althesmith

I'm not playing Devils advocate, but I know that everyone practicing cutting in Japan is using a traditionally made shinken, literally by law, and many outside Japan as well. I can't see them getting a full art polish after each cutting session. So are they getting a " martial arts " grade polish or doing their own maintenance to take care of scuffs and scratches, bends etc.?

Is there a general opinion as to which is stronger? I understand niei is normally achieved by higher temperatures/times to promote grain growth, not something I would see desireable in a "user" blade as opposed to art blade.

I recently picked up a shinsakuto made in 1977/Showa 52 by Seki-ju Kanetoki, b. 1926. I find the grain to be very fine, difficult to see easily let alone photograph. Hamon is gunome midare. Is anyone else familiar with this smith?