Norinaga Hira Zukuri Wakizashi - New Addition

[Daso]

As always, I look to the board members to help me understand the items I have been adding to my collection. I have had the bug for a Hira Zukuri Wakizashi and came across this piece.  It was a nice balance of what I was looking for within my budget at this time.  NTHK Papered Koto (Shikkake)  mumei , ubu, Norinaga Hira Zukuri Wakizashi estimated date 1504.  The blade is incredibly thick throughout the length and almost 6.7mm up until the tip. Nagasa about 14 1/2".   To me it looks like it has an old polish and the hamon looks gunome  and runs the length of blade but thins at the Kissaki with no turnback I can see.  Shirasay is very nice with sayagaki (I guess with NTHK attribution?).  Hada looks O-mokume to me with variations.  I guess later Shikkake blades didn't have the complexity of earlier when compared to my Late Nambokcho  Shikkake Katana.  I learn from you all, so thoughts appreciated even if lessons learned! Sorry for the poor pictures as usual,  Got home late and excitedly took my pictures then took some with daylight next morning. 

[SwordGuyJoe]

Sayagaki is Yoshinaga

[Daso]

Sayagaki is Yoshinaga

Am I mistaken as to the Smith, how idiotic of me?? or is the shirasaya for another blade?

[Stephen]

sayagaki looks to have been added by non Japanese, pressed in with ballpoint pen, go by the papers. 

[Ray Singer]

sayagaki looks to have been added by non Japanese, pressed in with ballpoint pen, go by the papers. 

 

Whoever wrote that "sayagaki" may have intended to write Heianjo Nagayoshi rather than Heianjo Yoshinaga. 

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Darius,

 

Wondering if you realize that in a number of images 7403, 7397 in particular that shintetsu is showing?

[SteveM]

Note: the papers don't mention Shikkake either. 

[Daso]

Hello Darius,

 

Wondering if you realize that in a number of images 7403, 7397 in particular that shintetsu is showing?

Hello Darius,

 

Wondering if you realize that in a number of images 7403, 7397 in particular that shintetsu is showing?

Nagasaki, I see the areas you mention. I asked a good polisher about the blade and I was under impression that the blade was likely acid washed leading more so to the darkened and very distinct darker areas off of the Hamon. I am obviously not knowledgeable enough and your comment might be correct. I am a bit surprised considering the heft and thickness of the blade in general and the polishers suggestion for touch up to correct for acid wash and bring out hada and Hamon correctly. My photos also seem to have enhanced some areas to make them look like flaws (great photographer that I am with my IPhone). I will ask some local eyes and the polisher as well as a touch up polish on a tired blade wouldn't make sense then and waste of money. As a side note, since it wasn't polished since it received its papers in 2007, would it paper with these types of flaws ? Thanks, Darius. Side note. When I take macro shots at 200x it tends to accentuate what the eye wouldn't see. I have noticed that few post such high x photos likely because it makes a normal finish look like it needs polishing or repair. I definitely see some small openings which you can't see when looking at blade with naked eyes. I appreciate all the knowledge I'm amassing from these posts. Blade itself was very economically priced all considering.

[Daso]

Note: the papers don't mention Shikkake either.

 

. Sorry if I took this off its original description from previous seller (a polisher). Also, wasn't Norinaga in Yamato part of the Shikkake school of Smiths? Doe the paper need to say Shikkake school? Or is it just Norinaga from Eisho period? Thanks, Darius

[paulb]

Darius

you are right there were several generations of smiths using the Norinaga name in the Shikkake school. However it isnt exclusive to that school and there are many other Norinaga's listed from other schools and traditions.

 Before getting too hung up about which one it is and other points raised here, step back a little. I assume you bought this because you liked it not because you thought it was by a particular smith? So whether Shikkake, Heianjo or whatever the sword hasnt changed. Having decided you liked it enough to buy it now enjoy researching the workmanship understanding what the papers are saying and see if you can see why the shinsa panel reached the conclusion they did.

regards

Paul

[Grey Doffin]

I don't see shintetsu in the pictures.  In the 2 mentioned pictures I see ware' along lines of masame hada but otherwise the blade seems to be healthy.  I can't speak to a possible acid wash but my 1st reaction is that this should be left as is; no touch up polish is necessary.  Of course, someone holding the blade will know better than I can from photos.

Show us a picture of the other side of the paper; the saya-gaki doesn't say Norinaga but maybe the paper does.

Grey

[Daso]

I don't see shintetsu in the pictures.  In the 2 mentioned pictures I see ware' along lines of masame hada but otherwise the blade seems to be healthy.  I can't speak to a possible acid wash but my 1st reaction is that this should be left as is; no touch up polish is necessary.  Of course, someone holding the blade will know better than I can from photos.

Show us a picture of the other side of the paper; the saya-gaki doesn't say Norinaga but maybe the paper does.

Grey

Hi Grey,

 

Yes, I do clearly see the ware.  Overall the blade doe feel and look healthy in hand.  I attached the other side of the NTHK papers (which I unfortunately can't read).  Regards, Darius

[Daso]

Darius

you are right there were several generations of smiths using the Norinaga name in the Shikkake school. However it isnt exclusive to that school and there are many other Norinaga's listed from other schools and traditions.

 Before getting too hung up about which one it is and other points raised here, step back a little. I assume you bought this because you liked it not because you thought it was by a particular smith? So whether Shikkake, Heianjo or whatever the sword hasnt changed. Having decided you liked it enough to buy it now enjoy researching the workmanship understanding what the papers are saying and see if you can see why the shinsa panel reached the conclusion they did.

regards

Paul

Hi Paul,

 

I couldn't have said it better.  You are right, I did not buy the blade because of the smith, I bought it because it represented a style of blade that I wanted to add to my collection that I found appealing, relatively safe (papered) and very reasonable.  All in all a good learning opportunity without killing the bank and a nice blade in hand. My interest is as you said in learning what it is and why, I'm not at the point where I feel I can focus on a school or smith.  I don't see this as a permanent collection piece but rather a stop on the road of this particular style and a good step for me in the direction.  Best, Darius

[Jussi Ekholm]

伝尻懸則長 - Den Shikkake Norinaga

[Daso]

伝尻懸則長 - Den Shikkake Norinaga

Thanks Jussi

[Marius]

C'mon, people! What is the matter with this fear of shingane? Most old swords have it, as most old and well used swords are tired. Sometimes we are looking at shingane without even knowing what we see, because the shingane is of such a high quality.

 

Kojima san has forgotten more than most of us will ever learn. I think it is advisable to read what he has to say about shingane:

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/shingane.html

[Daso]

C'mon, people! What is the matter with this fear of shingane? Most old swords have it, as most old and well used swords are tired. Sometimes we are looking at shingane without even knowing what we see, because the shingane is of such a high quality.

 

Kojima san has forgotten more than most of us will ever learn. I think it is advisable to read what he has to say about shingane:

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/shingane.html

Mariusz,  Great explanation on Kojima's site.  Thanks

[nagamaki - Franco]

 I am a bit surprised considering the heft and thickness of the blade in general

 

Hello Darius,

 

Core steel coming and showing through is a matter of how thick the outer skin steel is and how much it has been polished down. Some blades are known to have a thinner skin steel and in fact it is not surprising to see signs of shintetsu on such blades from being polished down over time. As a sword owner or potential buyer one should be informed as to what this means on the particular sword in question. 

 

 

C'mon, people! What is the matter with this fear of shingane? 

 

 

Fear of shingane? Fear? No. At least not as long as you have a clear understanding of what you're seeing and what it means for the future of the blade in terms of polish. Further, be aware that some ware can be made tighter by a good polisher depending on the surrounding steel and location, while some ware will open up even more when the blade is put to stone.