Modern Gassan school question

[AlexiG]

I am trying to learn a bit more about the shinshinto/gendaito Gassan sword characteristics.

 

Would their swords be considered with high shinogi, eg Yamato tradition like? I have not seen anyone refer to them as such, but since some folks here may have handled many Gassan works I wanted to ask. I am specifically interested in the Sadakatsu (son of Sadakazu) made swords, but any feedback is helpful.

 

Another potentially divisive question. Are there written accounts of 19-20th century Gassan sword durability or anecdotes of their performance, good or bad? Given the heights of recognition of the skills of Sadakazu and his descendants, one would expect that the beauty of their swords is more than skin-deep so what is the evidence that their swords maintained the balance and robustness needed for practical use. For example, what would happen if one applied the Mito region sword testing tests to a Gassan sword? 

 

Thanks for any information,

Alexi

 

[oli]

two examples of Yamato-den from Gassan:

https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-hosho-sadamune-den-gass-sadakatsunbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token/

https://www.aoijapan.com/katana：-naniwa-ju-gassan-unryushi-sadakazu-kitae-kokuin-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token-nbthk-tokubetsu-kicho-token/

 

Gassan school works and worked in all Gokaden styles. But i am not sure what you are looking for.

 

[David Flynn]

He wants to know about the durability, I think.

[AlexiG]

 

3 hours ago, oli said:

two examples of Yamato-den from Gassan:

https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-hosho-sadamune-den-gass-sadakatsunbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token/

https://www.aoijapan.com/katana：-naniwa-ju-gassan-unryushi-sadakazu-kitae-kokuin-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token-nbthk-tokubetsu-kicho-token/

 

Gassan school works and worked in all Gokaden styles. But i am not sure what you are looking for.

 

Hi Oli,

 

I know of these and similar blades. My question is a) besides the masame hada, how close are those to Yamato tradition sugata, specifically the "high shinogi" attribute. Hoke Saburo Nobufusa smiths (8th, 9th Gen) make/made Yamato-school blades. Those are often described as with "high-shinogi" by folks and are tested by various martial artists to be very durable and being able to make difficult cuts without damage. It seems that within certain aspects, Nobufusa lineage smiths are trying to be true to the Yamato/Hosho tradition. Similarly, I have read accounts of advanced iaido and kendo practitioners who used Yoshindo Yoashihara blades because of their durability and great balance. There are also accounts of Yoshindo testing his blades on helmets and such to demonstrate their robustness. There is the whole set of tests in the Mito domain and smiths like Kusamura Norikatsu making blades that can pass the tests, blades that often happen to also be very beautiful.

 

My question is does that hold true for Gassan Sadakazu and Gassan Sadakatsu? Or did they make pretty swords in masame because that is what the officers in the Imperial court wanted?

 

I would like to think that given the status of Gassan Sadakazu, he maintained the practical aspect of the sword in his art but not having handled any examples, and not having read accounts of such observations I would like to check with the community here.

 

thanks,

Alexi

[oli]

That's a very specific question, maybe start if any Gassan sword was tested. Nakayama Hakudō tested a lot of swords in Taisha and early Showa time, maybe where is a record he tested a Gassan. 

[AlexiG]

2 hours ago, oli said:

That's a very specific question, maybe start if any Gassan sword was tested. Nakayama Hakudō tested a lot of swords in Taisha and early Showa time, maybe where is a record he tested a Gassan. 

Great suggestion! Quick search for Nakayama Kakudo and Gassan did not get me any leads but did find references to Hakudo testing various swords on ohmura-study.net

 

Another way I can look at it is that Gassan Sadayoshi (Sadakazu's adopted father) was trained by Suishinshi Masahide who was a great proponed of the practicality of swords. So maybe that rubbed off to Sadakazu, Sadakatsu and the later generations

 

I still wish someone will translate the two Suishinshi Masahide books in English: Practical theory of swords and Secret teachings of swordsmiths.
 

Alexi

[Bazza]

Try Nakayama Hakudo - quite a bit of stuff.

 

BaZZa.

[oli]

Hi Alexi,

 

some article on nihontocraft, not sure about source:

https://www.nihontocraft.com/Suishinshi_Masahide.html

https://www.nihontocraft.com/Aratameshi_Nihonto.html

[AlexiG]

6 hours ago, Bazza said:

Try Nakayama Hakudo - quite a bit of stuff.

 

BaZZa.

Hi BaZZa, 

 

I mistyped in my reply. The search I did was for Hakudo. Did not find direct references for testing Gassan blades though. If you do, please link here.

[AlexiG]

4 hours ago, oli said:

Hi Alexi,

 

some article on nihontocraft, not sure about source:

https://www.nihontocraft.com/Suishinshi_Masahide.html

https://www.nihontocraft.com/Aratameshi_Nihonto.html

Hi Oli,

 

The nihontocraft pages are great. I visit them often when I drool over a blade that they have for sale. I keep reading and re-reading the Masahide article. I think this is a small piece of the "Practical theory of swords" book. Would love to read the rest one day 

 

Alexi

[Lewis B]

Yes the Masahide article was enlightening. I had no idea the mune was used in an offensive mode. And that swordsmithing techniques were adopted to strengthen the blade when used as such. 

[Bryce]

G'day Alexi,

I have handled a few of Gassan Sadakatsu's blades and I would describe them as typically having a wide shinogi rather than a high shinogi. I have no idea how this translates to durability. I doubt that many have ever been used for test cutting.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

 

 

[AlexiG]

22 hours ago, Bryce said:

G'day Alexi,

I have handled a few of Gassan Sadakatsu's blades and I would describe them as typically having a wide shinogi rather than a high shinogi. I have no idea how this translates to durability. I doubt that many have ever been used for test cutting.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

 

 

Thank you! Very helpful. 

 

Alexi