QUESTIONS ON KOZUKA BLADE

[Bruno]

Hello gentlemen,

 

I am curently looking for a kozuka blade concerning a wakizashi restauration project.

 

I found a few exemples of them, old ones, newer ones, signed and unsigned, with and without hamon.

 

I am asking myself few questions about kozuka:

 

Does a "true" or "authentic" or "guenine" kozuka blade must have been forged with tamahagane steel as true nihonto, and must have a hamon?

 

In the contrary, a kozuka blade forged with standard steel and without hamon must be considered to be fake, or reproduction?

 

My last question is about signed kozuka: Does gimei can be found on kozuka blades as it is often the case on nihonto tang? I mean sould I be wary of gimei when I am consider buying a signed kozuka?

 

As I did not find any informations on these questions, I'll be gratefull if a or several knowladgeable persons can provide me some precious clues.

 

Thanks

 

Regards

[Brian]

Bruno,

The blade is called a kogatana (ko-katana)

They are not all forged and folded. There are many (perhaps the majority) that are not made from tamahagane and are plain steel without a hamon.

There are some very nice ones out there though with hamon and hada. You have to use experience and knowledge to identify the fakes from the real ones.

 

As for signatures, on kogatana, most signatures are fake or a tribute to a famous smith. Although some signatures are real, you should be expecting most to be gimei. The signatures on these are not highly regarded.

 

Brian

[Bruno]

Hi Brian,

 

Thanks a lot for this quick and detailed answers.

 

So they can be both tamahagane and:or plain steel.

 

Is it more judicious to buy a mumei kogatana instead of a signed one, as you said that most of them are gimei?

 

A friendly person on the NMB already told me that most of the kogatana mei were more honorific, is it quite close from what you said.

 

Regards

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

Is it more judicious to buy a mumei kogatana instead of a signed one, as you said that most of them are gimei?

 

No. As with pretty much everything else having to do with nihonto it is necessary to study (develop an eye), until you can see and recognize the differences. Like the old commercial says, "is it live or is it memorex".

[Bruno]

I found this one on Ebay....with hamon and no signature.

 

Is it correct one?

 

Regards

[Bruno]

 

I forgot the link, here it is:

 

http://cgi.ebay.fr/Japanese-Sword-Hamon ... 3ca72f12cd

 

I'll be glad to have knowladgeable people'opinion.

 

Regards

[Jean]

Bruno,

 

You've got a restauration project which means the sword is worth it (I hope so ).

 

If the sword is worth it please do not indulge yourselve in buying cheap kogatana.

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/fittings/kogatana/main.html

 

This link will give you an idea of the prices.

 

Starting price for a fair one 25/30 000 yens

[Bruno]

Thank you Jean, glad to have your wise advice!