Surfson Posted September 15, 2018 Report Posted September 15, 2018 I thought I would post a few photos of a comparison of a seventh generation Ishido Korekazu that I bought at Aoi a year ago or so and a similar sword on the site right now (which happens to be juyo). I am astounded about the uniformity of production, appearance, signature, date etc. To imagine pounding a sword out with hammers and ending up with two items so similar is mind boggling. They were made a year or two apart. The Aoi blade is juyo and mine is in shinsa right now (fingers still crossed!). I have done my best to put together photos of various elements for the comparison. They are nearly the same length but mine is much wider. (I think that there is an error in the width near the kissaki in the current listing). I look forward to hearing any comments you might have. One thing that I note is that the order number starts with 17 with mine but starts with 15 with the one listed now. I seem to recall an NMB member stating that the first two numbers are the year. Does that mean that the one listed now has been at Aoi since 2015? Cheers, Bob 2 Quote
Guest Rayhan Posted September 15, 2018 Report Posted September 15, 2018 Beautiful Sword Robert! Good luck in Shinsa! Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted September 15, 2018 Report Posted September 15, 2018 Good luck for the shinsa, yours seems to be a good sword. I am quite clueless about these new swords and their rankings but the smith is remarkable for the period I think. The Jūyō sword is actually slightly wider than yours in profile having less profile taper, going from 3,1 cm to 2,4 cm. You can see correct data on their Japanese page: https://www.aoijapan.jp/%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E7%9F%B3%E5%A0%82%E9%81%8B%E5%AF%BF%E6%98%AF%E4%B8%80-%E6%96%87%E4%B9%85%E4%BA%8C%E5%B9%B4%E5%85%AB%E6%9C%88%E6%97%A5%E7%AC%AC49%E5%9B%9E%E9%87%8D%E8%A6%81%E5%88%80%E5%89%A3/ I think Aoi sells lots of commission items as you can often see swords pop up for sale that have been previously sold by them. They have all the info ready so they often use the same info texts. I mined interesting stuff (in my view) from Aoi website and came to conclusion that their item number dates to the first time the item appeared in their inventory. Some items have gone through them at least 3 times over the last 10 - 15 years. So in this case I believe the Jūyō Korekazu sword was first in their inventory in the very late 2015. And you can see in the current item listing that it came to sale again 24.8.2018. 1 Quote
Surfson Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Posted September 15, 2018 That is a very reasonable explanation Jussi! What never ceases to amaze me is the uniformity that the great smiths had in their production. When we compare signatures stroke by stroke, it illustrates how precise they are. Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted September 15, 2018 Report Posted September 15, 2018 I remember your sword very well Robert. I have high Hope's for the shinsa result. Just my opinion,but the one you bought has better, more active hada work and the hataraki are more varied. Quote
Surfson Posted September 16, 2018 Author Report Posted September 16, 2018 However it turns out, I would sure like to see it in hand Jeremiah! I think you influenced me on that one just like the Naotane.... 1 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted September 16, 2018 Report Posted September 16, 2018 On 9/16/2018 at 12:26 AM, Surfson said: However it turns out, I would sure like to see it in hand Jeremiah! I think you influenced me on that one just like the Naotane.... Glad I am a bad influence! Maybe someday you will want to move that Naotane waki, as I have the perfect katana to pair it with Quote
BIG Posted September 16, 2018 Report Posted September 16, 2018 Naotane waki..we want to see!! Best Quote
Surfson Posted September 16, 2018 Author Report Posted September 16, 2018 Hi Big. This is the thread that triggered me to buy it. No regrets at all. The dimensions are deceiving - it looks like a skinny short wak until you see the size of it. Also, it has a cutting test that was overlooked and a carving in the tang. Cheers, bob http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as16144-脇差：彫三日月-大慶直胤-花押乳割土壇拂吉田文平-文化五年中秋上旬-wakizashi-hori-mikaduki-taikei-naotane-kao 2 Quote
Surfson Posted September 16, 2018 Author Report Posted September 16, 2018 The cutting test is translated chichiwara dotan barai. Here is a image from Morita San in a past thread. 1 Quote
BIG Posted September 16, 2018 Report Posted September 16, 2018 Thanks Bob, understand you was happy to buy.. Best 1 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted September 17, 2018 Report Posted September 17, 2018 On 9/16/2018 at 3:24 PM, BIG said: Thanks Bob, understand you was happy to buy.. Best I wasn't happy 1 Quote
Surfson Posted September 17, 2018 Author Report Posted September 17, 2018 Many a true word is said in jest Jeremiah! 1 Quote
Greg F Posted September 17, 2018 Report Posted September 17, 2018 Gday Robert if its not a hassle I would love to see some pics if you take any more, that hada is interestinv. Cheers. Greg Quote
Surfson Posted September 17, 2018 Author Report Posted September 17, 2018 I will try my best once it is back from shinsa Greg. I do wonder how the Aoi photos were taken. If they use a flat bed, it may emphasize the hada more than one sees in person. I am not great at taking hada photos but it is time I learned. b 1 Quote
Greg F Posted September 18, 2018 Report Posted September 18, 2018 Your right Aoi blade pics make the hada stand out much better than when in hand. Thanks. Greg Quote
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