Hizen-to ?

[dwmc]

Dear Members,

 

A few years back I purchased two Shingunto at an estate auction. It was the estate of a WWll vet.

 

There were two swords up for auction, one of which I was particularly interested in, the other just happen to be there, and was not nearly in as good of state of polish as the first. I've learned the rather hard lesson over the years to buy as relatively "in polish" swords as you can. Out of polish swords can lead to a mild form of insanity trying to determine hada and hamon type...

Of course, the insanity can be avoided with a $3K professional polish...ahhhh.

 

The first sword was a dai-saku, dai-mei  Amahide by Ido Hidetoshi. A decent, fairly well war time polished Gendaito, in nice koshirae.

 

The other, I set aside. I did notice however, it was Nihonto. At the estate auction, I recall how the vets son told me how much fun he had in his younger years whacking shrubs in their back yard with the sword. (I couldn't help thinking what my Dad would have done to me had I done such a thing with his bring backs.)

 

A couple of years later I was reading through Markus Sesko's online description of Shinto era Hizen swords. I remembered the second sword I had purchased at the estate auction exhibited a few characteristics of Hizen-to.

 

I realize there where several generations of Hizen smiths. Basically what I'm requesting, is this possibly one of them. Does it appear to be Hizen? All comments will be appreciated !

 

Sugata- Shinogi zukuri, torii zori, 1/4" sori

Nagasa-22 3/4" suriage

Moto haba- 1 1/4 "  Saki haba- 1"

Funbari- 1/8 " reduction

Kissaki- Chu 1 1/4"  full fukura

Kasane- Munemachi 1/4"  Yokote 3/16"

Hamon-Appears Nioi based sugu-ha   Boshi appears Ko-maru

Hada-Very tight ko-itame possibly konuka

Nakago-Suriage, Kiri yasurime

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Sincerely,

 

Dave M.

[Bazza]

IMHO not Hizento.

 

BaZZa.

[dwmc]

Thanks Bazza, all opinions appreciated.

 

Dave M.

[Brian]

There isn't enough there to suggest any particular school, least of all Hizen. That said, it's real and in decent condition and once had a professional polish, so looks to be a nice sword.

[dwmc]

Well, there you go. There may be a lesson in this topic after all. As Brian has pointed out, there simply isn't enough there to make a proper judgement.

 

I paid $ 300 for the sword, which is a decent price, however, a professional polish would push the cost far beyond what the eventual value of the sword would be, but still a future possibility.

 

I ended up paying more for the Amahide than I had planned, due to bidding against a individual who thought he was bidding on the Honjo Masamune. ($1000) Although good polish, nice koshirae, gendaito by Hidetoshi.

 

The characteristic I mentioned(on the sword shown) such as Ko-maru boshi and potential Konuku hada are difficult to see, even with the sword in hand, let alone in photo's.

Again the lesson of out of polish swords...

 

I'm adding a couple of more pictures just for the heck of it.

 

And Mr. Ted Tenold, if you happen to read this post, I definitely intend to contact you at a time I can fully commit to bringing at least four swords to you to evaluate and choose which ones you would hopefully enjoy working on. Various factors have prevented me from visiting you, I know its probably ridiculous, but I'm not comfortable sending sword by mail, and prefer dealing in person. Hopefully we can get together after the Covid situation...

 

Thanks again Brian and Bazza for responses, Nekoalex and Blaze for likes.

 

Dave M.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Have to agree that there is nothing consistent with Hizen-To beyond the Kesho.

[16k]

Too difficult to see the details for an honest opinion, but I wouldn’t bet too much on Hizen.

[dwmc]

Too difficult to see the details for an honest opinion, but I wouldn’t bet too much on Hizen.

 

I have to agree JP, John also. I thought I would just throw it out there, see what members opinions were.

 

I was basing my hopes on it possibly being a late Tadayoshi 1st gen Tadahiro , or 2nd gen Tadahiro..

Mainly on the rather symmetric suguha hamon, the kanuka hada, followed by kiri yasurime, and ko-maru boshi.

(A bit of a shallow sori however.) The kanuka (ish) hada, I'm unable to photograph and frankly, unqualified to classify it as such.

The ko-maru boshi can barely be made out with sword in hand.

 

Again, the frustrations of out of polish swords...

 

Thanks again,

 

Dave M.