Please help identify

[Ed]

Couple of things:

When taking photos use a darker background. Using a white background "tricks" the camera into adjusting the balance to the White opposed to the subject. This results in the subject being too dark (see your photos). Notice how the one photo shot with the wooden table in the background gave a much better photo of the sword. For lighting, try shooting near a bright window using the indirect bright light. Using a flash, incorrect placement or angles of overhead lighting causes washout.

 

Second in regards to displaying your sword. In it's current condition displaying it as you have it is not going to hurt it. If you were to have it polished at some point, then a better care would be called for. For now, use a soft cloth or unscented tissues and wipe it down with denatured alcohol, then lightly oil it.  A light machine oil such as 3-n-1 or sewing machine oil will work fine.

 

Inevitably someone will correct me and tell you to only use microfiber cloths for cleaning and oiling and to only use traditional clove oil. Again, if your sword was in new polish or even in older but good polish, then I would give the same advise. Until you have it polished, my recommendations will work fine.

 

Using a genuine Togishi (sword polisher) is paramount. If you can't afford it, save up until you can, period. Keep in mind that when you polish it you will need a new shirasaya to house it in.  You spoke of devaluing the sword. Having it polished by some half-assed polisher will devalue it faster than any other single thing.

[Aarongrant]

Thank you all. Ed, I will send more photos in the matter you described if it will help identify this sword further. 

[Aarongrant]

I haven’t had any luck getting this thing polished, nor will I within the distant future. It’s disappointing that I may never know how old or where this came from.  Reposting this just in case someone else could “put a second set of eyes on it”. 

[eternal_newbie]

The same advice as before remains relevant - in the absence of a good polish, better photos will help. Black, non-reflective background for more contrast, and a closer look at the steel patterns on the blade (particularly towards the tip end).

 

There are some good examples in these threads:

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/53882-photographing-nihonto-my-experience/

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/49360-kamakura-period-kodachi-with-sayagaki-by-honami-nishu/page

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/95-photographing-nihonto/
 

You won't need as much detail or high-level equipment as the photos there (especially since your blade is out of polish) but that should give you a general idea of the size, angles and resolutions that could help people provide a better guess.

 

That said, I'm inclined to go with Kirill's guess earlier in the thread - Yamato den, 1400s, Mihara or Senjuin school work (with an outside chance of Uda based on some of the large patterning under the habaki area).

 

Edited December 11, 2025 by eternal_newbie
Added hyperlinks to the school names for more info about them

[Tohagi]

@Rivkin, I feel it ko mihara too, on this picture you can close up the kissaki, I guess a long waterfall kaeri...

[klee]

The shape looks very Ko Mihara to me as well. Although the hamon looks a bit on the wide side but this is of course just rough eyeballing with much of the detail not visible.

 

Love that Tsuka tho !

[Aarongrant]

Thanks to all. I will try and upload some better pictures soon 

[Tohagi]

BTW tsuba is a decent Kagamishi tsuba... (miror makers).