Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Hi is this the right place to post some pictures of a blade I've bought? I want to know more about it having visually no knowledge of jap swords, but I collect blades from other regions. Quote
Geraint Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Hi Steff. Yes, this is the place alright. If it is a bare blade then an overall picture as well as details of the point area and the nakago, (tang) will be useful. If in mounts then we will start with that. Looking forward to seeing it. All the best. Quote
Austus Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Welcome, Steffieee. The first thing you might want to do is read the Forum Posting Guidelines thread. Then bring it on! Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 Not sure how much can be ascertained about the blade from photos but here are a few. As well as any information about the blade, I'd like to know if there is anything I can do to clean up the blade, it has some staining from light corrosion, nothing too bad, the edge with some chips which I don't actually mind.I was told it was a no nonsense fighting blade which I find appealing but I'd like to learn to appreciate its characteristics more. I'm a collector of arms and armour generally and would like to know more about early Japanese blades Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Could you perhaps get bit more focused pictures of the sword as well as numerical data like length of blade from start of tang to the tip, width of blade near the tang and at the tip, curvature between the tip and start of tang? Do not do any cleaning by yourself. Looks like very interesting tachi, signature seems to be 備州長 Bishū Osa (rest is unreadable to me) and I'd assume it would be Bishū Osafune (insert smith here) by looking at the length of signature I am seeing. Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Please read http://www.nbthk-ab.org/swordcare.pdf to understand why you should do nothing at all to your very-interesting blade, other than a light coat of oil on everything except the nakago (handle). 1 Quote
Brian Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Hmmm....Signed tachi mei?Bishu Osafune....?I would take care of this one...it looks promising. Nice hi. Get some oil on it, and wipe a few times. Keep it oiled for now...nothing abrasive at all on it.Length of blade from tip to the notch at the back?Look at that sugata. I'm intrigued. 1 Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 It's 63 cms from tip to beginning of tang along the back so pretty short overall. 8 mm wide at the same point beginning of tang habaki area and about 5mm at the tip level with the point ridge...I think those are measured in the right places Quote
SAS Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 1400-1500s Bizen signed tachi style with partial mei, very interesting! Uchigatana perhaps, at 63 cm nagasa. Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 I was actually told it was 1200's when I bought it... Quote
SAS Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Don't consider mine the expert opinion; others here may have a better or different opinion. The defining opinion is that of the sword authenticating organizations after shinsa. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 On 11/21/2019 at 6:48 PM, Steffieeee said: It's 63 cms from tip to beginning of tang along the back so pretty short overall. 8 mm wide at the same point beginning of tang habaki area and about 5mm at the tip level with the point ridge... So it is 8 mm thick at MUNE MACHI which is a healthy thickness. The width could be interesting, too. The position of the MEI implies that it is very probably not shortened. Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 Mei means the signature is that right? Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 From what I can understand the hamon is very straight and uninteresting? Is that true or am I missing things about the blade that are noteworthy. Not having really looked at Japanese blades much before it's hard to know what to look for apart from the basic measurements etc. I'm assuming it's a good quality piece from the age and style but later blades seem to have more flamboyant hamons etc? Quote
Ray Singer Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 To restate what is mentioned above, don't do anything to clean up on your own. This should be looked at by a licensed togishi. This is a interesting sword. Can you please take a clear, vertical photo of the mei (no angles and in focus)? It looks like the mei is intact enough to be read, certainly in-hand but probably also with a good photo. Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 I'll give it my best shot. My phone isn't the greatest... Quote
16k Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 I would go with Steve’s opinion given the length and sugata, but with the same caveat as him. 1 Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 Here are a couple more attempts.I thought raking light might be the way. Another question, are the various peg holes signs of different handles throughout its life? Never actually seen a handle with a peg at the far end... Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 I'm not sure I want to get flour allover it, I'll try another shot in daylight Quote
Ray Singer Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 I think it is close to Mitsuhisa. He was a Nanbokucho Bizen smith. 備州長船光久 - Bishū Osafune Mitsuhisa. Please stand by. Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 Could it be sadahisa? Quote
Ray Singer Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 I am not sure, the second to last kanji is pretty deteriorated. I was going to suggest 忠久 or 次久 as fallback options. Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 I was told it was a sadahisa sword when I bought it late Kamakura. I know there's also a sadahisa in the 15thc as well as two in the 13thc. But I have no idea more than that could be incorrect. 13-15thc is good enough for me. Would be nice to get it really nailed down. Would the habaki be an original fitting or something done later to fit the blade? It's Gilt copper Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 While it is a guessing game I think I am seeing lower portion of the second last kanji as 儿 , which would make me guess Mitsuhisa 光久 or Motohisa 元久 and sword being potentially late Nanbokuchō - early Muromachi. I thought it was longer by looking at the pictures and estimating, it is a small and slender sword then, must be very light in hand? Quote
16k Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Somehow, I doubt it is Kamakura period... Quote
Steffieeee Posted November 21, 2019 Author Report Posted November 21, 2019 Yes pretty light but I've nothing really to compare it with. Compared to other Indian and Islamic swords I have it's light and one handed use.. total blade length from point to end of tang is 79.5cms On 11/21/2019 at 8:24 PM, Jussi Ekholm said: While it is a guessing game I think I am seeing lower portion of the second last kanji as 儿 , which would make me guess Mitsuhisa 光久 or Motohisa 元久 and sword being potentially late Nanbokuchō - early Muromachi. I thought it was longer by looking at the pictures and estimating, it is a small and slender sword then, must be very light in hand? Quote
16k Posted November 21, 2019 Report Posted November 21, 2019 Once again, one handed suggests Muromachi. Quote
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