What could have happened to this kissaki?

[Rokkit]

Found this katana at an auction;the blade and kissaki look like they’ve been heavily polished or ground down.

What could have happened to it? A quick wartime polish, or did some owner ruin it over the years? The kissaki is almost gone, and there are dark stains that almost look like old blood…

 

The shape reminds me of a tired, over-polished blade maybe a showato that saw rough use in WWII and was later cleaned up in a hurry? Or worse, someone took a coarse stone to it, grinding away the geometry. The hamon is faint, if it’s even still there, and the tip is practically nonexistent.

Then there are those stains… age and rust, probably, but they have that eerie reddish-brown tint that makes you wonder.

If only swords could talk.

 

The mei is still somewhat visible; anyone recognize this smith?

 

What do you thin; battlefield salvage, bad restoration, or something else entirely?

 

 

 

 

[Scogg]

Do you have a photograph of the entire blade shape perhaps?

I am a little confused by your question. Can you describe what looks wrong about the kissaki to you? Is it the lack of defined yakote YOKOTE?

I suspect the sugata may be SHOBU ZUKURI, which is a blade shape that lacks yakote YOKOTE. See sugata types below:
http://meiboku.info/guide/form/zukuri/index.htm

Either way, the condition is not great as you note. That's not blood stain, but rather rust/pitting/corrosion. I do hear the 'blood stain' story in the wild pretty frequently; but it's never actually blood. 
Hope this helps,
-Sam

Edited June 5 by Scogg
Fixed my incorrect spelling of YOKOTE

[Franco]

1). Steel looks lifeless = has to be examined for heat exposure. 2). Might also have been cleaned using 'nevr dull' . Which while it will do no harm when used properly removing dirt, grime, and rust, it will dull the finish and look of the steel.

Personally, suspect the former.

[Rokkit]

1 hour ago, Scogg said:

Do you have a photograph of the entire blade shape perhaps?

I am a little confused by your question. Can you describe what looks wrong about the kissaki to you? Is it the lack of defined yakote?

I suspect the sugata may be SHOBU ZUKURI, which is a blade shape that lacks yakote. See sugata types below:
http://meiboku.info/guide/form/zukuri/index.htm

Either way, the condition is not great as you note. That's not blood stain, but rather rust/pitting/corrosion. I do hear the 'blood stain' story in the wild pretty frequently; but it's never actually blood. 
Hope this helps,
-Sam

 

I indeed meant the lack of a yakote, ive never seen a kissaki like this in this country. after some reading and comparing photos it might indeed be the shobu zukiri, the article i found also mentioned they are considered rare.

 

I reckoned it would just be rust like i mentioned, the only time ive ever seen bloodrust was in a documentary about a famous polisher somewhere (forgot the exact country)

[Geraint]

Dear Ramin.

 

In this case the sugat of the sword is entirely intentional and probably never had a yokote.  If you look closely you wi;; see that the blade starts near the habaki in almost normal shape but then the shinogi ji slopes suddenly down toward the mune in a shape reminiscent of a naginata.  Without yokote this would be called a kanumuri otoshi style blade, compare here for the basics. https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/glossary.htm

An unusual sugata for a katana.

 

All the best.

[Jussi Ekholm]

I believe the signature would be 相州住神氣 - Sōshū jū Shinki.

 

As I stated in other thread I don't unfortunately have access to my references for a long time and I think I have never heard about this smith from memory.

 

Regardless the sword seems to be an interesting one at least to me, and will warrant more research.

[Rokkit]

17 hours ago, Geraint said:

Dear Ramin.

 

In this case the sugat of the sword is entirely intentional and probably never had a yokote.  

 you are right on point, after studying the photos its clear as day.

 

17 hours ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

I believe the signature would be 相州住神氣 - Sōshū jū Shinki.,

Regardless the sword seems to be an interesting one at least to me, and will warrant more research.

 i will post it in a Japanese art facebook group im part of.

Sadly i didnt buy it, i sure hope it wasnt a Muromachi blade.