Kyu gunto blade

[pcfarrar]

I recently came into possession of the Kyu gunto katana pictured below. It is mumei with a 70cm nagasa. The blade seems to be decent quality and has a good ko-itame jigane and nie based chu-suguha hamon.

 

Anyone have any thoughts on if it is likely that this blade was forged in the Meiji period and made specifically for the kyu-gunto koshirae? The overall shape seems to suggest kanbun shinto period and I think its ubu.

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

 

 

 

 

 

[Stephen]

maybe osaka shinto?

 

is the yakiba same on the other side?

[pcfarrar]

Yes the hamon is the same on both sides. I forgot to mention but it did have an old label with the sword saying Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi but there wasn't anything to back up the attribution or prove the label was original to the sword.

[John A Stuart]

I never noticd before the description noting the ana being made by lathes. Obviously a mistake in translation and should be made by drills. John

[pcfarrar]

Anyone have any thoughts on the jigane of this sword? I think its the key to figuring out what it might be.

 

Stephens Osaka Shinto call seems valid based on the jigane and shape. This Osaka Tadayuki is quite similar to my sword except for the nakago.

 

http://www.sho-shin.com/tady.html

[paulb]

Peter,

It is an interesting looking sword. I think you have already discounted the Tadayoshi label. Although the tight hada, thick nioi and nie in the hamon fit ok the shape and the nakago would be very unusual for Hizen work. (At least I dont remember seeing any like it).

Apart from the very tight ko-itame you describe is there anything else? any sign of nagare or masame?

The Osaka idea might be worth following up but I think to have a better idea you need to see it in a better polish. I have recently seen two swords, one koto and one shinto before and after polish and the amount of additional information you could see after the polish totally changed my view as to what they might be. I think if you had this polished a lot more detail would be apparent and an attribution a little easier.

if you get it polished keep us posted with progress

regards

Paul

[pcfarrar]

Hi Paul,

 

The jigane is quite consistent all over the sword no sign of any masame or nagare. It has a few small patches of core steel but nothing too bad. I discounted Hizen on the nakago shape and lack of sori / shape but I guess its possible that the nakago has been altered a bit to fit the kyu-gunto koshirae.

 

I hope to get it polished later in the year.

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[paulb]

Hi Peter,

even discounting the nakago and the possibility it has been shortened/reshaped I think the overall shape is still against it being Hizen.

I would like to see it when you have it polished.

good luck

Paul

[Tom Darling]

I believe possibly that the entire nakago was the cutting edge. With that said the length of the sword may have been over 6 inches plus or add the length of the present tang for additional length. What do the experts say? Ron

[Tsugio Kawakami]

I get the feeling that this is osuriage. Can't tell if the hamon stops near the machi or not, though...

[nagamaki - Franco]

Greetings,

 

First, may we see a good image of the boshi? Secondly, suggest sending this sword to a fully trained Japanese polisher to have it polished.

[pcfarrar]

I haven't had much success getting the boshi to show on a photo very well so I've highlighted it below. The hamon does appear to run into the nakago.

 

I've also attached a photo of one of the labels present on the sword when I got it. No idea why it says Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi when the sword is mumei? Assume the label is something to do with export licensing?

 

 

[Jean]

Looks like some kind of Torokusho

[Nobody]

Actually, the label is a tag which was attached to a sword when the sword was submitted to the NBTHK for its Shinsa. The sword was applied for Hozon and Tokubetsu Hozon at the same time.

[pcfarrar]

That's quite a surprise. I was told the label was on the sword when the dealer got it from Japan. The sword is mumei yet the label says Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi for the mei? Seems a bit odd to me