Aoi Arts has a Rai blade in two pieces

[b.hennick]

Interesting to buy mumei blade and its original tang with signature. Both are shown on the Hozon papers. Interesting way to buy a Rai blade... I would love to see the tang polished the way Ted Tenold and Keith Larman showed at their presentation at Tampa.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning all,

 

Absolutely fascinating:

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/ ... 8701-3.jpg

 

The sixth paired image down showing the end of the old blade implies a clean line as if a saw had been used, and at the area of the hamon a jagged chunk missing, suggesting to me that the blade had suffered a massive damage to the hamon here.

 

A number of questions arise in my mind:

 

When was the restoration work done?

 

Why was the original tang retained?

 

Would the resultant two blades require separate Torokusho?

 

Cheers

Malcolm

[Nobody]

A number of questions arise in my mind:

 

When was the restoration work done?

 

Why was the original tang retained?

 

Would the resultant two blades require separate Torokusho?

It is described in Japanese that the sword was shortened after WWII because of its bad blade condition. Its Torokusho was issued in 1987, and NBTHK Hozon paper was issued in 1989.

 

Therefore, I think that the sword was shortened between 1987 and 1989. If that is the case, it may be natural to keep the old Nakago to prove its attribution. The old Nakago is not a blade to be registered any more. However, the original Torokusho had to be revised, if the shortening was done after its registration.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Interesting conundrum. Destroying in his "historical shape" (likely already altered) a "Big Name" dead blade to obtain a

(possibly) easier to sell one still maintaining the evidences of the original. Thanks to the Lord I'll never be in the position to

take such a decision.

[Jean]

It should not be an obstacle to go for Juyo, if the quality remains (untouched monouchi) and it will not be a Den one : here is one with kiritsuke mei (same story probably):

 

http://tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/f00008.html

[Stephen]

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/ ... 8701-1.jpg

 

for a better overall on how sad it was

[Jean]

What would be interesting is to have a pictre of the cross section of the blade to see howw it was forged.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

What would be interesting is to have a pictre of the cross section of the blade to see howw it was forged.

 

Too late, I've already sent an e-mail with the very same question.

If any reply comes back I'll post it here.

[b.hennick]

Look at the mekui ana of the wakizashi. It was either redone or poorly done when made. Unless it was made this way to suggest that the blade was shortened long ago. Comments?

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Look at the mekui ana of the wakizashi. It was either redone or poorly done when made. Unless it was made this way to suggest that the blade was shortened long ago. Comments?

 

 

I get what you mean...

I think that the whole process has been well documented, even with pictures, being made in so recent times so

I would surely exclude deceptive intentions.

To give an "ancient" look at the Nakago might be a solution, but doesn't entirely satisfy me.

[Ted Tenold]

Interesting to buy mumei blade and its original tang with signature. Both are shown on the Hozon papers. Interesting way to buy a Rai blade... I would love to see the tang polished the way Ted Tenold and Keith Larman showed at their presentation at Tampa.

 

Yes, it would be an interesting candidate. The study might have limited results because the sword is already showing some fairly extensive depleation of the jigane. It was quite polished down before having been broken/sectioned, and the remaining areas in the osuriage show a great deal of looseness and less than appreciable hada seen in healthier examples. None-the-less, it would be interesting and educational.

 

We need some benevolent patron of the arts to step forward and purchase this sword so that the nakago can be sent to me for study. Any volunteers? :D

 

Hard to say with any conviction when the sword was shortened. My feeling is that it was modified to fit a koshirae, gunto or otherwise and perhaps the ana was misplaced requiring the hole to be filled and redrilled. The silver habaki looks quite contemporary to me and likely was made within the past twenty or so years, so that is a clue for us.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Ted, what about the placing of the original signature and the two mekugiana ?

 

The damage seems caused by a splinter. Any chance the original item was in a Gunto Koshirae during the war ?

[Jean]

Too late, I've already sent an e-mail with the very same question

 

I should have put on my mind screen when I woke up this morning

[Jacques]

Ted, what about the placing of the original signature and the two mekugiana ?

 

 

Rai Kunitoshi tachi mei was located above the mekugi-ana and close to the mune. Since this blade was considerably suriage and machi-okuri, that placed the mei between the mekugi-ana, the bottom one being the original

[Ted Tenold]

Getting any images from Tsuruta-san will be of very limited value. In order to fully view the kitae, the cross section needs to be prepared by polishing and etching.

 

The papers are very interesting in that they show both the suriage nakago and the original which documents both pieces ase part of the whole, yet the description lists "mumei (Rai Kunitoshi)" with a reference to the mei on the other piece.

 

We could speculate that the sword was intentially broken or destroyed post WWII by either requirement of law, to prevent it from of falling into occupation hands, or by perhaps an occupational soldier out of duty or vengence. Who knows. The visable marks on on side of the original blade show what could be either a saw or a file. The hardened edge would not saw or file easily and likely there was only a partial cut made with the coup de grace being the act of just snapping off, thus would fracture the hardened edge as well. The chip may not have been the result of use or battle but rather the result of the cutting or breaking of the sword. Because there are no other chips of the same magnitude, or apparant severe damage, it could be reasonable to assume this theory.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

We could speculate that the sword was intentially broken or destroyed post WWII by either requirement of law, to prevent it from of falling into occupation hands, or by perhaps an occupational soldier out of duty or vengence. Who knows. The visable marks on on side of the original blade show what could be either a saw or a file. The hardened edge would not saw or file easily and likely there was only a partial cut made with the coup de grace being the act of just snapping off, thus would fracture the hardened edge as well. The chip may not have been the result of use or battle but rather the result of the cutting or breaking of the sword. Because there are no other chips of the same magnitude, or apparant severe damage, it could be reasonable to assume this theory.

 

Not placed into Gunto mounting, not damaged by splinter.

Maybe even more sad then expected.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Rai Kunitoshi tachi mei was located above the mekugi-ana and close to the mune. Since this blade was considerably suriage and machi-okuri, that placed the mei between the mekugi-ana, the bottom one being the original

 

(likely already altered)

 

 

Thanks for the clarification, Jacques.

[Henry Stewart]

I am very surprised it is offered for sale at all!

 

Henry

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Tsuruta-San reply.