Lamination Or Reparation?

[raynor]

Greetings all,

 

I was looking at this shinshinto blade and discovered something appearing when the light hits it at a certain angle. 

 

The top section of the mune towards kissaki has a clear section of steel compared to the rest of the blade, you can clearly see where it starts to differ from the rest of the blade, with three thin lines of darker steel layered into the clear section gradually tapering off towards the kissaki.

 

Am I correct guessing this is part of a lamination process or possible modification to the sword? Would be interesting to know more if anyone has any information to share.

 

The sword is a "last man out of the gate" so to speak, as it is signed early 1868, mere months before the Meiji restoration.

[Katsujinken]

Looks like migaki nagashi to me.

 

More here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/3645-scribbling-on-shinogi-ji-togishi/?do=findComment&comment=31520

[ROKUJURO]

Omar,

it is indeed MIGAKI NAGASHI, but the effect changes as soon as the MIGAKI-BO is working on the hardened steel of the BOSHI turn-back. This is why the lines are no longer visible near the tip of the blade. 

This special TOGI process starts with roughening the surface of the MUNE with the same stone that is used for the KESHO (HADORI). The MIGAKI steel then leaves mirror-like traces on the matted surface.

[raynor]

So that is what it is. Clever way to sign the polish!

 

Thank you both.

[vajo]

I would say it looks perfect made. Beautifull Kissaki.

[Blazeaglory]

Would it be fair to say its a sign of a polisher who knows what they're doing? I usually see this on blades with a good polish

[ROKUJURO]

Dwain,

i think it doesn't tell anything about the quality of a polish, but it is often done by traditionally trained polishers. 

[Brian]

Professional Japanese-trained polishers almost always do it. Same as under the habaki. Kinda like a signature, taught by the schools of polishing.
No...you can't really trace the polisher by his marks, but they can assist.
It is generally (with the usual exceptions) a sign of a decent polish.

[Blazeaglory]

Professional Japanese-trained polishers almost always do it. Same as under the habaki. Kinda like a signature, taught by the schools of polishing.

No...you can't really trace the polisher by his marks, but they can assist.

It is generally (with the usual exceptions) a sign of a decent polish.

True. I have seen the same on many Nihonto but some are better than others.

[raynor]

There is indeed similar marks under the habaki. Sending the blade to shinsa come March, should be interesting!

[nagamaki - Franco]

No...you can't really trace the polisher by his marks, but they can assist.

 

Twice I've had polishers tell me that they recognized the individual's polisher marks, this on 2 different swords polished in more recent times. Which means it is possible. However, in general, they're an indication of which polishing school (discipline) the polisher is trained. I used to know, but this memory has faded, 9 or 11 bars is Honami (???). Also, I seem to recall reading an article about these marks.

[raynor]

Memory is a little foggy now in the Christmas prep haze, but the blade in question here has three lines on the right side and two on the left side of mune.

 

Under habaki there is a lot, nine or even eleven sounds about right.

 

If anyone wishes to guess or such I can put up photos past the holidays, I am not sure who did the polish but I have an idea who it might have been.

[Blazeaglory]

Memory is a little foggy now in the Christmas prep haze, but the blade in question here has three lines on the right side and two on the left side of mune.

 

Under habaki there is a lot, nine or even eleven sounds about right.

 

If anyone wishes to guess or such I can put up photos past the holidays, I am not sure who did the polish but I have an idea who it might have been.

On mine there appears to be 12.

 

This particular sword looks to be from middle to late Muromachi. What's cool is the rust that has formed in the spot showing the polish to be fairly old.

 

I'm always looking for really good polishing marks to compare so I'm looking forward to more of your pics!

[grnamin]

I was wondering was those lines were...

[Jean]

The polisher signature

[grnamin]

Very cool! Lots to decode on nihonto.

Curious question...Does the next togishi overwrite the last one's marks with their own?

[Blazeaglory]

Very cool! Lots to decode on nihonto.

Curious question...Does the next togishi overwrite the last one's marks with their own?

I always wondered that as well.

 

I also thought that maybe when the marks were worn down or not visible any longer, that it was time for a new polish?

 

For some weird reason these marks are really interesting to me! Lol

[raynor]

Better late then never..

 

Secrets under habaki and other side of mune near kissaki.

[SAS]

Is it just me, or does it look like the blade has another partially obscured mei below the marks of the  migaki bo?

[ROKUJURO]

Steve,

in which picture please?

[Blazeaglory]

Better late then never..

 

Secrets under habaki and other side of mune near kissaki.

 I like how the Boshi/turnback really stands out on this one. Its neat to see the different hardness of iron on Kissaki/Mune where the polisher marks end.

 

I guess the whole idea of burnishing is interesting.

[SAS]

right below the polisher's burnishing lines....

[raynor]

I see that too, but does not make much sense nor look like proper kanji?

[Blazeaglory]

Looks like someone wrote with pencil maybe "32" (turn sideways)

[Ted Tenold]

Steve,

 

To me it looks like a mei that was previously closed up, and filed over.  The evidence of such a procedure is certainly easier to see on a new sword since there's no patina cover over the "bruising" or artifacts of a previous mei.  Perhaps, (and this is just a speculative guess)  the smith made a couple blades for a client and the order or circumstances changed so it was altered to accomodate selling it.  All newly made swords in Japan must be signed, so it could not be made or turned into a mumei sword (aka:  Kagemono) like in the old days. 

 

Just my thoughts.

[Brian]

..or the name of the person who ordered it, and this was removed once it was sold, or he cancelled the order and his name was removed. Agree with Ted, kanji removed.