Edo Period Oshigata Notebook

[Randy McCall]

Hello all,

 

I was extremely fortunate to pick up an Edo period notebook with the oshigata of several hundred blades (katana, shoto, tanto), and a dozen or so yari.  It is, quite simply, amazing. Most of the oshigata have a title or notes. A couple of dozen include a drawing of the hamon, suggesting they're of special note.

 

Half a dozen or so display the Imperial Chrysanthemum incised on the nakago. As well, several dozen have a clan mon which I don't readily recognize (see last photo below). A number of horimono are included, some of which must have been on gift or temple blades I would guess from the size, design and placement of carvings.

I will be digitizing the volume and making copies available to select individuals in the nihonto community to in order to see if it contains anything of historical interest. It came in what appears to be a special -- if not custom made -- protective folio with peg bindings, suggesting it came from a private collection
 

Due to the faintness of some of the rubbings, a few of which were done done in red ocher, I will have to experiment a bit in order to make some of the faint images as clear as possilble.. I may be reduced to photographing each oshigata individually to ensure maximum clarity.

As usual, click pictures to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[b.hennick]

.Very Cool! Best of luck with the project

[Fuuten]

That's a nice find. I'd love to see the whole collection!

[Jussi Ekholm]

Very nice book find Randy.

 

I believe the title is

 

中 ( 心 押)  形 庄内刀ノ内 - Chūkokoro oshigata Shōnai-gatana nonai , I'm not exactly sure about those in brackets.

[SteveM]

中心　＝　Nakago in this case. 中心 is a variation of 茎.

押形 = one would indeed think oshigata. Seems to be the most obvious candidate. But the 押 part of oshigata doesn't look right. No idea what it could be.

[BIG]

Great find, all the best for your Project !

 

Best Regards

[Geraint]

Hi Randy.

 

For your 'clan mon'  have a look at this, http://www.nihonto.com/abtartyasutsugu.html and for the kiku mon this, http://www.nihonto.com/abtartshinkai.html though found with the mei of other shinto smiths also.

 

Looks like  fascinating volume.

 

All the best.

[k morita]

Hi,
Nice find !!! 

 

The title says 中心摺形(nakago suri-gata) .
Surigata is the same meaning as Oshigata.

"Suri" means Rub or Rubed.