The steel feels hard?

[djcollection]

I've been reading information on different ways to describe JITETSU, and this pops up from the following link.

"Most will have shirakke utsuri. The steel will feel hard."

https://nihonto.com/enju-school/

 

I'd appreciate if you can share your thoughts on the steel texture in terms of visible hardness and softness.

It'd be even better if you have photos for illustration.

Thanks

[ROKUJURO]

Mason,

this is of course nonsense and only used for the lack of a better word. It is certainly not meant in a technical way. 

You will find other technical terms like "dense" for the steel in HIGO TSUBA, but it is only meant in a descriptive way.

One cannot see or feel hardness or density.

[PNSSHOGUN]

In the same sense that steel feels "wet", you'll know it when you see it.

[eternal_newbie]

5 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

One cannot see or feel hardness or density.

Small caveat - "hard steel" (and "soft steel") has a specific meaning for togishi. Whether this meaning is the same as the ones dealers and appraisers use is another matter.

[djcollection]

Thanks guys, it makes a lot of sense now.

[ROKUJURO]

4 hours ago, eternal_newbie said:

Small caveat - "hard steel" (and "soft steel") has a specific meaning for togishi. Whether this meaning is the same as the ones dealers and appraisers use is another matter.

Rohan,

that is of course correct. But in this case, it is not a "feeling" of your senses rather than a response of a tool on the steel. In this context, you could call the stone a "sensory device".