Keith Noubhira Austin

[Stephen]

Bringing this up from another post.

 

here is a link for all to look of Anthony's Tanto he got off ebay.

http://www.members.aol.com/h2obro1/KeithNoubhiraAustin

 

also a bit if info from Todd Price a student of Nobuhira and one of the top guys with SJSC.

im sure he wont mind me posting,

 

quote

My apologies for taking so long to respond. I run my

own business and have not been able to get out of this 20 hour day 7 day

a week routine as of late. I fear that I will not make the Sinsa and

show in Minn. MN this June, but would love the opportunity to see what I

believe to be the first work released by my first teacher, Keith Austin,

Nobu Hira. I have attached for you a calligraphy done by my late

teacher at about the same time that he did this tanto. He started with

Takahashi Sadatsugu in 1960 and had to leave in 1963 due to Takahashi

San was sick and could not teach keith any longer. At that time Keith

worked under the art name of Nobu Yoshi. Miya Iri Aki Hira (Sho Hei,

after death) accepted Keith to finish his apprenticeship, upon

completion Keith as well as all of Miya Ira's deshi, were given the Hira

and then he became Nobu Hira, just as I was given the Nobu from my

teacher as it has been done in my lineage and will continue. I believe

that this tanto was Takahashi San's saving face. It is not acceptable

for a deshi to produce a blade until he turns To sho (journeyman). When

an apprentice becomes a journeyman his teacher gives him all materials

required to start out on his own. Being as Takahashi San was sick and

dying, Takahasi San was unable to fulfill his obligation and I believe

that this is why a tanto exists by his apprentice. I remember a story

that my teacher told to me about a blade that he made that his teacher

had to sign so that he could legitimately sell it, as he was still a

deshi at the time. Keith did all of the work , however his teacher put

his signature on it to legitimize it. I believe that your blade is the

same one. The shape and work are much different than the work before

his death, however I believe that the signing is his hand. The Sinsa

team may not recognize this work or refuse to acknowledge a modern

blade. The Sinsa team can acknowledge this as my teacher is now past-

however they may also pass due to lack of age. No worries, as his deshi

the responsibility falls on my shoulders, should you require my

opinion. I (may ) not recognize this work as it is done with different

material and in a different style and as a third year apprentice,

however the hand is of my late teacher Keith Austin Nobu Hira, and would

be the first released by him. I would love to examine it first

hand...for my own benefit only though.

end quote

 

I have other pix if your interested.

 

h2obro1@aol.com

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Hi Stephen. Great post.

Would you like to post pics here or do you prefer to send them via e-mail ? tsubame1@tin.it

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

[Curran]

Stephen,

 

That is fantastic to hear and to have the blade resurface. A missing piece of early history returned to us. I remember this was an eBay find. I hope the owner keeps excellent care of it, or is willing to pass it on to a collector who respect its historic value.

 

I never knew Kieth, as he passed before I started collecting again- but I have heard many stories about him from some of the NYC club members. I would like to have met him, or seen more of his work.

[Stephen]

This just in from the SJSC meeting, some of Keiths tantos together thanks to Anthony Goldby....and the SJSC

 

 

Hi Stephen,

 

Here are the pics....

 

The tanto on the top are unfinished swords that Keith was working on .....one is a osoraku tanto, and the other is a hira-zukuri tanto....both are unfinished and untempered.....the katana is by miyairi akihira.

 

Douglas

 

If any of you are going to the SFTK be sure to stop at Todd Price's table to get a closer look at these items.

 

S

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Stephen, great idea

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Any news about th book it's supposed to be published abouth Nobuhira ?

[Stephen]

Carlo

 

this was in a previous letter from Doug

 

The book progress has slowed a bit due to getting expert knowledge descriptions on the tsuba that Keith made and trying to track down swords made by Keith in Japan we know of two other (a ko-wakizashi and a katana).....however, we are still trying to get the book out this year....

also

 

I would like to include a photo of the papers along with the blade in the book..

 

 

Ill be sure to update as it unfolds, in the next few months

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Great. Thanks Stephen.