katanako Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 I have not been able to find much information concerning katakiri-ba blades. Compared to traditional blades, they look about as interesting as hocho kitchen knives with their flat blades. Why did some sword makers much such flat blades? Was it easier to make, to be massed produced for armies? Did it entail as much folding as traditional blades? Are they rare? Thank you very much! Quote
John A Stuart Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 I saw a real masterpiece in the Bizen exhibition this spring. The smith was reknowned for this style in fact having been nicknamed for this style. John Quote
Brian Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 Hi, Please don't forget to sign all posts with a first name and initial. It you are refering to katakiri-ha zukuri blades, then they were definitely not made that way because they are easier to forge, and weren't common to arm soldiers with either. In fact I expect they are special order blades or made by certain smiths as better than average blades. Quite unusual, although not rare. Here is a nice example: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/Uda.html Usually seen on tanto, although I have seen wakizashi. Haven't seen katana, but no doubt they exist. Brian Quote
Grey Doffin Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 Brian, The nice example you show us is a katana presently, and it used to be longer still. Grey Quote
Brian Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 That'll teach me to try and multitask and pay attention while typing. Thanks Grey. I like this style too, but it usually comes at a premium. Brian Quote
katanako Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Posted September 28, 2008 Thank you all for your kind responses! This website is great! KATANAKO Quote
Guido Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 Brian said: Please don't forget to sign all posts with a first name and initial. katanako said: KATANAKO Hmmm, I somehow don't think that's what Brian meant ... Btw - and since you stated your full name in an earlier thread - are you by any chance the WWII Japanese aviation author? Quote
katanako Posted October 9, 2008 Author Report Posted October 9, 2008 Yes, I have written several WWII aviation books dealing with Japanese aces and war in the Pacific, the giant I-400 submarine with two co-authors, and the Osprey series of books! Thanks for asking! KATANAKO (HENRY SAKAIDA) Quote
nihonto1001 Posted October 13, 2008 Report Posted October 13, 2008 Here is the katakiriha Sadamune, pictured here with really nice jutetsu pieces +. http://www.jp-sword.com/files/masamune/masamune.html I have a Kaifu school piece that is shobu-zukuri on one side and katakiriha-zukuri on the other. I cannot even find that sugata type in a book. It seems very unique and thats why I like it. Maybe the katakiriha-zukuri shape makes for a stronger edge??? Probably easier to sharpen too. Jon Quote
Bazza Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 nihonto1001 said: Here is the katakiriha Sadamune, pictured here with really nice jutetsu pieces +.http://www.jp-sword.com/files/masamune/masamune.html I have a Kaifu school piece that is shobu-zukuri on one side and katakiriha-zukuri on the other. I cannot even find that sugata type in a book. It seems very unique and thats why I like it. Maybe the katakiriha-zukuri shape makes for a stronger edge??? Probably easier to sharpen too. Jon Having just introduced myself and begun trawling this vast and wondrous website, it's time to offer something back and this KIRIHA thread offers an opportunity. Now, I'm going to embed some links that should give thumbnails of my Echizen Shimosaka Kiriha katana (thinking here of download limited dialup connections) and also give ImageShack links to higher rez images. I pray I don't stuffup. First the thumbnails, if I read ImageShack correctly and NMB is a FORUM and not a WEBSITE: My understanding is that the above are thumbnails. If by misunderstanding they are full rez links I'd be grateful if someone could tell me how to do it properly, aside from downsizing my own images myself. Now here are the hi-rez direct links that shouldn't pop a picture in here: http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/6382 ... roppu1.jpg http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/3233 ... ropcv2.jpg http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/433/ ... ropia4.jpg http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/3571 ... e40hq8.jpg Many people have thought this sword is suriage mumei, but I believe it was made "as is" to be a copy of a Sadamune around Keichou era. Certainly it is similar to the KIRIHA SADAMUNE in "nihonto1001"s link above, but I have heard that there is an o-suriage mumei sword called the ATAKI SADAMUNE, but I have never been able to find an image of it. I had this sword for 25 years before I was game enough to get it polished. In the wrong hands it would have been a disaster, such as some polishes that can be seen from time-to-time here... As I got it was bent, rusted and very slightly chipped. It came with a saya, habaki and tsuka, everything else being stripped and lost including kozuka and kogai. It had been in a leather covered saya as the gunto-style hanger was still on the saya. It has a mukansa level sashikomi polish and an NBTHK Hozon paper. OK - let's see if this flies. Regards, Barry Thomas (Melbourne, Australia) Quote
Brian Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 Barry, Almost... :-) Redid and fixed the links. When using imageshack, use the first link marked "Hotlink for forums (1)" The syntax is: Check out the How-To section for more instructions on uploading pics. Thanks for the info, that is a stunning and unusual katana! It went to war? Brian Quote
Bazza Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 Brian, Thanks mate. It appears I do not need to include direct links because the thumbnails link to the hi-rez images... Now I know what I am doing I'll see what else I can contribute. Best regards, Barry Thomas. Quote
Bazza Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 Oh, sorry, yes, it went to war. I got it from the brother of the returned vet (deceased) who said they still had four trunks full of his brother's souvenirs... I shoulda followed up!!! Barry Thomas. Quote
Jean Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 Hi Brian, When clicking on the link, the only thing I get is : "403 - Forbidden" Quote
Brian Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 That's odd..was working fine earlier. I get that too now. Must be an Imageshack thing. Barry, you may want to try http://photobucket.com/ or http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/ and upload the large pics there. Email me the links and I'll fix them. Brian Quote
Guido Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 I saw the thumbnails just fine a couple of minutes ago, but now there are only little red crosses ... Barry, working from memory (since the pics are gone) I don't think your blade is a 1:1 copy (Utsushimono) of the Kiriha Sadamune (see attached scan). Quote
Bazza Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 OH DEAR - I have done something incredibly stupid. I deleted the images from ImageShack. Can't image why, must have been a Southern Hemisphere mind warp - I won't even attempt to explain what went on in my mind - BUT - here they are again. Of course the links are new because I've had to upload them again. My apologies to all who dare venture here... Barry Thomas. Quote
Stephen Posted December 28, 2008 Report Posted December 28, 2008 Barry i think i see a problem with the blade, better send it to Des Moines for a closer look for lets say six months! LOL vvn my friend. Quote
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