O-Midare Posted February 12, 2019 Report Posted February 12, 2019 Hello, was looking for an opinion on this Wakizashi, nagasa 20 11/16 inch's. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I think I have narrowed it down to the Kozori school. Signed Bishu Osafune Norimitsu which I know is indicative of Kazu-uchi mono, so can we say this Norimitsu is kazu-uchi mono? Thank you for any help. Dwayne R 3 Quote
Ray Singer Posted February 12, 2019 Report Posted February 12, 2019 Not all Sue-Bizen which are sighed Bishu are kazuuchimono. Yours looks like a well made sword. It would not fall into the kazuuchimono category. 4 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 12, 2019 Author Report Posted February 12, 2019 Thank you very much Ray, that is what I was thinking, but wasn't sure. Quote
O-Midare Posted February 12, 2019 Author Report Posted February 12, 2019 I haven't been able to find much detailed information on the Kozori Norimitsu line, I'm thinking one of the later generations maybe 6 or 8th generation but can't seem to pinpoint it. Quote
Ray Singer Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 This is the so-called Ho Norimitsu line. http://www.sho-shin.com/sue3.htm 1 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Posted February 13, 2019 Thank You for the help Ray. Very Much appreciated. 1 Quote
lonely panet Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 The jssus did a great 2 part series on sue Kyoto swords. A great read and Malcom cox did a very interesting essay on sue Bizen kiyomitsu if your interested. I printed my off the net. If you need the link I can find it 1 Quote
Lingonberry Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 Even at a glance one can see that wakizashi is more than kazuuchi mono. I had the (mis)fortune of handling one for a gunstore once. Wasn't a pretty sight... not like your wakizashi. Poor thing had a massive fukure...https://imgur.com/KKfcxlG 1 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Posted February 13, 2019 Thank you for your help Adam and Hamfish, it is greatly appreciated. Hamfish I would be interested in the article it sounds like an interesting read. Thank You again guys. Quote
Jacques Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 Impossible to say if it is kazu-uchi mono or not without having it in hands (for someone with enough knowledge).... 1 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Posted February 13, 2019 Thank you Jacques D., On Feb 20, The Japanese Canadian Cultural Center is holding their Token Kai, so I will bring it there for more insight. Just found out that they have a token kai at a lecture put on by a Japanese trained Swordsmith Pierre Nadeau from Quebec. It was a very good little lecture. Quote
lonely panet Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 http://www.users.on.net/~coxm/to-ken%20society.pdf also a short and interesting essay from Markus Sesko, out lining changes in workmanship. kozori schools mentioned https://markussesko.com/2013/03/13/a-brief-outline-of-the-changes-in-workmanship-of-the-later-bizen-tradition/ 1 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Posted February 13, 2019 Thank You Hamfish, I will give it a read. Quote
vajo Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 From my rookie point of view. This is a very nice sword. I see a lot of activity. It has a nice length as an o-wakizashi and the shape is very good. Please tell me what is wrong with that nice sword? Sometimes the board makes me crazy lol. 2 Quote
Ray Singer Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 There's nothing to my eyes that would indicate a kazuuchi mono, and I doubt that my assessment would change if seen in-hand. Sue-Bizen kazuuchi mono typically looks like these examples. Poorly forged, with loose and coarse jihada. A hamon that tends to be diffuse, poorly defined with inconsistent nioi-guchi and large areas of shimiru. http://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2010/10289-2.jpg http://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2015/15589-4.jpg 3 Quote
Lingonberry Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 Ray, are those the sort of things one finds in the "suitable for iai" sections on Aoi or other sites? Quote
Ray Singer Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 Tsuruta-san puts these pieces in the normal areas of his site (katana, wakizashi, tanto), but seems to offer his honest assessment of whether he feels the sword is a kazuuchi mono. https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-bishu-osafune-kiyomitsueiroku-6-nen-2-gatsu-hi/ On 2/13/2019 at 9:02 PM, Lingonberry said: Ray, are those the sort of things one finds in the "suitable for iai" sections on Aoi or other sites? 1 Quote
TheGermanBastard Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 On 2/13/2019 at 12:09 PM, Jacques D. said: Impossible to say if it is kazu-uchi mono or not without having it in hands (for someone with enough knowledge).... Nonsense. This is an excellent sword. If you can't tell this at 1st sight you need new glasses. Congrats on this sword. Prisitine polsih, too. 1 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Posted February 13, 2019 Thank you Nihonto collector, i fell in love with it, but it was the price that really drew me in, paid 1100 cnd. just couldn't pass it up. It came with a nice Shira saya and koshirae saya. Quote
TheGermanBastard Posted February 13, 2019 Report Posted February 13, 2019 Just the polish is worth more than you paid. I can not say if the sword is Gimei or Shoshin but the workmanship is very nice and the pilish is very good, too. This grade of polish would cost around 100USD / inch with most polishers. If the blade came out of Japan without papers then it is likely Gimei. Without discussing the Mei I can say that you got a nice quality piece at an abslute bargain price! there is much too look at enjoy! I hoep you will appreciate the swords for a long time. Quote
O-Midare Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Posted February 13, 2019 Thank Nihonto Collector, I definitely will be enjoying for a long time. This is how I have The Wakizashi displayed, it came with both saya's. 1 Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Dwayne, please set up your signature to show at least your first name on ALL of your posts, per Brian's rules. You've done a good job of displaying your new blade, but I hope you realize that the shirasaya is the preferred way to store a blade, rather than in koshirae. Correctly-made shirasaya are intended to keep out moisture, which will prevent your blade from rusting. Koshirae were intended for battle, not storage. 2 Quote
Jacques Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 On 2/13/2019 at 9:43 PM, NihontoCollector said: Nonsense. This is an excellent sword. If you can't tell this at 1st sight you need new glasses. Congrats on this sword. Prisitine polsih, too. Saying it is an excellent sword based on few pictures is to my eyes nonsense, I'm experienced enough to say it's really difficult to distinguish an art sword from a good practical weapon. It's why i never bought and will never buy a sword without having it in hands even if it's juyo... Last words on this topic. 1 Quote
vajo Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Jacques the term art sword itself is nonsense. It was created to rescue the swordmaking after loosing the war. Japanese edged weapons are first weapons and art objects as a second. The Term art swords is for collectors who dont want to be a weapon collector. Thats my thoughts ???? 3 Quote
O-Midare Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Hello Ken, my apologies for the signature. Yes I have the Nihonto in the shirasaya and the Tsunagi in the koshirae. Dwayne R Quote
O-Midare Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Thank You Jean L. for your assistance.???? Dwayne R. 1 Quote
Alex A Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Looks a decent made sword with well finished nakago, not something i would associate with junky kazu-uchi mono. kazu-uchi mono seems to be one of those "bracket" subjects that folk try and fit everything into. At that time, smiths were blasting out all levels of swords, some obviously mass produced, and some "good" but suppose they could still be described as mass produced. For the best of the bunch, look for longer mei, although not always the case. I like to see bo-hi etc, and date on sue Bizen. Sometimes you see really good bizen with scruffy mei. Judge the sword on its own merits. 2 Quote
vajo Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 I have a very nice Bizen Sword from Alex. I'm allways happy to enjoy it. 2 Quote
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