Surfson Posted March 16, 2013 Report Posted March 16, 2013 I take your point Jacques, but think that it is due to the horizontal line cutting across the kami being slightly more curved than in the other examples. Cheers, Bob Quote
runagmc Posted March 17, 2013 Report Posted March 17, 2013 I took the shodai kanesada mei off and added a few more papered examples for future reference... Quote
Veli Posted March 17, 2013 Report Posted March 17, 2013 Wow, that first (Hozon?) reference is a spitting image of the mei under discussion... Veli Quote
Brian Posted March 17, 2013 Report Posted March 17, 2013 Something I just noticed. All of the shoshin swords have a very deliberate positioning of the ana. In all cases, it is exactly at the same place. The sword in question has the ana in the same place too. That cannot be co-incidence. As we have discussed before, some smiths specified where this was to be drilled. For me, this is another confirmation of a shoshin blade. Even the one at the far left that seems to be out of line, has an older filled ana that corresponds to this positioning. Would be surprised if this one was gimei. Brian Quote
runagmc Posted March 17, 2013 Report Posted March 17, 2013 Yes Veli, the "H" was for Hozon and "TH" for Tokubetsu Hozon... Quote
Jacques Posted March 17, 2013 Report Posted March 17, 2013 Hi, Something I just noticed. All of the shoshin swords have a very deliberate positioning of the ana. In all cases, it is exactly at the same place. Some gimeishi are well talented and perfectly documented (Kajihei for example). Quote
Surfson Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 I think that gimei blades and fake watches have a lot in common. If one tries to perfectly emulate a Rolex, and uses the same quality of parts and assembly, then the cost becomes prohibitive and the profits gained shrink. Most gimei blades, and fake watches, that I have seen are inferior to the work of the genuine article that they are emulating. If the gimei maker were talented enough, he could build his own name and reputation naturally. I now have the Kanesada wakizashi in question in hand, and have to say that the quality of the work is remarkable. The finishing on the nakago, kissaki, hamachi, hamon and all the other major features is first rate. I am still optimistic that it is shoshin, and Jacques, I will bet you lunch that it papers. Cheers, Bob Quote
Marius Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 The finishing on the (...), kissaki, hamachi,. Bob These two things depend on the work of the polisher, not the sword smith. Anyway, I wish you that it turns out shoshin, but I have to wonder how you can see the quality of work in what seems an out of polish blade Quote
Surfson Posted March 20, 2013 Report Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks Mariusz. I meant the machi in general, not just the hamachi. You are right that the polisher finishes the kissaki and machi, but the maker sets the original shape. Actually, the blade is in very good polish, and I could even keep it as it is and enjoy it thoroughly. If I did so, I would just submit it for NTHK-NPO papers when they next visit Chris Bowen. I will try to take some good photos of the hamon activity, though I am only mediocre at sword photography. Cheers, Bob Quote
Surfson Posted September 1, 2014 Report Posted September 1, 2014 I have been meaning to close the loop on this thread. This sword papered at the NTHK-NPO shinsa held in Florida earlier this year. Cheers, Bob Quote
Brian Posted September 1, 2014 Report Posted September 1, 2014 Thank you Robert. Awesome to see that most of us were correct about it being shoshin. All too often it is easier to call gimei, but in this case, most of the NMB members took the opinion that it was correct. A good result. Brian Quote
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