Reason for concern ?

[klee]

Good Afternoon

 

I have a blade at aoi waiting shippment and my ocd self saw a mark on the photos and wanted to ask if it s anything of concern.

 

I should have analized the images much closer beforehand but the blade has Tokubetsu Hozon papers so I admitt i didnt pixel peep as much.

 

Its a speck on the hamon that im not sure what it is. I assume it s more than likely superficial but anything on hoso suguha does make me more nervous when I find it. The opposite side shows nothing. I dis reach out and ask and they said it looks like small kitae ware but I dont like how vertical it looks.

 

Thank you in advance for any insight

 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Kevin,

My first thought was that it might be a tiny spot of corrosion that had been polished over but had left a slight mark, now covered over by the new polish. 
 

For me nothing to worry about and certainly nothing fatal; it looks like an old blade and, if so, that would be in keeping with its age. That said, everyone has a different degree of tolerance and the charm of age for one person is no charm at all for others.
 

If it helps, it’s hard to photograph swords in a way that reveals their activity without making the smallest flaw look like the Grand Canyon. I suspect you’ll never notice it but check it out once you have it in hand. 

[Alex A]

7 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

 it’s hard to photograph swords in a way that reveals their activity without making the smallest flaw look like the Grand Canyon. 

 

 

Very well put, John.

[klee]

Thank you for the input John / Alex.

 

And yes it is indeed an old blade

( Ko Kongo Hyoe ) . I told myself I would never get another mumei/suriage blade but this one just really called to me and I couldnt help it. I ve always had a soft spot for Kongo Hyoe ( esp Ko Kongo Hyoe ) and having Tokubetsu Hozon was a big plus as well.

 

 

[Rayhan]

This school made excellent swords in a rustic style and is very much overlooked and underappreciated. Nice sword! If you're going for schools like this condition issues are expected and are more aesthetic than interrupting function. 

[klee]

Thank you Rayhan

 

I often see them being almost criticized for being simple, rustic and stout but I just love that about this school. This along with their ties to religion and the mongol invasion.

 

They also tend to be very reasonably priced when I see them come up which is a big plus for me. I wish more of them came up but I rarely ever see Ko Kongo Hyoe come up nowdays

[Sebuh]

Pretty sword, at its age any conditional issues are more of a welcome to me. It adds character, makes you wonder about the blade and its history, then again i’m the same person who obsesses over scratches on his watches, but swords and watches are totally different.