Boshi Type?

[Mark S.]

All,

Picked up a wakizashi a few months ago at the Chicago Show.  After many attempts, got a few pictures of the boshi that show the activity. Had to play with a few of the settings to get it to show better, but I think there is enough there to see... a very difficult part of the sword to photograph.  Would I be correct in labeling the activity of the boshi as hikkake?  In the second picture, there appears to be almost an 'eye' in the center of the activity.  Rest of the blade has a suguha hamon and a pretty tight itame (I think) hada.  Due to state of polish, it's a little difficult to tell.  Any comments would be appreciated. 

Thanks,

Mark S.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Yes, I'd agree that the boshi looks like there's hakikake, Mark, but you're right that the polish isn't exactly top-notch.

 

Ken

[SwordGuyJoe]

Out of curiosity, who is the sword done by (if that is known)?

[Mark S.]

Unknown. Blade is mumei and I wasn't able to include it in the Shinsa at the show. Hope NTHK returns to Chicago again.

 

Here are some of my best guesses right now:

maybe late Muromachi?

maybe one of the later Mihara?

maybe Yamato tradition?

maybe Den Tadayoshi?

maybe Bizen?

 

Unfortunately, nakago has some issues with what looks like a previous cleaning attempt (some of the old patina is there and the file marks are visible - just scratched up a bit in the opposite direction) and the polish is old. All that and my inability to get good photos stopped me from just doing the 'posting of bad photos and asking for a kantei here' kinda thing.

 

If you still want me to try to get better photos or want more info, let me know.