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Mino Assistance


Ray Singer

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I am attempting to research a sword which I purchased for myself at the recent Orlando show. The sword has a very complex gonome choji hamon with numerous tobiyaki. There are a few spots that would almost make you think Omiya or So-den Bizen, however there are other places where a togari gonome clearly shows. The hamon has great depth of activity, this is not a simple tight habuchi. The boshi has a very long kaeri and is again lined with tobiyaki. 2 shaku 3 sun, wide mihaba and saki-haba with an extended kissaki. Suriage with a mei of 'Noshu Seki ju Kane__'. My initial thought had been that this gimei, but I spoke for a while with Mike Y., who felt the mei is good for some Mino smith working circa Eisho. Another good friend who I have much respect for suggested I look into San'ami circa Bunmei. I have still not found an example with a hamon that closely resembles this one, and wanted open this up to the board to see if this work felt familiar to anyone. I unfortunately do not have a copy of the Mino-to Taikan, which would undoubtedly be helpful here. I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

 

Kind regards,

Ray

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  • 4 months later...

Sorry to revive this old thread, but I was struck by some similarities to Soshu Hirotsugu. Work in mine is much more calm, but the sword does have a Soshu atmosphere. Still researching (and enjoying) this one. Two reference examples, along with additional photos of my sword.

 

Reference photo and oshigata

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Sword under study

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Hey Ray. I have Mino-To Swords (by Malcolm Cox) being delivered. Its taking a while now to get here but when it does, I'll see if I can help you out.

 

Also, I have this saved on my ebay "watching" list. It might interest you. Kinda expensive but will last many years. Good luck!

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-vintage-book-Mino-sword-katana-Taikan-1975/173544927179?hash=item2868156fcb:g:OTMAAOSwCa1bowY9:rk:2:pf:0

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was going to mention Bizen/Ichimonji earlier as well.

 

As for Kanemoto, I think the turn back is a bit too long on top and boshi is missing other known Kanemoto factors (early generations anyways) and I don't think were seeing sanbon sugi but a choji dominated hamon with some pointed areas that could possibly be seen as sanbon sugi, but its debatable.

 

My 2 cents.

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Definitely not sanbonsugi. Here is an article which describes an Ichimonji utushimono by Kanesada.

 

https://yuhindo.com/ha/40-degrees-kyoto/#more-848

Some nice tidbits of info in that article. Thanks

 

That article mentioned that Mino wasn't regarded as very high compared to the other schools at the time. I understand what they're saying but I disagree a bit. For me, I'm realizing that Mino/Kanemoto/Kanesada are my top smiths. Some of the blades Kanesada has created are amazing and incorporate so many different aspects it's crazy.

 

Ok rant over, I just had to confess my infatuation with the early Mino elite????

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  • 2 months later...
This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

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