noneed2hate Posted Thursday at 10:22 PM Report Posted Thursday at 10:22 PM (edited) Hello All, Wanted to share my recent acquisition - an NBTHK-Hozon Katana attributed to the Sue-Hosho school. Overall dimensions are as follows: Nagasa : 68 cm Sori : 24 mm Total length : 97 cm Motohaba : 29.9 mm Sakihaba : 20 mm Motokasane : 6.4 mm Sakikasane : 4.3 mm Blade Weight : 544 grams I had the dealer I purchased the sword from coordinate to have it sent to a "polisher" they recommended while it was in Japan. Unfortunately this led to a less than sub-par and quite frustrating result that was not apparent until I received it in hand. I will be sending this off for a new shirasaya soon and then to Woody Hall for correction of the polish. Beyond the polish or lack thereof rather, I am absolutely in love with the sugata and dimensions of this sword and am looking forward to getting it back in good shape. I will likely submit for Tokubetsu Hozon in the future once the polish/shirasaya is complete. Edited Friday at 03:50 AM by noneed2hate 1 2 Quote
Rawa Posted Thursday at 11:37 PM Report Posted Thursday at 11:37 PM Shouldn’t weight be higher? 544g with 68 nagasa is scary 2 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted Friday at 01:18 AM Report Posted Friday at 01:18 AM Were these photos taken after a polish? Quote
noneed2hate Posted Friday at 01:30 AM Author Report Posted Friday at 01:30 AM (edited) 4 hours ago, Rawa said: Shouldn’t weight be higher? 544g with 68 nagasa is scary Not sure but that is what it weighs bare 2 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said: Were these photos taken after a polish? Yes they were, unfortunately it seems "the polisher" in question decided to just touch up the blade rather than do what was asked. It seems even still they decided to stop halfway through that process as evident by the boshi which they burnished and rounded off the geometries of. Edited Friday at 03:46 AM by noneed2hate 1 2 Quote
robinalexander Posted Friday at 03:04 AM Report Posted Friday at 03:04 AM 8 hours ago, noneed2hate said: the polisher George, based on what you have said and the result maybe you should discontinue referring to the person that did that to your blade as 'a polisher'. At least their not referred to as a Togishi. 2 Quote
eternal_newbie Posted Friday at 03:24 AM Report Posted Friday at 03:24 AM Unfortunately dodgy polishers aren't just something you find outside Japan; I've been watching some blades on auction sites in Japan in which a "polisher" has absolutely butchered the blade by 'painting' on a hamon/jigane matching the kantei points for famous smiths which the blade is then attributed to. 3 1 Quote
noneed2hate Posted Friday at 03:54 AM Author Report Posted Friday at 03:54 AM 45 minutes ago, robinalexander said: George, based on what you have said and the result maybe you should discontinue referring to the person that did that to your blade as 'a polisher'. At least their not referred to as a Togoshi. Was certainly using the term very loosely here but added some quotation marks for posterity. In any case, it's bridge under the water at this point and that particular matter has been resolved as much as can reasonably be expected. 28 minutes ago, eternal_newbie said: Unfortunately dodgy polishers aren't just something you find outside Japan; I've been watching some blades on auction sites in Japan in which a "polisher" has absolutely butchered the blade by 'painting' on a hamon/jigane matching the kantei points for famous smiths which the blade is then attributed to. Indeed, I was too naïve in this regard, I should have been more thorough in vetting who it was that was recommended etc. 1 1 Quote
Scogg Posted Friday at 03:06 PM Report Posted Friday at 03:06 PM Woody will be able to restore it to its true glory. Lovely sugata, and once polished properly; I imagine all that masame is going to be stunning. Sorry to see and hear what's already happened. Still, I would be excited for the future of this blade. Best of luck, -Sam 2 Quote
klee Posted Friday at 06:10 PM Report Posted Friday at 06:10 PM yes Woody Hall will do an amazing job with it. He has a very beautiful and unique style thats far better than anything that comes from the dealers in my opinion. It looks like you might only need a shiage togi . You might want to consider a slight kissaki shaping as it looks slightly mishapened but there s really nothing wrong leaving it the way it is. He s the only togishi I ll send my blades to and he has done a number of shiage togi for me. Each blade came back looking like a juyo sword lol 6 Quote
noneed2hate Posted Friday at 07:05 PM Author Report Posted Friday at 07:05 PM (edited) 15 hours ago, lonely panet said: Whos the dealer TokyoSword https://tokyosword.myshopify.com/collections/sword I don't think I would have issue purchasing from them again (assuming it's something too good to pass up) in the future as I've had many good transactions, but as far as coordinating services for things, that ship has sailed. Edited Friday at 07:21 PM by noneed2hate 1 Quote
Curran Posted Friday at 08:21 PM Report Posted Friday at 08:21 PM 1 hour ago, noneed2hate said: TokyoSword https://tokyosword.myshopify.com/collections/sword I don't think I would have issue purchasing from them again (assuming it's something too good to pass up) in the future as I've had many good transactions, but as far as coordinating services for things, that ship has sailed. Thank you for sharing that. Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted Friday at 08:29 PM Report Posted Friday at 08:29 PM It seems to be a nice sword with very strong masame. If trying for Tokubetsu Hozon, I would submit without the old paper from blank beginning. As the NBTHK has attributed it to Sue-Hoshō they see it as a Muromachi era sword. By default it would be that mumei Sue-Hoshō can only achieve Hozon level. There might always be an exception but so far all 17 NBTHK attributed mumei Sue-Hoshō that I have data on are all Hozon, even though some of would be good quality. Please send us pictures after Woody has worked on it. 5 Quote
lonely panet Posted Friday at 10:43 PM Report Posted Friday at 10:43 PM 4 hours ago, klee said: yes Woody Hall will do an amazing job with it. He has a very beautiful and unique style thats far better than anything that comes from the dealers in my opinion. It looks like you might only need a shiage togi . You might want to consider a slight kissaki shaping as it looks slightly mishapened but there s really nothing wrong leaving it the way it is. He s the only togishi I ll send my blades to and he has done a number of shiage togi for me. Each blade came back looking like a juyo sword lol could you please post woodys details. might have some work for him Quote
klee Posted Saturday at 07:27 AM Report Posted Saturday at 07:27 AM He can be reached via Robert Benson https://togishi.com/index.html 3 Quote
Subayai Kitsune Posted yesterday at 01:04 PM Report Posted yesterday at 01:04 PM The sugata is indeed delightful and the kissaki, particularly so. As Jussi Ekholm pointed out, the jihada is great even in its current state. I can feel your disappointment but once it’s received a sympathetic polish (with some Brasso and a few Brillo pads 😉) I think it’s going to look fantastic! Keep your chin up in the meantime. 2 1 3 Quote
noneed2hate Posted yesterday at 06:59 PM Author Report Posted yesterday at 06:59 PM 5 hours ago, Subayai Kitsune said: The sugata is indeed delightful and the kissaki, particularly so. As Jussi Ekholm pointed out, the jihada is great even in its current state. I can feel your disappointment but once it’s received a sympathetic polish (with some Brasso and a few Brillo pads 😉) I think it’s going to look fantastic! Keep your chin up in the meantime. I will in fact *NOT* be using Brasso or Brillo pads. I'll leave it to Woody to give it the correction/care it deserves 3 2 Quote
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