Cello Posted July 29, 2011 Report Posted July 29, 2011 Looking to soak up some knowledge from whomever want's to put their two cents in....I'm guessing it's late muromachi or kanbun (it's just over 65.5cm).. . just a very slightly educated guess lol..!! Quote
Gunome Posted July 29, 2011 Report Posted July 29, 2011 Hi, May I am wrong, but it looks like a shinto blade. I distinguished masame in shinogi ji and sugata reminind me shinto one. Quote
Cello Posted July 30, 2011 Author Report Posted July 30, 2011 Hey thanks, So is this a shinto smith? Any other thoughts about the quality of the blade ect?? Quote
Cello Posted July 30, 2011 Author Report Posted July 30, 2011 So is it possible that the blade is late nanbokucho-early murimachi.?? The sugata seems to fit and the possible Kunitsugu would be from the same era? I'm nor sure this is the correct train of thought to determine this but I have recieved many responses to this post..Anyone able to advise me on this Thanks Quote
cabowen Posted July 30, 2011 Report Posted July 30, 2011 Looks more Shinto to me too....I think the mei may be Kunitada 国忠.... Quote
Cello Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Posted July 31, 2011 Hi Chris, So what would be the best way to determine the age for sure? The sori measures 1.5 cm and is about a 1/3 of the way up the blade.It measures 3.0 cm at the hamachi and 1.85 cm at yokote. The nagako is 14 cm and nagasa of 65 cm.....I confused most of the older blades I've been reading about from muromachi era fit this shape and proportions. Was this style revived in the shinto era.I also was reading about the hada changing to masame in the shinoji.I'm so confused with this.... could someone clarify it a little for me?I was also wondering what is the best way to determine if a sword is definitely tired and does this one look to be? Quote
cabowen Posted July 31, 2011 Report Posted July 31, 2011 While you are correct in that in general, we usually date a blade based on shape, without seeing it in hand, there are sometimes other clues elsewhere....Masame in the shinogi-ji is often seen in Shinto blades, often in Ishido school work. That means there is a straight grain pattern to the steel above the shinogi and a different, perhaps itame pattern, below.... The hamon also looks more typical of Shinto work..... I am not saying that it is absolutely not late Muromachi; a two character mei is uncharacteristic of Shinto and fits better with Muromachi....there are simply contradicting clues here. It would be best to submit for shinsa if you want a more definitive answer. I doubt this blade is tired. If you look at the thickness of the blade at the top of the nakago at the machi compared to just after it, you should see a thinning of the blade due to polishing. If this difference in thickness is slight, it has had a relatively few number of polishes. If it is great, it is has probably had many polishes and the chances of it being tired are much higher.... Quote
Cello Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Posted July 31, 2011 That definitely helps clear things up a bit for me.I'll break out the calipers and take a measure!So Would it be possible that the mei was added ? The first charceter is very legible but the second is all but gone... But it would be strange to fake either of those smiths right? Not sure ifbthis helps but the sword feels slender and on the slight side kind of like a tomoshige Wak I have noting like the kaneyasu I posted last..It also seems small for a katana more like a very large Wakizashi bur I assume it is just sized for a a smaller stature person?sorry for all the questions lol.. Quote
cabowen Posted July 31, 2011 Report Posted July 31, 2011 You shouldn't need calipers. If it has been polished a lot the difference should be plainly visible. All the other thoughts are guesswork. Let me repeat: if you want an expert opinion, submit to shinsa. Nothing you get over the internet from pictures is going to be anything more than groping in the dark.... Quote
Cello Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Posted July 31, 2011 Point taken. Thanks for you input chris... maybe I'll get it to shinsa with my kaneyasu after it comes back from polish. Thanks again.... Quote
cabowen Posted July 31, 2011 Report Posted July 31, 2011 You are welcome...If you have any questions about the shinsa in Minneapolis, email or PM me.... By the way, it is better to reserve spaces asap as there may not be any left if you wait too long.... Quote
Cello Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Posted July 31, 2011 I think I'm going to ask Moses to bring the kaneyasu with him to Miami and maybe see if I can get a couple others down there as well. Thanks again, Marcello Quote
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