Muromachi Soshu-den blade characteristics

[Alex A]

Ive read that these blades have a pronounced sakizori and that the jigane is a densely grained itame hada and is not usually seen!. If this is the case and you cant see it, how do you tell it from muji hada?

 

Alex.

[Brian]

Alex,

I think the first thing you are going to be asked, is where you read this?

 

Brian

[Alex A]

The connoisseurs book of Japanese swords (p201). A few people know i am on the lookout for an older sword, during my quest i have been side tracked (it as been suggested this easily happens). Ive seen a blade and suspect its Sue-Soshu...

 

No need reply, learned the blade is trash

 

 

Alex.

[Jean]

Alex,

 

Please, before quoting, check by yourself in the commercial links and told us the result of your search...

 

http://www.nihontoantiques.com/gallery.htm

 

There are three sue Koto Soshu blades (one used to belong to me - the hitatsura one). What do you see?

[Alex A]

Cheers Jean, i was unaware of that particular link!..All 3 blades have clear visable grain (itame),so books are not always easy to comprehend?

The katana i was looking at is signed Masahiro, descibed as itame grain by the seller(tight itame), muromachi, 25.5"length (similar size to the Tsunahiro on the link) and also looks to have pronounced sakizori. No papers.

 

Boshi looks ko maru, soshu den blades i believe are midare komi (from a book, again :? ). The one in this site is ichimai, so again, theres more to it then whats in a book.............

 

Due to the fact there where no papers i had to ask the assistance of someone more competent than me.

I stated the signature was sloppy, he agreed.....

The write up about the blade itself was vague, and the polish wasnt good, at all, a no no, so to speak.

 

All in all, spent 4 hrs looking into this, conclusion, learned something and not wasted any money, going to cool it down in the search department.........................

 

Thanks again for your help..

 

Alex.

[Jean]

Alex,

 

It would be a good thing if you (and other newbies) could built up your own library by school and smith by entering in your files the name of the smith, measurements description (all that is written on the dealers' site about a blade-pictures included). You could after a few scores of entries make a table drawing some generalities on school: hada, hamon, sori ....

 

You can make up your mind on what you read after. Things are over simplified in books, for example in Mino, for hada, you will find itame, itame nagareru (running), masame and sometimes mokume.

Togari which is a characteristic of Mino school does not appear by far in all Mino sords

 

In Naoe Shizu, I have a blade without togari,with tachi hada. The hada of Naoe Shizu is reputed to be whitish, compare to what ? To Kaneuji work (aka Shizu) the founder of the Mino school (together with Kaneshige (Kinju)) - how many times in your life will you be able to compare side by side a Shizu blade and a Naoe Shizu one?

 

So beware of books and people quoting them. Read but make your experience. Above all look after quality.

 

BTW, the database is a method used by Kodogu collectors. And there are always exceptions, as I remember having seen a Tosho tsuba with a rim ...

[nagamaki - Franco]

Much of what is read, especially in translation, will begin to make a lot more sense once you put a face to it. Sword shows, sword study groups, your own quality blades. Then you will begin having moments where , ahh, so that's what it meant.

[Alex A]

Hi Jean, good idea, i certainly jogged down enough about soshu den Masahiro blades, thats for sure, maybe thats a good start. When i look at dealer sites i often try and guess which period a blade was made, dont do too bad really, not to good on schools (at all). As Franco stated, i need to get down to the meetings, fairs etc and see the blades, i do have the opertunity, just that work always gets in the way, i need to retire or get rich (is this the reason why collecting ninhonto attracts the mature guys? ).

 

I am now aware that some dealers charge an awful lot for little, and there to be avoided, obviously i cannot name the dealer, nor intend to, but, as Jean says its quality that matters, and for that reason i will be more careful where i look in the future. As ive been told, stick to the reputable dealers and sellers who have a passion for ninhonto. On this occasion i asked someones advice and thank them for helping out

 

Alex.

[John A Stuart]

A fellow who used to frequent this board Darcy B. who is at nihonto.ca had a penchant for Soshu den. If you visit his site, take a tour, you may, if he isn't swamped, be able to contact him for direction. John

[Alex A]

Hi John, a very interesting site indeed...thankyou.

 

Alex.

[Jean]

Alex,

 

To begin with, it is "Nihonto" and not "NiNhonto"

You will be going to Shows and be able to face your book knowledge against the real thing.

Try to confront your fresh knowlege with reality.

[Alex A]

Ninhonto, haha, sorry! :D

 

Alex