Matt D

Thank you for your input. Given that the marks are so straight and long, I’m pretty sure they are scratches.

Thank you everyone for the input. The blade came with those scratches. My main concern at this point is not making it any worse. I wonder if I can brush the inside of the saya with a rifle cleaning rod with a nylon brush.

The attached photos show scratches on a blade forged in 1980’s. My first thought was they came from usage, but the saya, koshirai, and tsuka ito are in such pristine condition, I doubt if it’s ever been used. The koiguchi also lacks the wear that I would expect from drawing and resheathing. Are scratches such as these likely from usage (iaido practice), improper cleaning, crud in the saga, or some other reason. Does anyone have any other thoughts?

Thank you Bruce. I would like own one these blades someday, someday… To me, part of the allure is that they were such good swords from a functional perspective.

I understand the steel and the construction of the laminate. However, one thing I’m still not clear on is how the blades were shaped. Were they hand hammered or was machinery involved? Also, the articles seem suggest that water was the quenching medium, under carefully controlled conditions. Is this correct?

Thank you Bruce. This is really helpful and interesting.

Bruce, I am not currently looking for one. I was just curious about them.

Thank you John.

1. Are all Mantetsu swords “Koa Isshin”. Or are Koa Isshin a specific type of sword made with Mantetsu steel? 2. Other than the use of a laminate made from modern steel, were there any other differences in the way these swords were made? Were machines used? Were they quenched in water?

What is the criteria for receiving an NTHK-NPO paper? Are there any limitations on era, smith, etc?

As I understand it, Kawachi Kunihira studied under a second master in the mid-eighties. Perhaps his mei changed after that. Any thoughts?

Here’s a shot of the nakago of both swords which were made by Kunihira Kawachi. Both of these swords were on reputable sales sites. I don’t have any reason to believe anything fishy is going on. Nevertheless, the mei seem different.

How common is it for a swordsmith’s mei to change over the course of his career? I ask because I came across nakago photos of two different swords, done by the same modern swordsmith, with mei that look quite different. One of the swords is an earlier work.

I think I see it in the ninth photo from the top.

Where is the hagiri?