Shinto wak

[Stever]

Hi folks,

 

I'm hoping someone here with better knowledge of shinto schools/smiths than I have may be able to give me some insight into a wak I purchased a couple of months ago. I've been trying to make sense of all the different shinto schools and their variations, and don't seem to be getting any closer, other than to eliminate some of the obvious impossibilities. Let me know what you think.

 

Here are the stats on the blade:

 

Nagasa: 19.8"

Sori: 0.2"

Motohaba: 1.15"

Sakihaba: 0.85"

Motogasane: 0.2"

Sakigasane: 0.2"

 

And here are some pics:

[Ken-Hawaii]

Steve, several parts of that first group of photos look really strange to me! It's as if everything between the shinogi & the mune disappeared. Did you take those shots? And, if so, what the heck did you do to get that effect??

 

School-wise, I'd guess Bizen to start off with.

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi Steve,

 

I agree with Ken on the Bizen attribution.

 

I once had a Sukesada waki with a very similar hamon and I think I can see one or two "kani-no-sume" (crab claws) on your blade so I'd go with Sue Bizen rather than Shinto.

 

(However, please bear in mind that my appraisal skills are virtually non-existant....I'm more of a gunto man)

 

Simon

[Stever]

Thanks, guys.

 

I used a scanner to compile the first pic; the shinogi ji is too shiny so it comes out looking black. Not sure what to do about that. I was having a hell of a time getting photos of the hamon and that seemed like a good solution.

 

Heh, Bizen was my first thought, too. My main reference is Nagayama's, and in the shinto Bizen description seemed to fit, but then I confused the heck out of myself by reading the section on Musashi province, and it all went downhill from there.

 

Anyone else have anything to add, or do we have concensus? What do you think of the quality - good, decent, average, pos?

 

cheers

[pcfarrar]

I think Shinto Bungo Takada could also be a strong possiblity for this sword.

[Stephen]

Try changing your background color, here are two one in grayscale with a black background the other in color with blue, a dark gold will give even different showing of activities in the blade.

I also have a hard time getting a blade pinpointed down, as many as you ask expect that many different answers.

[Stever]

Peter,

Thanks, I was wondering when someone would say Bungo. Something tells me if I sent this sword for shinsa that's what it would come back as. What in particular would make you say that, though? Lower quality than most Bizen to, perhaps? I don't have a lot of info on the Bungo Takada school, unfortunately, so any insights would be appreciated.

 

This reminds me of something...Hey Milt, how did your o-suriage wak do at the Chicago shinsa?

 

Stephen,

Thanks for the info, I'll have to play around with that. I finally got a tripod so my shaky hands won't be such a factor in my photography anymore. I wonder if I can get the same effect with the scanner in a well-lit room? Hmmm....gonna have to find some time to experiment.

 

Thanks all

[Bungo]

This reminds me of something...Hey Milt, how did your o-suriage wak do at the Chicago shinsa?

 

Seki Kanenaka..............thank you very much

 

Eiroku period ( 1558 )...........but personally i feel it should be earlier.

 

milt the ronin

[pcfarrar]

  Stever said:

Peter,

Thanks, I was wondering when someone would say Bungo. Something tells me if I sent this sword for shinsa that's what it would come back as. What in particular would make you say that, though? Lower quality than most Bizen to, perhaps?

 

I think its Shinto like you say, and the sue bizen style hamon is typical of Bungo Takada work. Not much information about on Bungo swords really, which is odd considering they seem to survive in a quantity greater than anything else :lol:

[Bungo]

" I think its Shinto like you say, and the sue bizen style hamon is typical of Bungo Takada work. Not much information about on Bungo swords really, which is odd considering they seem to survive in a quantity greater than anything else "

 

 

May be because they are very well made, hold up well in battle, preferred by real samurai ( not the sit at home sissies ) , that's why such largeeeeeeeeeee number survives.

 

milt the ronin

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

Definately BUngo. If you can find any Ware and Fukure then you will know it's Bungo for sure I'd say late Shinto.