Fatal flaw or just an ugly cosmetic feature?

[Lewis B]

A blade has peaked my interest but I noticed a crack along the nakago starting under the habaki. Only on one side and appears to be about 2cm long. It does have recent NBTHK Hozon Papers. Gendaito.

 

[Alex A]

That would put me off.

 

Its not unusual to see flaws, open grain whatever in nakago, but that looks a step too far.

 

Re-sale could be an issue.

[Lewis B]

That was my feeling. Its not an open forge weld, more like a stress fracture during the manufacturing process. 

[Alex A]

Its not like its going to break in half but its really undesirable, probably fatal to your wallet only

[ROKUJURO]

If it breaks after a blow, it will break there. So not recommended for battle use. 

[Lewis B]

My guess, looking at the direction of the fissure, is that there was metal fatigue after quenching and that when the chisel was used it caused the stress fracture to open. Unlucky day at the office for the smith. 

[John C]

This area here to me suggests the crack happened after the mei was chiseled in. But what was the date on the papers? Could someone have dropped the blade after the papers were issued that caused the crack? I wouldn't take a chance on it.

 

John C.

[Lewis B]

Not so sure. Hozon papers from 2022. The photo on the paper shows the defect, so it was preexisting.

 

The image isn't clear due to the resolution but I think it can be seen. Blade was polished between Shinsa submission in 2022 and now.

 

[When Necessary]

IMHO, this is just an unsightly opening in the lamination (and it's not even really 'unsightly' because it's hidden inside the tsuka 98% of the time).

 

Your sole picture enlarges this one flaw and so, of course, it looks bad - but we have no idea of the rest of the blade. It may be absolutely stunning and by a noted gendai smith. If that is the case I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if the price were fair.