tbonesullivan Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Well, this is one that literally walked in the door, and it's really got one of the most amazing HAMON that I have seen. However I can't quite decide what to call it. It looks CHOUJI at some spots, but HAKO in other places. It's definitely quite striking, and takes up a large part of the JI. The tang is signed 山 城 守 藤 原 國 次 - YAMASHIRO NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITSUGU, which I found three times in the nihonto club index. I'm not sure exactly which Kunitsugu it is, and don't know if there is any definitive way to tell. The Koshirae are somewhat beat up. It has a nice Tsuba, but the wrapping on the tsuka is partly gone, and someone replaced it with some type of cheap cord. Is there anywhere the Tsuka could be sent to get re-wrapped? It also is missing the KASHIRA. The saya has also seen better days, and I don't know if there's somewhere I can send that for repair. Quote
Oshy Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Hi David, Beautiful piece, love the hamon. Would you be able to provide some basic dimensions? The tsuba has some charm, are you set on completing the koshirae or would you consider shirasaya? Regards, Quote
tbonesullivan Posted March 10, 2020 Author Report Posted March 10, 2020 On 3/10/2020 at 3:46 PM, Oshy said: Hi David, Beautiful piece, love the hamon. Would you be able to provide some basic dimensions? The tsuba has some charm, are you set on completing the koshirae or would you consider shirasaya? Regards, Sure! The blade length is 28 inches / 71.1 cm. The nakago is 8.86inches / 22.5cm long. The end of the nakago is straight across, so I think it's been cut down a bit, maybe 2 inches or so. The last 1-2mm of the Kissaki are missing, but I Think that could be fixed by a polisher due to the wide hamon. Near the tip the hamon even goes onto the Shinogi-Ji. Just trying to figure out possibilities. Not sure whether the tsuka is too far gone to be worth re-wrapping. The Menuki are very nice, oxen pulling rice carts. Quote
Oshy Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Thanks David, thought it looked longer in those first pictures. Indeed a tall hamon, unfortunately I have no place identifying but im sure others can help. Bummer about the kissaki, looks like a lot of material to move if fixed. Best of luck Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 A properly trained polisher can fix the kissaki (an untrained polisher will ruin the sword). David McDonald in Montana can do a great job of handle wrap. You will need polish, wrap, new fuchi kashira, shira-saya, and a tsunagi to hold the koshirae together. If it is determined that the signature is right and there are no serious defects on the blade, it makes sense to do the job (and do it well). Grey Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Haven't used him before, but a lot of guys recommend Fred Lohman for the tsuka re-wrap: http://www.Japanese-swords.com/ Quote
Jacques Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Mei doesn't show the roundness usually seen on Kunitsugu's signature, Quote
tbonesullivan Posted March 10, 2020 Author Report Posted March 10, 2020 On 3/10/2020 at 5:35 PM, Jacques D. said: Mei doesn't show the roundness usually seen on Kunitsugu's signature, I was comparing it to this papered example a lot. Note now the relationship between the third character and the mekugi-ana http://www.rdzxw.net/goods.php?id=3066 Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Shape suggests a Kanbun time period. Books can be very helpful with kantei and determining a sword's validity (I don't understand collecting nihonto without a library). If the mei is valid a good polish may be in order. Koshirae restoration is also dependent on quality vs cost involved. Quote
Surfson Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 I have a blade made by him - nice sword! The hamon almost looks a little like uma no ha - horse tooth pattern. https://books.google.com/books?id=5w6QBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA508&lpg=PA508&dq=uma+no+ha+hamon+sword&source=bl&ots=Z8x9S6fyyQ&sig=ACfU3U2O9H1DkVqHZwuOiQGfBOaHJ2LvXA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwisqb7ByZDoAhWQK80KHea6AS0Q6AEwGXoECA8QAQ#v=onepage&q=uma%20no%20ha%20hamon%20sword&f=false Quote
Jacques Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 On 3/10/2020 at 6:14 PM, tbonesullivan said: I was comparing it to this papered example a lot. Note now the relationship between the third character and the mekugi-ana http://www.rdzxw.net/goods.php?id=3066 Means nothing. Have a look at horizontal strokes; on your sword they are too straight, on Kunitsugu's mei they are slightly curved and the kanji Minamoto doesn't match. Another exemple here : https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/1810-1133.htm Is a kikumon engraved on your sword ? Quote
tbonesullivan Posted March 10, 2020 Author Report Posted March 10, 2020 On 3/10/2020 at 7:12 PM, Jacques D. said: Means nothing. Have a look at horizontal strokes; on your sword they are too straight, on Kunitsugu's mei they are slightly curved and the kanji Minamoto doesn't match. Another exemple here : https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/1810-1133.htm Is a kikumon engraved on your sword ? There is no Kikumon on the tang, or any trace I can see. The reverse of the tang is completely blank. There are some traces of the Yasuri-Me , which stops just above the signature, slanting in the same direction as the examples I've seen. Also, that link you posted is to a different page with the exact same sword I linked to. I have found two others: This one has straight horizontal strokes, but is not papered. I make a crappy comparison photo. http://kako.nipponto.co.jp/swords2/KT219262.htm This one has the more curved horizontal strokes, and is papered. https://www.k-sword.com/goods.php?id=872 Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted March 11, 2020 Report Posted March 11, 2020 Later than Kanbun. The hadori is interesting, but can't really tell much about the hamon. You can try playing with the lighting to get a reflection off the nioiguchi, Quote
SAS Posted March 11, 2020 Report Posted March 11, 2020 By shape alone I would say shinshinto...but i have not studied Kunitsugu mei. it reminds me of kinnoto, the emperor loyalist swords from the 1800s. 1 Quote
nektoalex Posted March 11, 2020 Report Posted March 11, 2020 On 3/11/2020 at 5:45 AM, SAS said: By shape alone I would say shinshinto...but i have not studied Kunitsugu mei. it reminds me of kinnoto, the emperor loyalist swords from the 1800s. Quite possibly http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/16612-loyalist-blade/ http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22823-i-ask-for-help-in-the-indetification-of-the-sword/ Quote
tbonesullivan Posted March 11, 2020 Author Report Posted March 11, 2020 Well, I think the one thing that is clear is that it's not clear what it is. I hopefully will be able to bring it to the NY Token Kai meeting at the end of the month, and hopefully get some people to look at it first hand. There is definitely chattoyancy in the Hamon. I managed to take some photos with my phone and a 16X lighted magnifier. The hamon is definitely not just someone going wild with hadori. Quote
Ganko Posted March 11, 2020 Report Posted March 11, 2020 The OP shows a sahikomi polish not hadori or kesho. . Quote
Stephen Posted March 12, 2020 Report Posted March 12, 2020 For the wrap Thomas Buck, David McDonald, a member in Europe cant think of name but does good work...id put Freds service last it depends on who hes using at the time. Bob Benson's service for the kissaki also Woody in Vegas. Quote
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