A Katana-length Nagamaki-naoshi

[Marcus Devonport]

Evening guys, I hope each of you are doing well.

 

I would like to get your thoughts on a 'nagamaki-naoshi' katana I've recently taken into my collection. 

 

An article on this particular sword made its way into the Token Society webpage a number of years back, so it's been an interesting sword to be able to study in person (accompanied by a great write-up 😁)

 

It looks to incorporate some elements from both Bizen and Soshu-Den workmanship, which makes me lean closer towards Soden-Bizen as a start point to my research. 

 

There's certainly no shortage of visible activity within the steel.  

There's large concentrations of Nie throughout, with bucket loads of utsuri present (which admittedly doesn't come through too well on the photography). 

 

This sword came paired with a particularly interesting set of "convertible" handachi mounts, which I'll hopefully be able to share onto the Tosogu page (as I think it's worthy enough of it's own post 😁)

 

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/56696-a-convertible-handachi-koshirae/

 

The sword has yet to be sent through Shinsa, however it's definitely something I'll be keen to pursue in the future. 

 

Measurents as follows:

 

Nagasa 68.5cm

Sori 2.5cm

Kasane 0.7cm 

Motohaba 3.0cm

Sakihaba N.A.

 

I'll drop some photos down below. 

 

Edited Wednesday at 07:57 PM by Marcus Devonport

[Marcus Devonport]

[Lewis B]

Interesting looking nagamaki-naoshi. I would also say Soden Bizen is a good place to start. It would be great to see the write up on the Token Society if you can link or copy and paste.

[ROKUJURO]

Do I see it correctly that one side of the blade has no SHINOGI? In this case, I would call it KATAKIRI-BA shape, combined with MOROHA-ZUKURI.

I am missing evidence for NAGAMAKI shape but that may be my old eyes. Otherwise very impressive blade!

[Marcus Devonport]

May be one of those things I'd need permission from the author for, but I'll happily drop a few extracts if I'm given the okay to do so 🙏

[Marcus Devonport]

I think Its a combination of both the lighting and angle of photography; the shinogi-ji is same to both sides 🙂

[Rivkin]

An interesting piece. I think its circa 1530 and unfortunately such Soshu-inspired pieces in harsh nie tend to paper rather randomly. Fun fact, Tsunahiro or Shimada are not much of an option, lacking typical togari and with very harshly defined nie it is. You can always get Bungo or something much stranger, but in my opinion period roundish gunome with such nie is Mino Kanabo.

 

Ofcourse there is an optimistic view, which would point towards Hojoji which sort of pioneered such style.

Edited Wednesday at 11:44 PM by Rivkin

[Marcus Devonport]

Thanks, Rivkin. 

 

Interesting, to see Hojoji come up as a potential option.

I was guided towards such names as Esshu Kuniyuki, Tametsugu, Sanekage, Hojoji Kunimitsu as potential smiths, when I initially approached Ray Singer on this sword earlier in the week. 

 

7 hours ago, Rivkin said:

An interesting piece. I think its circa 1530 and unfortunately such Soshu-inspired pieces in harsh nie tend to paper rather randomly. Fun fact, Tsunahiro or Shimada are not much of an option, lacking typical togari and with very harshly defined nie it is. You can always get Bungo or something much stranger, but in my opinion period roundish gunome with such nie is Mino Kanabo.

 

Ofcourse there is an optimistic view, which would point towards Hojoji which sort of pioneered such style.