First Topic: Showato Write Up...

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Taking a break from being a "Tsuka Otaku (鍔おたく)" and wanted some help with the write up about this Shōwatō in a piecemeal Handachi Koshirae that I use for Battō training. The sword is very well balanced and has good curvature in my opinion and is feels alive in hand for my martial arts training. While I would not consider the sword a work of art it is by the far one of the best (Shōwatō 昭和刀) I have seen or handled. Keep in mind I sometimes go to antique gun shows to find antique tsuba and see many old Shōwatō and Guntō. :lol: Below is my write up and a photo of the nakago I did and a overall photo of the sword taken by the dealer. I was a bit surprised to see both a jihada and a boshi on this sword. Please reply with any helpful comments or improvement I can make with my write up and thank you for contributing to my first topic in this forum on NMB.

 

Title: Shōwatō in Handachi Koshirae

Blade Length: 71.1 cm

Tip: Chu Kissaki

Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Jihada

Hamon Shape: Gunome

Tip Hamon Shape: O-Maru Boshi

Blade Shape: Shinogi-zukuri Sugata

Nakago: Ubu with Kurijiri, but with two Mekugi-ana

Signature: 昭 + 関住石原兼直作 (Shō + Seki ju Ishihara Kanenao saku)

 

This Japanese sword is a (Shōwatō 昭和刀) made in a semi-traditional way by a Seki Kaji Tosho published in the Seki Tanrensho booklet printed in 1939. The swordsmith name was (Ishihara Kanenao 石原兼直) and his real name was (Ishihara Kanenao 石原金直) using different Kanji for Kanenao. This working period for this swordsmith was from 1939 until 1945.

P.S. I am serious thinking about getting back into collecting Japanese swords. Because of limited time, money, and space my small collection would likely be of Mino Den blades from all time periods. This sword would be a good World War 2 era example in my very modest collection. :lol:

[Geraint]

Hi David,

 

It's a little hard to tell but are you confident about calling it a chu kissaki? It looks to be on the large side in your photograph.

 

All the best.

[Soshin]

Hi Geraint,

 

Looking at the blade in hand I did notice it is a little bit longer but still think the term (chu kissaki 中切っ先) "medium sized tip" would be correct. Far from an expert on this so everyone feel free to correct me with additional information on this point. Here is a photo I did of the kissaki. Not sure if this photo is a better or helpful then the dealers photo. I did not take the time to remove the choji oil from the blade to take the photo of it on the katanake.