2015 Yes O-suriage but I'm wondering about the large hammered areas on the nakago, ive seen this on several blades over the years and just wondering if a remounting thing or...... Thanks Ken! Quote
Grey Doffin Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 Best guess is bad corrosion or abuse; don't think it was supposed to be that way. Grey 1 Quote
loui Posted April 10, 2015 Author Report Posted April 10, 2015 I know it looks like that but these are deliberate marks, large pieces removed - about the size of your thumb, those pics are of two different swords not the same one. I have seen others like that as well. Someone told me years ago about it just can't remember. Cheers. Louie Quote
kissakai Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 I have one katana that has a cut out on the side that was to fit it to WW1 style fittings I wonder if yours may be similar Grev UK Quote
Brian Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 News to me. I'd always thought they were the product of abuse. Interested to hear more. Brian Quote
Grey Doffin Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 Hi Louie, If this is done intentionally for some useful purpose, wouldn't you expect it to be done better? There isn't a true line anywhere on the nakago, the mekugi-ana is misplaced, and it looks like poop. Why would Japanese sword and koshirae smiths, who tend to do everything else nicely if not meticulously, choose to do this one process in such a slap-dash manner? Grey Quote
ROKUJURO Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 Louis,I have seen a few like this. To me it looks as if heavy corrosion had been removed in an amateurish way to stop the rust. The results are not beautiful..... I've seen nakago like this over the years but I cannot remember what it is called.... 1 Quote
kissakai Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 Hi My nakago was crudely cut or filed away but after putting it on the NMB I was told it would fit a WWI tsuka Also the reverence we place on swords was not the same attitude as some Japanese We have seen swords stuck in the ground and countless other examples of misuse I'm sure I could start a post just asking for examples of sword being abused I could be have been 'butchered' to fit and looking at this example it seem too regular so I feel it had a purpose Grev UK Quote
loui Posted April 10, 2015 Author Report Posted April 10, 2015 Hi Grey, yes of course but who knows what goes through ones mind. Is it possible that this was done to lengthen the nakago for whatever reason? If you squeeze it or pound it on the top edge it would force the bottom down, the beat the bottom and force the top up. Sounds crude - but to get a sword out the door and money in hand - desperate times...beater blades etc etc. I've asked a good friend in Japan I'm waiting for the answer. And yes it is crude but ive seen worse like Grev says. Cheers! Quote
drbvac Posted April 10, 2015 Report Posted April 10, 2015 Makes sense that whomever had the blade and a tsuka sitting around and wanted to use both -= you do what you do to make it work. Seems pretty primitive to us but these are not national treasures so it would be like us putting a new axe handle on a head - may look the shits but if it functions as the owner wants it to - thats all he cares about. Funny that they look very similar so no doubt they were altered in the same way to fit similar hilts be they army or whatever but it could be some little aberation inside military hilts that mean the nakago has to be thinner in those areas. I attempted to make a tsunagi to use on a display where the blade was naked and the fittings in the koshirae on the wooden copy - it looks like I carved it from a 2 x 4 with a hatchet - I started tracing the blade and an hour later I was using a box cutter just to get it to fit and hold the fittings - anyway - will be interested to hear the "real" reasons that this may have been done. Quote
loui Posted April 10, 2015 Author Report Posted April 10, 2015 it looks like I carved it from a 2 x 4 with a hatchet - I started tracing the blade and an hour later I was using a box cutter just to get it to fit and hold the fittings - anyway - will be interested to hear the "real" reasons that this may have been done. LOL, now that is funny! Quote
Darcy Posted April 17, 2015 Report Posted April 17, 2015 Maybe you're looking for tsuchime nakago finishing? Hammered type finish with a ball peen hammer. But it's a lot finer than this. Tends to be found on old stuff. Quote
Pete Klein Posted April 17, 2015 Report Posted April 17, 2015 It's known as, 'Ballpeenchime'... Quote
Kai-Gunto Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 IMO, Nothing but rust ,bad storage at a time. Quote
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