Yama Arashi Posted October 23, 2020 Report Posted October 23, 2020 As a follow-up to my mei/gimei post in regard to a blade signed Minamoto Masao. These arrived from Japan yesterday - a shinsakuto daisho set by the swordsmith Iyo Matsuyama Ju Seiken, from 1988. Fantastically healthy and stout blades. Even with fairly deep bo-hi, the katana is 900gr, with a 29 inch nagasa, and the waki is 620gr, with a 20.7 inch nagasa. Beautiful shape and hamon with great nie activity. I think the katana has perhaps been used for tameshigiri before, although if so, it has since been polished. There appeared to be a slight bend/warp down the spine, but it was pressed/bent back out easily enough, although it still needs a little more work. No wrinkles on the surface or any damage, and quite sharp. I've also acquired some antique fuchi-kashira signed Soten, and menuki. I was intending to use them for the aforementioned "Masao" blade, but I think they will be too small. The hamachi is 3.2cm, but the fuchi is not quite 38mm on the outside diameter/length. 2 Quote
PietroParis Posted October 23, 2020 Report Posted October 23, 2020 There seems to be an outbreak of valuable blades laid bare on a hard surface (see also this thread), and nobody says anything... P.S. my apologies, on a closer look I realize that the blade is held above the surface (I see the shadow now) 1 1 Quote
tokashikibob Posted October 26, 2020 Report Posted October 26, 2020 Nice Soten type fittings and a nice looking tsuba Ryo 1 Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted October 26, 2020 Report Posted October 26, 2020 Follow http://www.nbthk-ab.org/swordcare.pdf for details on how to care for your blade. Quote
16k Posted October 27, 2020 Report Posted October 27, 2020 That is a really splendid Daisho you have here, congrats! 1 Quote
Fuuten Posted October 30, 2020 Report Posted October 30, 2020 Everything posted seems to be thought out and of good or great quality. I like the tsuba. Are these you're first swords? If so great start🙏 It is a pain though when you're set on a fuchi & kashira and they don't end up fitting the blade. I've had the same problem but opting to adjust the set was something I couldn't bear. Have you decided how to proceed? 1 Quote
Yama Arashi Posted November 4, 2020 Author Report Posted November 4, 2020 Thank you for the replies and compliments. On 10/30/2020 at 8:40 AM, Fuuten said: Everything posted seems to be thought out and of good or great quality. I like the tsuba. Are these you're first swords? If so great start🙏 It is a pain though when you're set on a fuchi & kashira and they don't end up fitting the blade. I've had the same problem but opting to adjust the set was something I couldn't bear. Have you decided how to proceed? Thank you, these are my first privately owned Japanese swords. I have handled and cut with quite a few fantastic blades, but never my own. Assuming the tsuka maker thinks the aforementioned fuchi-kashira and tsuba are ok, I may go with those anyway, plus they'll go with the habaki nicely. I'm constantly vacillating, and I had intended to do some light tameshigiri with the "Masao", but at this point I don't think I will. Irrespective of whether or not it is gimei, it's a fantastically crafted blade with a great polish. (Attached further below.) So hopefully the antiques will be large enough. They're actually quite comparable in the width measurement to some larger modern sets that I also have. (A bamboo themed set from Fred Lohman, and a yasurime style set from seido shop, although these sets are blackened and/or silver, so I would have a new habaki made to match.) I also have a local knifemaker working up a modern steel blade from 80CrV2, so I'm still up in the air on whether or not I may use the katana from this daisho set to cut tatami. If the mono-steel sword works out, that may be solely relegated to heavy cutting with tatami and bamboo. Here's some garbage quality VHS footage of myself demonstrating tameshigiri with a Yasuhiro Kobayashi blade in the late 90's. https://streamable.com/u0x2fr https://streamable.com/va5fc4 1 1 Quote
Fuuten Posted November 7, 2020 Report Posted November 7, 2020 Having near zero knowledge of the actual movements or rigid guidelines I think for 39 years ago that seems impressive. No offense intended 🙏 Do you have your own mountain retreat and long flowing white beard now? Seeing those videos and calculating the age you must be one cool grandpa now👍 Quote
Fuuten Posted November 8, 2020 Report Posted November 8, 2020 Sorry, ~20 years. I can no longer edit my previous post. Quote
Yama Arashi Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Posted November 17, 2020 On 11/7/2020 at 1:29 PM, Fuuten said: Having near zero knowledge of the actual movements or rigid guidelines I think for 39 years ago that seems impressive. No offense intended 🙏 Do you have your own mountain retreat and long flowing white beard now? Seeing those videos and calculating the age you must be one cool grandpa now👍 Never any offense. 😉 Fortunately, I started fairly young and spent time as a deshi - I was only 19 at the time of those videos. 1 Quote
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