Kamakura Rai School?

[BreizhSamourai]

Hello

I am trying to narrow down the age / school of this katana.

I have it for quite a few years now and it is my favorite

It was picked up by a GI in WW2 in the Philippines and has an early high quality shingunto 98 mounting (rare same saya with leather cover etc).

It has a koto feel (very light blade) if I compare it with other shinto blades I have. I believe it is more mokume than itame. Hamon is a very nice suguha that is extremely straight.

Based on the various books I read, I am a bit stuggling to narrow it down but I saw some examples of katana from the Rai and Awataguchi school in late Kamakura / early Nanbokucho that made me think of it.

Any ideas / tips welcome

Thx for your help

Eric

[Ken-Hawaii]

Need better photos to rell much. Much more light on the blade, & higher resolution.

 

Sugata looks more early Shinto than Koto.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Can we see the mounts as well?

[David Flynn]

Looks Shinto to me.

[16k]

I believe Shinto too.

[paulb]

Eric,

As indicated above you need better images to attempt to make any judgement and also dimensions would help. Based on what I can see my feeling is that this is later than you are hoping.

Firstly I cant see anything that says Awataguchi. The shapes wrong the hada is wrong and the hamon is wrong. (again this is based on what can be seen which is not a lot and is opinion not statement of fact) The hada appears to be mainly itame there is no evidence either within the hamon or the ji-hada of any nie or other activity. 

Much the same is true for the Rai School. There are no key features for this school showing in your images.

I am inclined to go along with the view that it is later probably shinto but I think better images may tell us more.

good luck

Paul

[vajo]

I would say it is a typical shinto sword.

 

Compare it here:

 

[Jacques D.]

Before all : measurements => nagasa, sori, moto haba, saki haba,moto kasane, saki kasane, kissaki nagasa ...

[BreizhSamourai]

thx for your feedback all. I will work on doing better pictures & get the measures