Double quench activity ?

Jim P · June 26, 2013

HI guys As I have a interest in the Ko-Mihara school can someone help with what "N-ju Ha" double quench activity is ? that is mentioned on this blade

http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/O1 ... PUP_E.html

I see what looks like a light reflection on the top of the hamon why would this be done ? as its not like the Utsuri that you can see on the blade thanks

Marius · June 26, 2013

Nijuba - double hamon. But this reflection you are referring to is just the effect of using a scanner. In the pics you cannot discern a hamon. What you see is kesho polishing.

ko-Mihara? Good choice :-) You have certainly read this article:

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mihara_Nihonto.html

paulb · June 26, 2013

Hi Jim,

I agree with Mariusz regarding this. Examples of Nijuba I have seen and seen described show lengths of activity, usually nie based that sit over or below the hamon. They are not contiuous along the whole length of the blade. I will see if I can find some images and send you but they look very different from what you see here. I cant confirm whether it is caused by the scanner or the polish but it isnt a feature of the quenching.

Marius · June 26, 2013

You can find a pic of nijuba here:

http://www.nihontocraft.com/nihonto_hamon_hataraki.html

BTW, nijuba is a kantei point for Yamato and Yamato-influenced blades.

Jim P · June 26, 2013

Hi Mariusz, That's what I thought too kesho polish, but this part of the description( Nie granules of "Hotsure" fray and "N-ju Ha" double quench activity which is vividly bright.) had me thinking what is he pointing to? I have seen a few ko-Mihara and own a good example, and have tried to read as much as I can and have seen most of the stuff on the net this one is a interesting example of Ko-Mihara school Utsuri. and the groove possibly being struck by a spear sounds good too

Hi Paul,Good to hear from you Thanks the images are always appreciated if you have the time

Marius · June 26, 2013

but this part of the description( Nie granules of "Hotsure" fray and "N-ju Ha" double quench activity which is vividly bright.) had me thinking what is he pointing to?

I guess he was trying to say a bright nijuba hamon, that is all.

Care to share your ko-Mihara with us? I like this school and the swords are not expensive compared to more popular schools.

cabowen · June 26, 2013

No such thing as a "double quench"....

John A Stuart · June 26, 2013

That struck me as odd as well knowing that nijuba is a type of hataraki that is intermittant in the hamon. My Mihara, no nijuba. http://www.johnstuart.biz/new_page_4.htm John

paulb · June 26, 2013

picking up on Chris's point re "double quench" I agree totally. Nijuba refers to a double hamon rather than double quenching. It is formed as part of and at the same time as the hamon and describes activity within or just above the hamon.

kunitaro · June 26, 2013

To recognize Hataraki by only photo is difficult.

Need to see real (good) blade with good light.

BTW,

I was looking at photo of this blade, and i see kind of Mizukage ??

start at Hamachi.

mmm, you don't want to see this kind of shadow/mizukage/utsuri at Hamachi with Osuriage blade.

What do you think ?

runagmc · June 26, 2013

I agree with Kunitaro san, that kind of mizukage is usually right at the end of the hamon, and should be lost to shortening if the sword was suriage and with an original hamon. So this would make you think the sword has not been shortened since it was last hardened... unless what we are seeing in the pic is misleading. It's hard to say for sure without seeing it in hand... for me at least...

Jim P · June 26, 2013

Kunitaro san, Yes I see what you mean till you pointed it out I had looked at it as part of the Utsuri you teach us much, I will look more closely next time. But as you say its hard to learn from photos

And just for you Mariusz, It has TH papers and a sayagaki by Tanobe sensei, allso look at this post,

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10326&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

kunitaro · June 26, 2013

Good to compare healthy Kissaki/blade and tired Kissaki/blade.

and

Hada/Kitae/Jitetsu

Jim P · June 27, 2013

Hi kunitaro san,Yes its hard to find healthy Kissaki/Jitetsu, and I do see a lot of old blades that are a bit tired for me the Kissaki

is important and has to be in good condition. I was once told by a dealer that if I wanted to collect old blades I should not worry so much about them being tired and get used to it or collect Gendai but if you look hard you can find them. In the west we see a lot more tired blades as we tend to overlook the problems a bit more I think,maybe because we don't pick up on what we see as much but we need to see more good examples that's why its so important to have people the can show us the way like your self kunitaro san, this sword is a good example I looked at it and missed the ? marks and took to much notice of the description instead of using my eyes but next time I will see a bit better :D Again thanks your posts on this board are like a breath of fresh air :D