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There was a rumour that his gardener stole them all after his death but who knows if that was true or not.

I like your work Arthur, sad to say my buying days are over.

A timely reminder to all those, like me, who like a blade exhibiting utsuri. Nefarious sellers out there praying on the appeal of this feature. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2401552303244992&set=pcb.2401556073244615 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2401552296578326&set=pcb.2401556073244615 A warning from Andrew Ickeringill " A warning to sword collectors... Please have a look at these pics taken from a Japanese auction site, when you look at this utsuri, what do you see? Have a good look and think about it before reading the below... This kind of utsuri was drawn to my attention a few years ago, a client had asked me to open a window on an old tachi. As soon as I saw the blade, I knew something was off... it had been acid etched (not unusual) but something else was going on with the utsuri. After a few minutes pondering I concluded that the utsuri was fake, but the owner wasn't convinced and still wanted a window opened. Sure enough, the window revealed the utsuri was completely artificial, it came right off and didn't return. I believe the sword pictured here has had the same treatment, it has no utsuri... well it might have some kind of utsuri underneath the artificial one, but I doubt it. I'm guessing it's been created using some kind of VERY strong chemical process, applied either very carefully with a cotton bud stick, or perhaps a stencil was used as a guide. I've been seeing this kind of "utsuri" quite a bit recently, mainly coming from the Japanese auction sites. It's a very cheeky deception that I imagine has fooled many people. So, how can I tell this is fake just from looking at pics? That's the hard part to explain, I'll do my best... For starters, how do you view utsuri? Similar to the way you view the hamon. Real utsuri generally can't be seen very well from the angle that you'd normally view the jigane from, which is from directly above. But the "utsuri" in these pics shows up very strong in the jigane pics. What about the shape/pattern of this "utsuri"? It seems there's a contrived shape and repetitive pattern. On a sword with this kind of gunome-ba, I'd expect real utsuri to mirror the hamon in a similar flow, the utsuri would rise where the hamon dips into valleys, and the utsuri would fall where the hamon peaks (this isn't always the case with real utusri, for example shirake-utsuri). But with this sword you can clearly see the pattern of the utsuri is often at odds with the flow of the hamon in a very unnatural way. Also, please note the granule-like/mottled texture of this "utsuri", it's a result of the acid and you don't see that effect in real utsuri. One more thing, look how defined this "utsuri" is, especially the area down towards the hamachi where they've tried to emulate a mizukage-like effect. It's so sharp and defined, like it's been painted on, well it basically has been! So, just beware of these Japanese auction sites and their swords, some are gimei, some are acid etched in the hamon and jigane, and some have completely artificial utsuri. I'm not saying don't buy from these sites, there are some good swords to be found there, but you need to be aware it's like navigating a minefield, please be cautious and don't get had! I wouldn't recommend buying anything from these sites unless it's at least papered Hozon level."

I concur with Bruce. The tassel looks as though an older skirt was married to a newer strap, with a never seen before addition of random hardware thrown in. I think of AOI as a reliable dealer, having been very pleased with a naval dagger I purchased from them. I am surprised to see an item like this on their site.

I once wrote an article about Jigane & Jihada with photo of different kinds of utsuri. Here is a Ko Bizen Muneyoshi with jifu utsuri for a better understanding.

Another point was... there was no artificial light to "observe" utsuri. Most token teachers had to wait for proper light (dawn? ) once a day. Still utsuri seems to have been à well mastered process in Bizen...

The Kurihara Akihide is still available.

Just to give a better view than the book tsuba- here is an actual tsuba. size 92x90x5mm@seppa dai & 4mm mimi

This is offered for sale again.

First of all, I think that swordsmiths in the Early Koto period did not create utsuri intentionally. They primarily made weapons. The utsuri was just a side effect of the material's sensitivity to the yakiire process There are many great Kamakura blades from the Bizen school that do not have utsuri I'm not even sure if they were able to get the blade surface to a state where they could see the utsuri. Nice to see you back here @Rayhan

I made this mekugi nuki from a dead blade. It worried some people a lot when they see it the first time. In the past I see a mekugi nuki with a signature from Kotetsu. The owner explain that it was from a cracked blade .

If you haven't read Yamanaka on the subject of utsuri vs utsuri like effect then you're missing something. And if you have read it, read it again. Although Yamanaka has a section on utsuri, you'll find other tidbits scattered about. Some of the information will only become clear when and after you actually see an example of what he's talking about. So that's what he meant! I've already mentioned the words intentional and incidental. In my experience utsuri can be both. Intentional utsuri becomes obvious. It has a definite pattern. It has uniformity. There's no mistaking it when you see it. Incidental utsuri will be more like an afterthought, it will have a randomness to it. An utsuri like effect will be dull and lifeless in comparison to real utsuri. The nioi and nie (if it can even be called that) will not be defined. It will lack reflectiveness, brightness, whiteness. Bizen nioi utsuri will be like looking at a surface covered in diamond dust. Rai and Soshu nie utsuri will appear like individual specs of diamonds clustered together. These descriptions are my own. On top quality A+ utsuri works, the steel begins to have that wet look that is only seen on top quality swords. Form follows function. Form follows function. Form follows function. One advantage of early swords were that swordsmiths had direct feedback. The teacher student relationship was chained and unbroken by disruption.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/h1178916285 Seems like gunto can be quite popular even in Japan, given the final selling price of 665K yen for this Yoshichika. I thought the frayed tsukamaki might turn some buyers off, but I guess the colonel's tassel and double ashi saya made up for it.

Hi Bruno, I like the design! It's definitely been mounted, and looks to have some real age to it (the way the rust is peeling on the inside of the nakago ana heavily suggests this). If it is a real hand-forged piece though (I can't see any seams which is good), I still think someone may have messed around with it. There's clear evidence of rust and pitting all over, but it all looks the same colour as the surface: Similarly, the copper in the nakago ana is glossy? I've never seen this before. It feels like someone may have applied a layer or two of something. One to darken any rust spots (but not actually remove the flaking rust like they should have), and a second to make it look so shiny? (Black shoe polish perhaps?) I think combined, extra layers like this would reduce the level of detail we can see (especially in the mei), giving a similar impression to it being cast. At 30 euro's though I'd say you did really well! (FYI I am a tsuba novice - but I have worked on some removing heavy rust before)

Those darn Aussies always invading and inserting themselves in Japanese business. That's what happens when you make a wrong turn on your walkabout.

I'm not very experienced with nengo, someone else can possibly correct me but I think it's December 1631 because I consider 1624 in the count, if you look at the link info it says that Kunitsugu received an honorable official title of Echizen Daijo in the 11th year of the Kan-Ei era (1634) so 1624 falls into the count. I understand well what you mean, we all want perfect blades but then we have to deal with the wallet...

I am still not qualified to determine if it's cast or not, especially from photos - but some of those blue circles appear to be depicting how bamboo looks when a branch sprouts from a node. Which could be interpreted as an extra level of detail rather than a casting flaw. -Sam

Sorry - I am not a title's guy, so I am still not convinced it involves multiple, beyond maybe two, quenchings. Otherwise its a matter of what's defined as thermocycling. Can easily imagine I am operating on a different terminology than knifemaking.

I have a juyo Ichimonji tachi with vibrant utsuri appearing in an area that has .45% carbon content. I tend to think your conclusion that .45% carbon content steel can’t produce utsuri is incorrect

The only way to determine answers on this subject is through trial and error error controlled experimentation. Results provide bits of information. A lot of trials and results eventually define the science. Everything else is speculation and should be treated as such.

Carbon content is related to utsuri no doubt of that, a 0.45% C can't produce utsuri, while over 0.7% can. Anyway I shared enough of my personal experience and Japanese swordsmiths experience, the readers can decide what they think works better. The topic is already exhaust for me

Away from my books until after work, but I'll comb through them when I get home in about 6 hours. Maybe someone will beat me to the punch before then Interesting emblem! Especially interesting it's repeated on the buckle. I share your fears of a fake, I don't like the way the fit of that fuchi looks... Can't say I recognize it, but I often forget more than I remember -Sam

@Nihonto student Thank you very much! Is this 1632? Exactly, almost perfect sword. Still, I was able to afford it due to that ware on Kissaki. Any ideas what is that note on revers of NBTHK certificate?

As a major knife guy, collector and dealer, I can tell you that thermocycling is used a lot in custom knifemaking nowadays. It is used on high end knives. Now that may be unrelated to the topic at hand, and is unrelated to utsuri production, but saying it is not widely used or not economical is not true at all. It's used by numerous factories and custom makers seeking the best possible performance out of steel. Also, carbon content is definitely closely linked to utsuri...all the articles you read mention differing carbon content in various schools and smiths, and I think it's obvious that both temperature and carbon content are vital in the production of utsuri. Edit to add: Actually, I think the knifemaking process may relate quite a bit when it comes to Nihonto, considering they are both dealing with the crystalizing formations and normalizing to increase strength and durability https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/08/28/how-to-thermal-cycle-knife-steel/

Hi Adam, Full translation: Heianjo Fujiwara Kunitsugu https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KUN1550 Nengo should be: twelfth month of the eighth year of the Kanei era. His master was Dewa Daijo Kunimichi (Some accounts say he was Kunimichi's son) you can find other info here https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-wakizashi-signed-by-kunitsugu-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate/?srsltid=AfmBOoobMbF1o3C2xoHmmAPGYjaiHHMkrxpubv6eMDoKOv2ZjazyQ2Qq Nice blade though, shame about that opening on the kissaki. Regards, Giordy