A Little Before...

[SwordGuyJoe]

All,

As I referenced in a couple threads, I have two swords that will go through the polishing process in Japan. They both will be polished by mukansa togishi. The first blade is a tanto that I picked up from Chris Bowen. It is a blade forged by Tsukamoto Okimasa, with horimono by Kasama Shigetsugu. The second is a homecoming of my first Shigetsugu katana - an interesting taisho work done with Masame hada and is very active.

 

I have posted a few before pics of each. As you can see, they aren't in bad shape, really only need some light work and bringing out the hada. So why am I doing this? As most know, a Gendaito with tokubetsu hozon is very rare! I want to give it a chance with some superb examples, in fresh mukansa polish. I don't typically chase papers, but I am really proud of my collection and feel that I have at least one or two future juyo blades stashed away, but not a single TH blade. Grrrr!!!

 

So I'll post some before pics, some after pics, and let you know the final results. If one of these two don't make it, I quit! Not really, but it'll likely be a while before I give it a shot again.

 

 

 

 

 

[SwordGuyJoe]

And the Shigetsugu. Pictures compliment of Danny with nihontocraft,

 

 

[celt72]

Joe - I can't wait to see the after pictures. They should be great. I'm also glad you got that Shigetsugu from Nihontocraft, so I can now stop lusting after it!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Joe, that katana is going to look incredible after mukansa. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your papers on it as well!

[Stephen]

Do we have a list of Gendai smiths that received TH?

[SwordGuyJoe]

I've seen a Miyairi Yukihira in hand but that's the only one I've seen. I've heard of others but can't recall by who.

[vajo]

The fudo myoo Tanto is loveley.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Thanks. I'm hoping that a blade exhibiting exceptional work by two big names will help score the TH nod.

[w.y.chan]

I'm optimistic one of them might go TH, even better if both make it

 

The katana looks like its already in old polish, are you going for a finishing polish?

 

 

Wah

[SwordGuyJoe]

We'll see what the polisher says when he has it in hand. It would be nice if both go TH, but I'm not super optimistic on the katana since it's not long.

[w.y.chan]

I've come across Gassan Sadakatsu and Sadamitsu katana 65-67cm with TH.

Length is good but quality, rarity and desirability also count. I agree the tanto has a better chance with horimono by Shigetsugu.

 

 

Wah