slavia631 Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 Hi, I picked up a signed katana blade yesterday at the Louisville show, out of polished and lightly rusted all over (black rust) for $200. With help from Mr. Moriyama, I was able to find out that the me reads: "Oki no kuni ju Okimitsu saku" made in: "Showa era, 18th year, 10th month" (1943). My blade looks almost exactly like this one in terms of sugata, signature, hamon, etc. besides the two-month age difference and, of course, the condition: http://www.nihontoantiques.com/g83.htm I am wondering if anybody can give me any further information about my blade and this smith. Is he the same entity as Hara Okimitsu I, the Jo Saku WWII era smith? Furthermore, do you think it is worth sending for a polish, based on it's merit? (I am sorry I do not have photos, but I hope to post some shortly.) Quote
slavia631 Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Posted September 28, 2008 Here are photos of the mei: (more to come) Quote
Brian Posted September 29, 2008 Report Posted September 29, 2008 Yep, if you only paid $200, and it is a nice Gendaito, then it might be worth spending the money on. This depends on the condition and any flaws. If it were mine, I would get it to a togishi for a window and opinion on whether it will be economically restorable. If in the USA, how about asking Jon Bowhay if he does this and can give you an opinion? Brian Quote
Ted Tenold Posted September 29, 2008 Report Posted September 29, 2008 All sound advice. It would be prudent to pursue it further. Contact Mr. Bowhay through the PM function of this board and ask him if he'd have a look at it. Gendaito were overlooked for a long time, and many are fantastic works. The fact that you might have a nice example and acquired it a price that could enable you to have it properly restored is all the better. Most times, folks buy into pieces that need restoration at a price that doesn't leave room to spend the money to have the polish done, so they end up going without. Good luck and keep us informed of what happens! Quote
slavia631 Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Posted September 29, 2008 Following are some more photos of the blade itself: what first attracted me to the blade was the deep sori. The only noticeable chips in the ha occur in the kissaki, and even here they are very small. the shinogi-ji seems to be okay. Notice traces of the hamon in the lower-left. The entire hamon can be seen under certain lighting conditions, but I have not been able to capture that on camera. The existing hamon looks almost exactly like the Okimitsu blade in my above post. The nagako. Quote
slavia631 Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Posted September 29, 2008 This up-close photo shows the worst of the blade's surface damage. This--in varying degrees--is representative of the blade's all-over condition. Judging from the photos, are there any additional or new thoughts/opinions about this piece? thanks, Quote
Ed Harbulak Posted September 29, 2008 Report Posted September 29, 2008 The above attachement is from Gendai Toko Meikan and gives information about Okimitsu II, son of Okimitsu I. I have a star stamped blade by Okimitsu I and he was indeed a fine gendai sword smith. He learned to forge swords from Murakami Masatada who was a student of Kajiyama Yasutoku, one of the Yasukuni shrine smiths. To the best of my knowledge, the first generation Okimitsu used kiri yasurime with sujikai yasuri on the mune and ha edge. From the photos in Gendai Toko Meikan, it appears his son, Okimitsu II, used keso style yasuri. His son did help his father with sword forging during WWII and perhaps also made blades during that time period though he would have been a teen ager at the time if I'm not mistaken. Your $200 sword should look great in full polish and well worth the effort. Ed Harbualk Quote
huntershooter Posted September 29, 2008 Report Posted September 29, 2008 Difficult to tell how deep the pitting is from photos. Were the blade mine, I'd send it to Chris Osborne for his assessment and to polish a window. Chris is an unrecognized talent that has done good work for me. Personally, I love to visualize the potential within an abused/neglected blade. It's like a treasure hunt! Quote
slavia631 Posted October 1, 2008 Author Report Posted October 1, 2008 Chris Osborne has contacted me regarding the blade, and I will be sending it to him for evaluation soon. It is likely that I will eventually be sending it to him for a restoration polish. Quote
slavia631 Posted October 4, 2008 Author Report Posted October 4, 2008 Blade is on it's way to Mr .Osborne! Quote
slavia631 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Posted November 18, 2008 Blade is in queue with Mr. Osborne! Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted November 18, 2008 Report Posted November 18, 2008 slavia631 said: This up-close photo shows the worst of the blade's surface damage. This--in varying degrees--is representative of the blade's all-over condition. Judging from the photos, are there any additional or new thoughts/opinions about this piece? thanks, This sword demonstrates symptoms of being exposed to heat imo. Let's hope not. Quote
slavia631 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Posted November 18, 2008 Chris seems to think it's fine. It has a choji hamon that is visible to varying degrees along the entire blade. Only time will tell. Quote
slavia631 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Posted February 18, 2010 Hi everybody, it's been a while. Just an update on this piece: It is still in queue with Chris Osborne, and he has informed me that it is virtually next in line. I am getting very excited! Quote
Stephen Posted June 11, 2010 Report Posted June 11, 2010 doing a search for Chris O i rememberd this blade is it done? love to see pix. Quote
Chris Osborne Posted June 14, 2010 Report Posted June 14, 2010 Hi Stephen. Unfortunately I haven't gotten to this blade yet. My father's health took a turn for the worse about 8 months back which ultimately led to his passing three weeks ago. He had Parkinson's and required around the clock care. Needless to say I've gotten very behind on my polishing work as a consequence. Things are looking up however and I'm beginning to get back into a normal routine. Hopefully Slavia will have some pics to show in the next couple of months. Chris Quote
Stephen Posted June 15, 2010 Report Posted June 15, 2010 Chris Sorry to hear of his passing, may he reat easy now with out pain. Quote
slavia631 Posted September 22, 2010 Author Report Posted September 22, 2010 Looking forward to it, Chris! Andrew G. Quote
Lindus Posted July 27, 2012 Report Posted July 27, 2012 Some years ago I had a sword by Okimitsu {From OKI Island?}, it was a stonkingly well made blade and broke me old heart that just above the kissaki was a large rust lump, when removed it had eaten right through up into the Ji....the rest of the blade was in good order. Was in those days{Pre web} unable to find much about the smith but it was obvious even to a relative new comer to Nihonto that it was far superior to many Gendaito I had seen. Well done,another saved. Quote
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