Help identifying school and value...30" nagasa, 4" kissaki!

[Stephen]

I would like to be enlightened on the nakago it looks fine to my eyes, where was it messed with? I've seen shinshinto with little to no rust...this blade needs a bone rubbing then a light oil to stop the working red rust...remember red rust is bad needs to be stopped...id like to see it after it has been preserved, IMHO a polish would bring out a great blade but like I said that's my take it don't make it true...also if not in hand its very hard to make assumptions from pix. Franco has made me give it a hard look, the mounts are the flag that makes me wonder what was going on here. It may have been mounted late war...it could have been in shirasaya...that came from a shrine ....that's something we'll never know the could have, may haves.

id like to know how well the habaki was made. something that would show us if this is a grand fake....lets hope their not that good now. i hope we don't get locked on this as its a wonder to me.

[paulb]

In support and agreement with Stephen and Jaques on this. Firstly I think there are many unsignd shin-shinto swords in existence, I have seen a good number at various meetings and the London Shinsa and I current have two unsigned papered shin-shinto blades..

Also allowing for the little that can be seen in the images, I believe that this sword is ok, probably shin-shinto or even Gendaito but traditionally made. The nakago makes me feel it is later rahter than earlier. Again without better images or seeing the sword in hand any assessment is speculative. I confess to being concerned when colleagues appear to be prepared to make such definitive statements on pieces from relatively poor images. I struggle enough when I'm holding the thing. I think we need to temper comments a little to make sure they are seen as opinion rather than statement of fact.

[Guest reinhard]

"...., but I detect a slightly hostile tone,..."

 

I'm sorry for giving this impression. Diplomacy is definitely beyond my skills. (Maybe Brian will teach me some lessons sometimes)

 

"What makes you believe the nakago was altered at all?"

 

It is the colour and nature of the rust in the first place. It looks exactly like "sabitsuke nakago" (i.e. chemically added rust) of older days. It can be done more skillfull nowadays, but earlier attempts look exactly like this. Fresh, red rust due to negligence has a "powderish" quality, the chemically added rust falls off in large flakes. Another thing are the yasurime, but I dare not make a final statement on the basis of the pictures here.

 

reinhard

[Leatherdog]

Reinhard,

 

No hard feelings...

 

The rust seems consistent with other "natural" rust I've seen. Perhaps it's the photos? It doesn't appear to be flaking off anywhere, and I am inclined to believe the red rust on the nakago is a product of the last 60 years. Do you think additional photos in different lighting might help?

[AZPhil]

Okay Big Hug!!!!!!!

Well, I'm glad everybody got there panties unbunched :D

 

How about some pic's of the Habaki!!!!!!

[Guest reinhard]

Do you think additional photos in different lighting might help?

 

Maybe. But I am also well aware of the fact, that any further "analysis" on the basis of pictures will not lead to thorough expertise. Your sword seems to be a traditionally forged Nihon-To and should be examined at first hand.

BTW I didn't intend to spoil anyone's day, but it was kind of strange to see how some people immediately voted for 'neglected masterpiece' and others for 'not even traditionally made', while it is quite obvious, that it is none of these two options.

 

Anyway, I recommend to show this sword to a reliable expert before having it polished and sent to Shinsa.

 

reinhard

[Leatherdog]

Anyway, I recommend to show this sword to a reliable expert before having it polished and sent to Shinsa.

 

Good advice. I wasn't really expecting we'd be able to nail it down to a particular smith or anything, just trying to figure out what was possible over the computer. The problem I run into is a lack of knowledgeable "sword people" in all of the places I've lived recently...Missouri, Oklahoma, and now, North Carolina. I'm on active duty (Marine Corps, in case anyone hadn't figured that out based on my username and location ) and my training schedule doesn't really allow me to travel to sword shows or sword club meetings. Anyone know who my nearest point of contact would be to show this (and other) blade(s) in person, without having to box it up and ship it to someone?

 

I'll try to take some pics of the habaki when I get a chance...it's nothing special, but fits extremely well...in fact, there's less "rattle" than on many of my other swords.

 

On my part, I'm still hoping for "neglected masterpiece", whatever the odds may be of that being accurate... :lol:

[Marius]

$1400 (!) at the big show in Tulsa, OK last October. )

 

Very nice. You have done very well, IMHO (I would definitely buy it for more than $1400). If it has no fatal flaws you really should get it polished.