Chonmage Posted August 26, 2012 Report Posted August 26, 2012 Hello, and thanks in advance. I've been recommended to join this forum and from what I've read this past few days I should have joined a long time ago. Anyway, I was at a flea market today and I found this piece. Although in need of a new polish, an interesting piece. It was introduced to me as a yoroi doshi which would explain the thickness, yet I'm puzzled by the thinning at the mune that starts where the short groves end. It also seems to angle just slightly forward at the tip rather than backward. Please note the marks and unevenness near the munamachi. So can someone assist me in identifying this, if this is in fact a yoroi doshi, from late edo or perhaps even older, or not a yoroi doshi at all. Judging from the slight unevenness of the tang just before the munamachi. I'm wondering it has been tampered with or remade into its current state. Could anyone give some assistance please? The nagasa is 18 cm. Mumei. I'd be happy to answer any questions or up more photos.
NihontoEurope Posted August 26, 2012 Report Posted August 26, 2012 Hello, I would say not. Never seen a Y/D with a thinned out section before the boshi. It would probably brake if used as a Y/D on armour. /Martin
cabowen Posted August 26, 2012 Report Posted August 26, 2012 Looks to be a Bakumatsu or Meiji period piece, possibly for export.
Chonmage Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Posted August 27, 2012 Thanks for the input! If it is indeed bakamatsu or meiji, what would lead you to such a conclusion?
bmoore1322 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Posted August 27, 2012 I wish i could find items like that at a flea market, very nice. Brian
cabowen Posted August 27, 2012 Report Posted August 27, 2012 Thanks for the input!If it is indeed bakamatsu or meiji, what would lead you to such a conclusion? The rustic shape of the blade, the crudeness of the horimono, the roughly finished nakago, as well as the koshirae which is rather typical of later work.
Thierry BERNARD Posted August 27, 2012 Report Posted August 27, 2012 I wish i could find items like that at a flea market, very nice. Brian no Brian it's not a very nice blade !!!
Brian Posted August 27, 2012 Report Posted August 27, 2012 Look carefully. The lines are not straight. The filemarks are rough and untidy. The hi (groove) is badly cut...and far from perfect. The machi are badly cut. The whole shape is off, and the nakago is not shaped well, with flowing lines. Look how badly the munemachi is shaped. So no...not "nice" and not one to chase after. This is one you pick up out of interest at a flea market when it is $80 or so (perhaps as the current owner did).....you don't pay hundreds for it. Sorry OP...didn't mean to use your blade to make a point to Brian, but it was handy at the time. Well done on picking up on most of the points of concern. You sound like you know what to pay and when to buy. Now if we can just educate others. PS - Might even be a WW2 soldiers dagger, put together instead of the normal oil quenched ones. I don't think it has much age either way. Brian
Chonmage Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Posted August 28, 2012 Nothing wrong stating what you see and understand. You just underlined my own concerns so thanks Brian. I did pay more but that is mostly due to the fact that I know the old fox who sold it. One of the last honest sellers here in Fukuoka. Honest in the fact that he admits he knows little when he does, and that he can agree to what is and plainly is not. Besides everyone needs to make a living Sometimes I know and sometimes I do not. Without my books I would be helpless. A big thanks to you too Chris. I think we are done here. So if there is no major contradiction to what has been posted there is no need to post further. Again, thanks for sharing your opinions. - Anders Consider this one closed.
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