Late Kamakura Tachi (Katana) - Help for verifying descriptions and attribution

[Longbow1464]

Hello,

 

About 20 years ago, I acquired a few nihontos without shinsa certificates from Japan. For the documentation of my collection, I would like to verify the descriptions and attributions and hope to receive some assistance.

 

The first nihonto (late Kamakura ?) on which I would be interested to hear your opinion is one that I acquired to compare it’s steel structure with antique and medieval European welded steel blades. I am aware that the blade is not in good condition and has likely lost a significant amount of its original substance. I am still fascinated by its clearly visible welding structure, which reminded me of the refined bloomery iron/steel blades found in early Europe blades. The steel appears darkish and the blade “feels” very old.

 

In order not to influence your thoughts about this blade, I would prefer not to anticipate the original description of this blade in the first instance.

I would be very grateful if you could help me.

 

Below are a few measurements of the blade and accompanying photos of the blade.

 

Blade length (Cutting edge): 69.2cm, Sori : 0.8cm, Motohaba: 29 mm, Motokasane : 6.4 mm

 

Richard R.

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Welcome to the forum Richard. I think your photography looks very good, however I think for identification purposes I think you would need to post several of your pictures in higher resolution pictures so details can be seen.

 

Many members of forum are very good at identifying fine details in blades and can offer assistance on that. I am not that good at that but my focus is on blade size and shape. Your sword is extremely shallow in curvature, it being 0,8 cm. To me in overall I might go more towards possibly Muromachi period just looking at the shape of the sword. There are few late Kamakura shortened blades that have under 1 cm of curvature remaining but they are very few in number.

 

Posting lot more pictures would be very important for identification and guess the possible origin. There seems to be good looking hada on the middle blade picture for example, and seeing better pictures like that would be great.

[Rivkin]

The magnification/resolution is unfortunately not there. What is seen is that hada is masame dominated, hamon is ko nie to nie deki, suguha with a bit of gunome, midare. Definitely koto, but without high res pictures its hard to say something more specific. Nakago sustained significant damage which will scare a lot of people to think its saiha, but the work does not lean this way.

It can be Naminohira. Or Yamato shikkake. Finally, Uda is definitely worth consideration. The most optimistic outcome is Yamato Shizu.

Period can be later...

High resolution would be nice, also boshi [!]. If hamon widens towards yokote its a common Muromachi trait.

In general it feels like the photos are good enough to identify, they've just been downsized until not much is seen...

Edited December 23, 2025 by Rivkin

[Longbow1464]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I will take additional detailed photos with higher resolution as soon as possible and then post them.

 

Richard R.

[klee]

Nice photos !

 

hard to tell but personally I would be concerned about the kissaki/Boshi more than the nakago. Looks like It s been tampered by someone unqualified. The mitzukado and yokote looks way off

[Longbow1464]

Until I can take more detailed photos, here to details of the blade.

 

 

 

[Rivkin]

With such strong nie Naminohira excluded. This is most likely Uda. I would say Yamato Shizu or Shikkake are distant, but possible. Timewise I would lean towards early Muromachi. There is also possibility its early Kaga Fujishima, which is basically other way to interpret Uda features.

Edited December 23, 2025 by Rivkin

[Longbow1464]

Tanto, supposedly late Kamakura period

 

Another blade, dated to the late Kamakura period, is mounted with a 18th-century koshirae. I acquired this tanto around 20 years ago and it is pictured below. The dimensions are:

 

 

Blade length (Cutting edge): 26.4cm, Sori: 0.0cm (Uchizori), Motohaba: 24.3mm, Motokasane: 6.2mm

 

I would also be interested to hear your opinion on the dating and classification of the Swordsmith School for this tanto. This would help me to verify the accuracy of the descriptions I received years ago, before including them in the collection catalogue.

 

Richard R.

 

[Rivkin]

Yamato Hosho, tegai (most likely) or naminohira. Not sure about kamakura. Could be Muromachi.

Edited December 30, 2025 by Rivkin