Ooitame Posted January 31, 2021 Report Posted January 31, 2021 Hello, I was recently looking over what appears to be a late Muromachi, or early Shinto Wakizashi. When I noticed what looks to be a fatal flaw, on the Mune of the Kissaki. The owner thinks it is just Mune ware. I also noticed an area in the Ji of the Boshi, that also had me concerned. Please know, I am not buying this sword, the buyer did not pay much and this is purely a discussion and study piece. The piece is a bit tired, but balance and Sori are nice. If you would please, your thoughts? Quote
Ooitame Posted January 31, 2021 Author Report Posted January 31, 2021 Last pic, Tachi side context. Quote
Surfson Posted January 31, 2021 Report Posted January 31, 2021 I don't see the flaw, fatal or otherwise. Can you take a couple of close ups? Quote
Geraint Posted January 31, 2021 Report Posted January 31, 2021 Dear Eric. If I am seeing what you refer to then are we looking at the delamination in the mune near the kissaki? If so then the marks on the kissaki do appear to relate to that. It looks like a forging flaw, a part of the blade where the weld between layers was not completed well. It's a little ugly but not what would usually be called fatal in that it does not significantly impair the blades functionality. It may be that this flaw was not visible on the blade originally but has become exposed by subsequent polishes. It is probably part of the reason that the blade did not cost much. All the best. Quote
Ooitame Posted January 31, 2021 Author Report Posted January 31, 2021 Thank you Geriant, Bryan, and Paul. At first I though delam, however, it is pretty deep and has crisp edges. To me it looks like a stress fracture that someone tried to polish out. I am not sure I would swing this blade as it is at the backside of the strike area; even the slightest slip of the wrist would in my opinion break the blade. Here is a close up , for Bob. If, after the close up the consensus is not fatal, I will change my opinion. Quote
DoTanuki yokai Posted January 31, 2021 Report Posted January 31, 2021 I think you are right with muromachi but i dont think that this flaw would really make the blade useless. As the dislamination appears to be connected i think they are just in the same area where the smith made a mistake but they are not connected throuth the steel. Quote
Ooitame Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Posted February 1, 2021 Always glad to learn. I will not consider this a fatal flaw. Thanks all. 1 Quote
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