Is this normal?

[envocat]

Hello all, i've a fairly simple question (i hope). The hamon on this piece is consistent throughout the entire blade apart from this area here where it seems to vanish nearer the ha, is this normal or should i be concerned? I figured that perhaps it was sharpened poorly at some point. 

 

Thanks in advance,

 

[ROKUJURO]

George,

this looks like a feature caused by polishing or indeed by incompetent 'sharpening'. Technically, there is no way to produce a YAKIBA like that. To say more, we should know details about the blade: type, age, HADA, a.s.o.

[envocat]

Here's the entire blade if it's of use (left blade). I haven't actually received it yet so i can't take any more photos myself. 

 

The seppa are a mess, seem to be a hodge-podge of materials, all recent additions. I don't think the habaki is original either, it seems wonky.

 

 

[envocat]

Thank you Rokujuro, much appreciated input. The blade was sold as an "17/18th century mumei", that much i can agree with. I can't see much of the hada from the photos but it looks present, i mean there's certainly something there. 

 

Apologies, i should've included these photos in the OP

 

There also appears to be a small kizu but i can live with that. 

 

 

[16k]

Do you mean the clearer steell line underneath the Hamon? 
 

If so, I have seen that already. In my opinion, it comes from two possible sources. Either someone tried to sharpen the blade after the polish with grinding stones (that’s the most dangerous solution as it might have changed the ha geometry) or it could simply be the result of the blade having been used to cut stuff. The jizuya is cosmetic, and if used for tameshigiri, it might fade where the blade was in contact regularly with the cut surface. If so, not a serious deal.

[envocat]

Thanks Jean, yes i mean the transition from hamon to clearer steel. I think you're right about it being sharpened, i'll have to take a better look when i receive it, i'll likely be back with more questions and better photos.

 

This is my first katana, prior to this i'd only dealt with tanto and some urushiware so it's a tad overwhelming. 

[Moley]

Des it run the length of the blade ? On both sides ?

 

[envocat]

I don't have many photos to go off but from what i've seen it's only on the last quarter of the blade, towards the kissaki. The other side seems healthy and consistent along the full length of the blade. 

[Shugyosha]

What JP said. Also it might just be from a tight saya scuffing that area as the sword is drawn out and put back in the scabbard. It might get more of that if it's used as an iato.

[16k]

1 hour ago, Envodas said:

I don't have many photos to go off but from what i've seen it's only on the last quarter of the blade, towards the kissaki. The other side seems healthy and consistent along the full length of the blade. 

The last quarter of the blade would point towards tameshigiri as this is the part that is in contact with the object to be cut. Moreover, I think the blade is in old polish, so that’s not very surprising.

[envocat]

Thanks you've all been very helpful. 

 

 

It does looks like it's seen some cutting, hopefully not too abusive but we'll see. 

[Moley]

2 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

What JP said. Also it might just be from a tight saya scuffing that area as the sword is drawn out and put back in the scabbard. It might get more of that if it's used as an iato.

That’s where l was going with this also, thanks John. I have an old iaito and the cosmetic hamon is wearing away at the monouchi.