Matsunoki Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hello all I got a good dose of “the red mist” and recently bought this sword at auction in the UK. I attach images of the auction description, the auctioneers info re the Mei and inscription and a few of the auctioneers images. No point trying to image the blade…..the polish has gone but it is in solid “grey” undamaged condition with just one very minor chip. A wide and wild hamon is just visible…looks choji based. The saya is good quality lacquer with a few dings and cracks….but untouched as are the rest of the mounts. It’s a “sleeper”. What attracted me to it was the “made from iron sand” inscription that I have never seen before. I have now found out more about the project to find a tamahagne alternative…..this sword would possibly be a documented example? Can we even call it Gendaito……not made from tamahagane? Would the NBTHK even look at it?…..non traditional wartime blade etc. Worth polish and s/saya? (It was not inexpensive in the first place,) You guys will know far more about it and I would love to hear your opinions and comments. if I can provide any more info please ask. Many thanks in advance. Colin Auctioneers info re the inscription- “Not a problem and best of luck with the bidding! For the translation I asked an online community for Japanese sword collectors and it was essentially a communal effort. The final translation came back as: Side 1: Ryūminsai Kanetomo nyūdō saku kore 龍眠齋兼友入道作之 (made by Kanetomo, lay priest of the Dragon Sleeping Studio) Side 2: 九十九里浜ノ砂鉄ニテ造ル : made with iron-sand from Kujukuri beach They also linked me to this page which had lots of useful information about the swordsmith: “http://www.nihontocraft.com/Kanetomo.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Do you have the saleroom's link for this sword? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted April 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hi Trystan this should take you there https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/halls-timed/catalogue-id-halls-10006/lot-33c61444-4dad-459c-8b71-ae1a010e9266 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Tamahagane is made from iron sand. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 12 minutes ago, Matsunoki said: Hi Trystan this should take you there https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/halls-timed/catalogue-id-halls-10006/lot-33c61444-4dad-459c-8b71-ae1a010e9266 Thanks Colin The condition of the blade now makes it hard to tell if there is hamon or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted April 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hi Brian…..no wonder I get confused! These two articles talk about it as if it is a different material! http://www.nihontocraft.com/Gunsuihagane.html http://www.nihontocraft.com/Kanetomo.html All the best Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted April 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Just now, BANGBANGSAN said: Thanks Colin The condition of the blade now makes it hard to tell if there is hamon or not. There is absolutely definitely a hamon there - present for full length and boshi but impossible to get a good image. If you look you can just see it in auctioneers pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hello Colin, I used to be quite interested at a time by Gunsui-to but get bored since they were so hard to find. AFAIR they are all oil quenched non tamahagane swords thus not gendaito. They are closer to Mantetsu-to since resistance was a key point for those swords too. If nakago is well finished, good shape etc, you might ask Bob Benson or Woodraw Hall if they can do something about the polish even if it is a showa-to. Good examples of Gunsui are not common so it might look nice in polish and shirasaya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted April 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Hi Bruno thanks for looking and commenting nakago is good I think. Images attached Trouble is the inscription just says “made from iron sand” ……doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gunsuihagane? Brian tells me above that tamahagane is made from iron sand!…thus could be a traditionally made blade? I think this smith is quite well thought of. I did find this blade by him. http://sanmei.com/contents/media/A69928_S5089_PUP_E.htm The hamon on my blade does look like it COULD look like that from the barely visible elements……or maybe hopeful thinking! The hamon is quite wide….around 1cm+ and the boshi is strong…because it is still visible despite the degraded polish. why are so many UK swords so neglected!? all the best. Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 Dear Colin, Looks like a decent blade you have here. A hadomake will tell wether it is water quenched or oil quenched imho. AFAIK, water quenched nanban tetsu is darker than tamahagane...Sorry I can't help you much, polish is too far gone to tell. Yes swords are still neglected nowadays by cheap polishes etc. Bruno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Flynn Posted April 23, 2022 Report Share Posted April 23, 2022 I would certainly class this a Gendai. There were and still are, some smiths who make their own Tamahagane from Iron Sand. Unless there is a Showa or Seki Stamp, Gendai Stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted April 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2022 Thanks David. No stamps anywhere. Is it unusual to have a lacquer saya on these army koshirae? I would have thought they would be very vulnerable ….but of course more traditional? 10 hours ago, David Flynn said: I would certainly class this a Gendai. There were and still are, some smiths who make their own Tamahagane from Iron Sand. Unless there is a Showa or Seki Stamp, Gendai Stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan campbell Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago Hi, I am the proud owner of the Kanetomo , I had been after it for over 14 years , from its original owner who put it into Halls auction. It changed hands from Colin to our mutual friend Kevin. I did a deal with Kevin earlier this year and it is now polished . I’m very pleased to say it has turned out perfect not a blemish. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinite_Wisdumb Posted 10 hours ago Report Share Posted 10 hours ago man that looks great!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted 4 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 4 hours ago Many congrats. I knew it was a great sword!! Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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