Groovy Nihonto, Can You Dig It?

[tokashikibob]

Gentlemen,

    Received this auction purchase the other day, don't know if anybody may have seen it offered, but there was only one picture of it to peruse on the net.   I took a chance after talking to the auctioneer as I liked the same saya, and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this whole piece when I unboxed it.  Other than the multitudes of fingerprints on the blade it cleaned up nice and reveled it's beauty.

   I apologize in advance for the poor photographs as my modern camera is missing and I used my Sony camera with a floppy drive!   If anyone is interested in better pictures I will keep a eye on this thread.   

   Hamon is gunome with suguha as it nears the kissaki,    sunagashi can be seen at the transition,  turnback is kaeri tsuyoshi.   I'm guessing this is a early nihonto due to the thin hamon and complex hada?  Fittings are tight and in great condition, and the tsuba looks to be a work or art with gold, silver and copper highlights.

Best Regards,

   Bob

[cabowen]

Blade appears to be o-suriage Koto, maybe Mino from what appear to be peaks in the hamon. Tsuba is signed Soten and looks to be one of the many poor quality copies.

[jason_mazzy]

i had a few bids on that

[tokashikibob]

Blade appears to be o-suriage Koto, maybe Mino from what appear to be peaks in the hamon. Tsuba is signed Soten and looks to be one of the many poor quality copies.

Chris, Thank you for the input, do you think there may be enough charactertics in the hada/hamon to submit it to shinsa?   I did pop in the Soten tsuba and saw there is a wide range of quality, maybe I'll bring it to a show and pass it around. 

Best Regards,

   Bob

[tokashikibob]

Jason,

     Did you get either of the other two?  This one had the weakest picture and description of the three.  I liked the other two but was surprized when nobody on the floor grabbed this up after the fact.

 

i had a few bids on that

[Kronos]

The Wakizashi looked very good but as I have no money currently I didn't pursue it further.

[cabowen]

Chris, Thank you for the input, do you think there may be enough charactertics in the hada/hamon to submit it to shinsa?   I did pop in the Soten tsuba and saw there is a wide range of quality, maybe I'll bring it to a show and pass it around. 

Best Regards,

   Bob

 

 

Yes, I think there is enough visible....

[jason_mazzy]

I had pictures from the gallery ahead of time. it appeared to have a large chip in the cutting area and I couldn't get a clear look. I see it in your pictures now, it seems like rust or dip? I was going for all of them but when the bids grew so fast above the high estimate I retreated and went for the one I thought had the most promise. I went for the last one in the lot, and it did not disappoint. It needs a polish sadly. I am glad the auction house does live video bids as it made it more homely.

[tokashikibob]

Jason,   That was the big boy,  I liked that one too, but after grabbing the winning bid on this cut down I was done for the night.   Did you post anything yet on yours?    The edge on this piece is flawless, what you saw is a spot were there must have been a drop of water left, not anything serious.   I called beforehand and had phonecon, they sure did not do the owners a favor with the postings.

  I should be passing thru Hickory late next month dropping off a load of antiques if you want to get together for a cup of sake.

Best Regards,

   Bob

[jason_mazzy]

Yes my friend. If you are coming this way we should meet up. perhaps a look at a sword or two would be in order.

[tokashikibob]

Gents,

     Weather is finally breaking here, I was doing some chores outdoors and took a break to try and grab a few better pictures if you care to look.    While doing some research on this nihonto starting with Chris tip to Mino school; what how about the possibility of a early generation Kaneyoshi?   I say this due to the tight mokume jihada matches with a few online images and one in a referance book.

Best Regards,

  Bob

 

Jason,

    Good to go, I should be stopping by with it on the 28th.

[cabowen]

Maybe your photos but the hamon looks like it's barely there....

[jason_mazzy]

He was supposed to swing by, but I never heard back from him. Hope all is well.

[Soshin]

Maybe your photos but the hamon looks like it's barely there....

Hi Everyone,

 

Just to share my very limited experience. My first Nihonto was a mumei, Koto era, Mino-den tanto I had polished. The art polish cost about three times the value of the tanto. It looked very similar in terms of a thin hamon and course ji-hada.