My Little Christmas/Housewarming Gift (to Myself!)

[Death-Ace]

Hey guys!

 

I moved to Japan a few months ago and with the bonus the Navy gave, I was able to splurge a little after paying off some things and getting the wife a little something. I saw this blade on Touken Komachi for a minute and after talking to and emailing their more than helpful staff, decided to purchase this.

 

The blade is definitely tired, but I like the craftsmanship. The mokume hada is gorgeous and the notare/gunome mix with sunagashi is definitely a nice study, along with hakikake at the boshi. The polish seems a little scuffed amd scratched due to repeated draws and I guess uchiko prior to my purchase, and the hadori is a bit caked on, but still in excellent shape to study.

 

The funny thing is the suriage nakago has an attribution to Ichimonji, which I'm sure the poor thing isn't, but a decent Uda work. On the bottom, there is the remnants of a shu-mei, but not enough to attempt to see what attribution this sword once had. Still, a nice old warrior, I believe from Muromachi Uda, and glad to give it a good retirement. More pictures to come, but here's a few from the site.

 

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A070718.html

[Ken-Hawaii]

Pretty nice housewarming gift, Lev. Or should that be houseARMing?

[Ruroni_Kenshin]

Can’t wait to see it in hand.

[SAS]

Congrats, very nice!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Nice pick up Lev, I had my eye on that one for some time, the hada is a real treat.

[vajo]

Lev thats a very nice sword. Congratulations for buying it!

[Alex A]

Been two or three good deals there over the last couple of months, and that was one of them.

 

Actually, thought it was a great deal, lovely hada and bo-hi.

 

I was also curious about the inlay "ichi", did they tell you more about it ?, best I could come up with was a Samurai that liked to blow his own trumpet

 

Well done, nice sword.

[vajo]

Looks like Yoshioka Ichimonji for me 

Beautiful sword.

[Gakusee]

Definitely not Yoshioka Ichimonji or any Ichimonji for that matter

[CSM101]

Looks like Yoshioka Ichimonji for me 

Beautiful sword.

Chris, you should visit Japan and look at some of the swords over there. Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane (Kokuho).

 

Very nice sword!

 

Uwe G.

[Austus]

Lucky You, Lev.  Not just the owner of a nice new sword; but now you live at the source. You can view the finest and best Nihonto every day.  Wow, I'm jealous! 

[16k]

That’s a beautiful gift to yourself. You should congratulate yourself for your good tastes. I’ve looked at that one so many times with envy! Congratulations!

[Death-Ace]

Sorry for the wait and Happy New Year! I have not asked as of yet regarding the origins of the attribution. I honestly didn't even think about what the ichi could be until my mind registered some disused data, haha.

 

Whether it was done in trickery or good heart, I believe whoever attributed it saw some characteristics of Fukuoka Ichimonji or another, the sori, even rhough suriage, a low hamachi and hamon near and "consistent with ancient and repeatedly polished blades" and considered the bohi a later addition. At least that is what I think is a possibility of why it has this attribution, could have been someone wanted to gift another with a supposed "legendary" sword, but could not and would not afford an actual Ichimonji. Of course, we all know it could have been any possibility!

 

Also, now that I am here, if there is anything you ever need me to look at foe you or attempt to find or need a middleman, let me know! I know there are definitely more qualified folks, but I'd love to lend a hand!

[vajo]

This hada is amazing Lev!

[16k]

Splendid Hada, splendid activities, splendid hakikake, one couldn’t ask for more!

[Ken-Hawaii]

Love the hada & hamon!

[tokashikibob]

Jeez Lev,  What camera did you buy?  Those were some really nice closeups!    Let me know if you want to trade 2  NCO's for that old worn out wall hanger.

Semper Fi,

  Bob

[Greg F]

Nice shots even nicer sword. What a gift, Congrats.

 

Greg

[Death-Ace]

Thanks guys! And Bob, maybe for that rusted out Shigetsugu! loljk.

 

Also, sad story. I was attempting to take a pic of a possible bend (which turned out to be nothing) that I posted a few days ago, I lost my grip on the nakago and the end hit and sliced onto my my isopropalol bottle. Kinda glad it did. Found a microchip I didnt know was there! Thought at first somehow it had chipped my blade, but looks like there is a scuff above it that was on the seller's photos. Maybe someone was being a bit rough with it before they got it! But overall, still a very nice sword, and helps me microview any blade now I will see in the future!

 

In any case, definitely shows why to be extremely caredul, no matter how long you have handled weapons. Could endanger you, someone else, or the blade itself.

[Blazeaglory]

Sorry for the wait and Happy New Year! I have not asked as of yet regarding the origins of the attribution. I honestly didn't even think about what the ichi could be until my mind registered some disused data, haha.

 

Whether it was done in trickery or good heart, I believe whoever attributed it saw some characteristics of Fukuoka Ichimonji or another, the sori, even rhough suriage, a low hamachi and hamon near and "consistent with ancient and repeatedly polished blades" and considered the bohi a later addition. At least that is what I think is a possibility of why it has this attribution, could have been someone wanted to gift another with a supposed "legendary" sword, but could not and would not afford an actual Ichimonji. Of course, we all know it could have been any possibility!

 

Also, now that I am here, if there is anything you ever need me to look at foe you or attempt to find or need a middleman, let me know! I know there are definitely more qualified folks, but I'd love to lend a hand!

 

 

The hada is AMAZING!!