Smaller blades thread

[Bugyotsuji]

Umabari/Bashin/Kankyūtō.

Sadly in poor condition, but it does have some redeeming features.

 

Fairly slim, the kasane at the Nakago ranges from 22mm~25mm. Overall length 22.1 cm, or nearly 8 3/4”.

 

The cross-cuts on the tang may have been to enhance thumb grip.

 

The characters for ‘protection against lightning’ (Kaminari yoké) 雷除 can still be seen faintly among the blade scratches. This was a general invocation against natural calamities like fire, flood and earthquakes, and the centers for such prayers were Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto, Kaminari Jinja, etc.

 

Although used as fleams for horses’ ankles, there is a theory that they were pushed into the temples of trophy heads after battle for Kubi jikken before your leader.

 

 

And

 

雷除

[MononobeNoTachi]

14 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

W.H.,

please sign all posts at least with your first name so we could address you politely. It is a rule here on NMB.

I suggest you have the spider rust removed as soon as possible before it creates more damage.

My name is already signed if you look at the bottom of the post.  

As for the rust, very few togishi I reached out to were willing to polish this blade, or the tachi I own. 

[ROKUJURO]

1 hour ago, MononobeNoTachi said:

My name is already signed if you look at the bottom of the post. .... 

As for the rust, very few togishi I reached out to were willing to polish this blade, or the tachi I own. 

 

It's probably my old eyes. I don't see a name. You can add it to your profile, so it appears with every post. Does not hurt. 

As for the rust removal, you would only need one TOGISHI.

[Bugyotsuji]

Jean, down below left, where it says Wei H.

 

Glad you are reaching out to various Togishi, Wei. Actually, even in Japan there are few who will touch Yari. There is one guy here called Fukutake San who says he enjoys polishing them but maybe he has special stones.(?)

[ROKUJURO]

Thank you Piers, for your help! 
His name does not appear on my screen, I only see W.H. Might be a technical issue on my side?

Polishing YARI seems indeed to be more difficult than sword blades. Usually, their steel is very hard and the surface to be treated is often relatively small, so TO-ISHI are easily damaged (= becoming hollowed-out).

[MononobeNoTachi]

3 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Jean, down below left, where it says Wei H.

 

Glad you are reaching out to various Togishi, Wei. Actually, even in Japan there are few who will touch Yari. There is one guy here called Fukutake San who says he enjoys polishing them but maybe he has special stones.(?)

I have a tachi I want polished but with the current theft going on and poor treatment of packages I held off, and some of the other togishi I I reached out to didn't want to polish such a curved blade. 

 

2 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

Thank you Piers, for your help! 
His name does not appear on my screen, I only see W.H. Might be a technical issue on my side?

Polishing YARI seems indeed to be more difficult than sword blades. Usually, their steel is very hard and the surface to be treated is often relatively small, so TO-ISHI are easily damaged (= becoming hollowed-out).

It's a shame but I get why. Especially with the curved surface that touches the shaft. Feels like you'd have to get a curved stone just to tackle that. 

[ROKUJURO]

1 hour ago, MononobeNoTachi said:

.....Feels like you'd have to get a curved stone just to tackle that. 

Exactly! You need a number of especially formed stones which are not usable on other blades. It is just more hassle than blades.

But on the other hand, your YARI does not need a full polish, so if you could get into contact with a reliable TOGISHI in the U.S., it should be feasible. 

[john42768]

Hello, Believe to be ca. 1800 Yamato MasaMitsu for your comments & enjoyment. The handle ca. 1850     Best John S.

Edited June 15 by john42768
date correction

[ROKUJURO]

John,

signatures are chiseled and read vertically, tip-upwards. Yes, it is MASAMITSU on your KOGATANA, but I had to break my neck to read it. You are welcome!

And please NEVER touch a blade with your bare fingers!

[john42768]

Very sorry. It was correct in my downloads. Then the ghost in machine did me dirty. The finger you see was the sellers, I'm innocent on that charge.Thank you. Best, John S. 

Edited June 15 by john42768
additional info

[ROKUJURO]

14 hours ago, john42768 said:

The finger you see was the sellers, I'm innocent on that charge......

Please go and cut it off as a reminder. He will immediately understand.

[john42768]

I hear you, but occasionally he come up with great items and I want him left whole. The blade is only one part of a fantastic koshirae which I hope turns out to be a real treasure. WW2 bring home. I plan on posting in near future. Based around a not verified, except visually, 1st generation Masanori tanto dated February 1600. Back in his infancy as a sword smith. Signed only Masanori (made by).  Best, John S.

[John C]

Odd that someone who sells real treasures would touch a blade with his bare hands. Do you think he knows he has such special objects?

 

John C.