Construction techniques question

[FZ1]

"New bloke" question alert!

 

Is there any way to determine if the blade was constructed Maru, or using a lamination method like Kobuse, or Honsanmai, etc.?

 

I saw this query in a post from a few months ago, but it was part of a wider discussion and it didn't get an answer.  I'm interested to know if there's a way to tell visually what form the construction takes? Or if you just have to know which smith used which technique? Or in which period s/locations different construction techniques were used?

 

Thanks,

 

Jon

[Shugyosha]

Hi Jon, 

 

With some blades yes: those made in the Mino tradition and related schools often have masame hada in the shinogi  ji and mokume/ nagare in the hiraji. This suggests kobuse forging with the core steel aligned differently and showing above the shinogi. This applies to many Shinto blades as Mino formed the basis for those schools. 
 

Also in some blades you can see nie forming around a weld line running through the hamon along the length of the ha. I’m guessing this could be one of a number of methods where soft or medium steel is welded to the harder edge steel at that point. I’m sure others will know more. 

[FZ1]

Thanks very much John, much appreciated.