Nice Takayama-to Kai, good price

[Bruce Pennington]

Not my sword, nor do I have any stake in the sale. I don't even know the seller. But it's a tough market right now, and I just thought I'd post this here to get the kai into good hands.

 

It's a Ishihara Masanao, Takayama-to in upgraded kaigunto koshirae - rayskin saya, leather same'

 

On Gunboards forum: https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?1155449-F-S-Double-Signed-Navy-Sword-Price-reduced-1975

 

Some of the pics:

[ChrisW]

Very interesting kissaki on that blade! Never seen anything like it.

[Bruce Pennington]

It’s a characteristic of the Takayama design. The blades are shorter but heavy, designed to kill with one strike.

[MarcoUdin]

Wow, very nice piece but I'm still going to wait around for a family mon.

 

Bruce, How much shorter would you say they are typically? I've only seen one other before and it was around 21 inches originally thought it was a fake to be honest.

[Bruce Pennington]

My nagasa is 24" which is 2" shorter than my Mantetsu. Here's some pics of mine:

[MarcoUdin]

I was thinking of this post the other day and never thought to check if my kissaki was thick. After I took a better look it actually does get larger at the tip but my boshi doesn't look nearly that nice.

[MarcoUdin]

Forgot to mention mine is an unsigned Seki stamped Kai, 25 inches long

[waljamada]

Is that sword a handforged variety of the stainless steel kai gunto swords? Does it have a real hamon unlike some of the others?

[MarcoUdin]

Don't know if you were talking about my sword Adam, but I'm quite positive it is not stainless steel because it has a few rust spots and can see some loose grain here and there. It's my understanding that SS blades look very uniform and shiny. Definitely an acid etched hamon and most likely machined, could be a mix of hand and machine but almost positive it's just machined.

[Babu]

Stain-less steel, stains less... it is not impervious to rust or any other form of corrosion. This is a common misconception.

Regards Adam

[Stephen]

Trying to find post on forge. Its not just SS but something to the effect.

This one for sale gives more info on Takayama

 

https://www.antique-swords.com/F14-Showa-to-katana-Shinbu-Fusatsu-Takayama-To-Ujinaga.html

[ChrisW]

I've got a stainless steel Takayasu, and it shows signs of corrosion; so no, they're definitely not impervious to it.

[MarcoUdin]

I aware they can still put, I should've better explained myself. The nakago is completely dark, and most of the SS examples I've seen have only spotting on the nakago and not the entire surface. Apart from that the blade is magnetic and it's my understanding the SS used on navy blades is non-magnetic. I may be entirely wrong, just what I've read and seen. Your opinions/suggestions are more than welcome.