nagamaki - Franco

Hello, Speaking of monster swords, a similar sword was presented at one of the Rochester Study Group meetings time ago (measurements below). In the discussion that followed it was noted by one of the members, and probably correctly so, that such a massive sword would have been wielded by a samurai on horseback, who would have used it to cut and slash as he rode through wounding people for foot soldiers to follow up on. After having studied and handled the sword for a week, it was difficult to imagine carrying such a blade around other than on horseback.

OOOoooohhhh!, double clicked, ouch, sure looks reworked.

A set like this suggests, at least to me, they were made to order. In which case the customer is always .... .

Hello, Nihonto.com - Fred Weissberg's site has been down as of late and I have not heard or read anything in this regard? Thank you.

Hmm!

Hi Darcy, Image doesn't seem to open up after several attempts? Thanks.

Thank you! Some of my favorite colors, too. Should anyone else feel compelled, by all means, show off them tsuka, luv to see 'em. Perhaps, it's all just part of losing my mind, but I think that I'm finally beginning to develop a tsukamaki eye after all these years.

Hi, gee, Guido, that fellow sitting on the left looks awfully familiar. Would luv to see close ups of all those tsuka.

Based on a similar experience, you see my 1st promising sword was a Zenjo, too, at least according to most everyone that looked at it, once polished not only wasn't it a Zenjo, it wasn't even a Mino blade, and the prominent single 'pea' on suguha that brought out call after call of Zenjo all but disappeared. From what I'm seeing in these images I strongly suspect with a "good polish" this sword might hold a few surprises as well. The interesting boshi from what can be seen offers intrigue.

Hmm, a hada that detracted from the hamon. A nihonto oxymoron? Examples?

Time ago was told to stay clear.

Hello, Regarding mumei.

Hello, As we talk about resubmission it is my thought, belief, from experience, that one must also talk about polish at the same time. While it might be the sword itself that leaves open the question of exactly who done it, it very well might also be the case that the polisher did not bring out the critical detail(s) that confirms the maker. The detail which gives the shinsa judge the confidence to say "we have a bingo!" The shinsa judge cannot call what he cannot see. There is also the problem of 'it's a magnificent shinto polish,' if only it wasn't on a koto sword. As student/collectors our work is only half [finished] when a mumei sword returns from shinsa. There have been numerous occasions where a sword with OK papers was bought, repolished, and then went Juyo when resubmitted.

An additional note. Search hard enough and a student/collector can find excellent mumei swords that will have paper(s), sayagaki, and additional attribution in one form or another, all agreeing as to who made that sword really leaving no doubt, and that is the kind of (mumei) sword a student/collector in my view should be focused on collecting anyway, where mumei swords are concerned.

Staunch stances? Yes, if my lottery number comes in I will staunchly be lined up to buy all the mumei nihonto I've had my eye on for sometime. And as a buyer I will almost certainly be pointing out that written portion in the book when negotiating price.

Hello Matt, Strongly encourage you to take up these generous offers being extended. While there is no easy path to nihonto collecting especially on a budget, exposure to collector experiences and the possibility of viewing excellent swords collected goes a long way towards understanding and establishing objectives for yourself. Once exposed to good swords there will be no going back. Being involved with a group may also help you buy time and realize that rushing into purchasing a sword without a good foundation behind your decision making can be perilous, money wasted. Slowing down, developing a solid library, building hands on practical knowledge, learning kantei, recognizing quality, becomes invaluable. One good sword is a collection.

Hello Peter, Thanks for posting, always helpful to raise one's attention to detail with more understanding.

Hello Ron, Any chance of seeing images of the blade? Thank you.

John, In regard to disappointment where nihonto are concerned, it's just when you begin to think that you're finally beginning to understand something, that you find out just how little you know. While you seem to be well read and versed in nihonto recent history and vocabulary, based upon these images with labels you are presenting here, it appears that your practical knowledge does not match your book knowledge. In the first image labeled "sunagashi Kunishige," that may be sunagashi to you, but to me, imho, that is nothing more than tired steel in the jigane, not even in the hamon. As for your 2nd image, again, I'm not seeing what you are describing as inazuma and sunagashi. Nie spikes in the 3rd image, really? Hmm, I'm not even seeing nie, let alone what might be described as nie spikes! Sorry, you can talk all you want about old classical nie and sunagashi, but you cannot redefine what nie and sunagashi are in order to fit your swords. http://www.shibuiswords.com/hataraki.htm

Hello Peter, Then, it would seem that there should be even a greater emphasis on refining one's collection regardless of whether it be nihonto or tosogu, or a combination thereof. Which is what the student/collector should have been doing all along.

Japanese Horse bridle-bit

Hello, Have to agree with Paul and Ray, I see no nie on either swords you've posted, nor water quenched clear nioi here on this sword, almost certainly looks to be oil quenched. Sorry, I'm sure this is not what you were hoping to hear, can only go by what is and is not seen.

Yes.

http://www.nihontous.com/aboutme/treasurehunt.htm

Hello, Tastes aside, even as a non namban collector these pieces look to be very well made.