gun addict Posted March 31, 2014 Report Posted March 31, 2014 Good morning gents Picked up another Nihon-to and would like to hear from the expert's input on this blade's age and school as I am still very much learning. This is one of my shortest Katana in the collection measuring only 24 inches in length and from the patina on the nakago is this a late Muramachi era blade? The tsuba looks like it may have had a maker's signature once upon a time but I cannot for the life of me get a good focus and it may be just be my eyes and wishful thinking getting to me all inputs are welcomed and appreciated! Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted March 31, 2014 Report Posted March 31, 2014 Timothy, if you could please take a shot of the bare blade just lying flat - without parallax - I'm sure we could be of some help. Ken Quote
gun addict Posted April 1, 2014 Author Report Posted April 1, 2014 Yes sir, does these pictures help? Quote
drbvac Posted April 1, 2014 Report Posted April 1, 2014 Do you have any pictures of the entire nakago and the hamachi and any signature that is on the blade as well ;? The Tsuba is interesting and the hamon is sugata and with the look of the nakago it could a fairly old blade, Quote
Lance Posted April 1, 2014 Report Posted April 1, 2014 From the pics I'd say the tsuba looks to be Nobuie school/style (tortoise shell design) Edo period? Blade itself maybe Muromachi period, Bizen school from shape of blade and tang. If the hamon stops at hamachi, suggesting wasn't shortened. may have been katte-uchi one handed sword. If the hamon goes past it into the tang it would suggest being shortened. Even though extra holes were usually added due to shortening or as a reinforcement of sorts on Shinto and Shinshinto I have seen ubu Muromachi swords with an extra hole towards the end, for the most part I think the examples I've seen were all Bizen and around 22-26 inches. Hope this is useful, I'm sure someone will come along with any necessary corrections or provide more info. Regards, Lance Quote
gun addict Posted April 1, 2014 Author Report Posted April 1, 2014 Lance Thank you very much for the information, the hamon does in fact stop at the hamachi and I will try to get a better picture of it in the outside natural light tomorrow when I get the chance. The blade does have some flaws but looks healthy enough for another polish. also Lance, you were exactly right regarding the Tsuba, I rubbed some Uchiko powder on the tsuba and faintly made out 信家 Quote
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