How Long Does It Take To Really "know" A Blade?

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

 

I have had this katana in my collection for 5 years now. It was my first nihonto. The blade is mumei and attributed by the NTHK den shinshinto Kanesaki. When it arrived I was a little underwhelmed. I was expecting perfection, but the blade has a number of small ware. For years I was unable to see past these imperfections, but each time I looked at it I began to see a little more of the blade's beauty. Recently I took the blade out to re-oil it and took it out into the sun to have another look. For the first time I have been able to see the true beauty of the blade. The flowing lines of nie amongst the nioi combine to create a 3D effect, so that it appears you can actually see into the steel. Not sure why I was never able to see this before. As always, the photos I was able to take can't capture the full effect you see with the naked eye.

 

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[dominnimod]

[O-Midare]

Very nice, beautiful blade Bryce.

[ChrisW]

For a first, it does look pretty spectacular. My first nihonto doesn't even have a visible hamon, it would take more work than its worth probably. Its a rescue from a local antique shop.

[ROKUJURO]

Nice blade, but too much oil on it.

[Ken-Hawaii]

The blade hasn't changed - you have. Your brain now allows you to actually SEE what has been there, all along. Congratulations! Many people never get that far.

 

Nice blade, but Jean is right. You should never have so much oil that you get a sheen. It blocks part of what you can see, & does nothing good to your shirasaya.

[Jwrussell]

Great looking blade.

[Greg F]

Nice blade Bryce, has a lovely hamon. I lived in Qld for a while and I miss it all the time.

 

Greg

[raynor]

Very nice blade. My first is also a Shinshinto blade, just also coming through Shinsa. Speaking of oil, any preferences to a blade in good polish? I find that choji oil on a blade with a mirror finish tend to form tiny droplets on the surface, like on a mirror rather then cover it. Any stickier alternatives for that thin coat, rather then droplets or as in this case, overdoing it?

[Stephen]

answer OQ  Years, if you study once a week you'll find something new each time.

[DRDave]

Once had a wakizashi that I'd owned for a couple of years before discovering it had hagire.  Probably never would have found it had it not been for the all the factors (light intensity, color, viewing angle, etc.) coming together at one time.   And whenever I could find it, if I looked away and then looked back, it was like starting over to find it again.    

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

 

Thank you for your replies. I will take on board your advice about over oiling. I live in a very hot, humid and coastal environment, so I figured more was better than not enough.

 

Cheers,

Bryce

[Blazeaglory]

I own 7 or 8 different blades but only 2 or 3 of them, I would consider to be from a smith with some serious skill. Every time I take them out of the shirasaya to admire, I find something new. I can look for an hour and not feel bored. I've had them for roughly a year now and I'm always finding new features.

 

For instance, on one of the three, I recently just noticed it has sunagashi the entire length of the ha/hamon. It was so fine that I missed it on prior looks. I used to think it was of the early Kanemoto line but some things didn't fit. The more I look, the older it gets. My hopeful opinion based on some brief kantei seems to place it Naoe Shizu. I hesitate to bring up any big names (Kaneuji influence) . I just say "early Mino" for arguments sake.

 

Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is, every time I look at my Nihonto, I find something new and it never gets old.

[paulb]

In response to the OP to really know a sword can and does take a very long time. To know  whether I like a blade or not usually takes seconds. To see what it holds and to understand it a very long time. I continue to enjoy blades that have been in my collection for 10 years or more and keep finding new and interesting detail

Some while ago I posted an article on the Token of GB website describing the experience of relooking at the sword I have held in the collection the longest (now approaching 20 years) and finding so much more. As has been suggested above while the sword hasn't changed my understanding and experience have and so hopefully my level of appreciation.

I think you can spend many, many, years and still find something new to enjoy and learn from. That's what makes this a great subject to study

Link to article below:

http://to-ken.uk/onewebmedia/daido%20paper.pdf

[Geraint]

Dear Bryce.

 

Always good to see a Kanesaki, yours has a great deal to see, much more than one I own which has a very tight nioiguchi and little activity.  I agree with what has been said above but wanted to add a couple of things.

 

Examining a sword in different lights is always a good idea, I know that most of us keep them safely inside and only get to see them under artificial light, (Well, I'm in the UK, might be different for you guys.)

 

The second thing is to suggest that you have a go at an oshigata.  I do mine with very limited materials, thin art paper and a range of ordinary pencils.  In order to get anywhere close to what is actually happening you need to really look at the sword and I find that helpful.

 

All the best.

[paulb]

Agree 100% about doing Oshigata attempting it (and in my case thats about all it is, an attempt) really makes you look at the hamon and activity in detail. the focus needed is a great benefit. It also happens to be great fun to do!

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

 

Paul, that is a great story and very similar to my experience. I figured I couldn't be the only person this has happened to. In my defence, it is possible that this blade arrived just before I realized I needed my first pair of reading glasses.

 

On a different tack, how would you describe this hamon? I know it is choji, but could it also be described as a different interpretation of sanbonsugi?

 

Cheers,

Bryce

[paulb]

To be honest Bryce once you get beyond the basics further descriptions become very subjective.

I remember seeing a bright line of nie almost like kinsuji or chickei but running perpendicular to the hamon through the jihada on a blade once. It was so clear and so strange I was sure it would have a particualr name and asked the Japanese dealer what this feature was called. He looked at me rather quizzically and said "Nie"

 

Your hamon is midare choji or choji midare whichever you prefer. You might also consider that the groupings of choji look a you say like a form of sanbonsugi but another might consider them more like naka-choji (fist shape seen in Nidai Kunisuke of the Osaka school) These things are always open to interpretation and subjective

Regardless it is a good looking piece with a complex and lively hamon. Continue to enjoy it.