Older blade from Gunto mounts - late koto?

[cju777]

Hello all,

 

Companion post to the gunto mounts I shared in the mil section.  With many thanks to another member I was connected with a nice set of gunto mounts with an older blade. The focus was on the furniture and the details of the blade an added bonus to practice my own study skills on once it arrived.

 

The blade was thought to be Shinto Mino-den, but I think it might be older based on the sori, feel, and nakago patina. Mr. Bowen on a FB group thought maybe late koto Bizen. I recently moved and my books are enroute... my photos aren't the greatest and as a novice having my own trouble trying to pick out some of the details in the metal in its wartime polish. I’m struck how narrow and slender this one feels in hand and don't mean that as a pejorative just descriptive. My other two blades are Shinto and a bit heftier.

 

Nagasa: 62cm

Sori: 2.5cm

Hamon: ko-midare? I'm not sold on it and the pictures don't help.

Working on assessing the hada and details in the steel

 

Would be happy to hear any thoughts. I'll be (slowly) working through my own study and post any observations. It has some small chips and rust, not sure if its "financially" or physically up for a new full polish but looks nice with the mounts. Adds a nice bit of recent (and old) history to my collection.

 

Cheers,

Chris

 

[16k]

First thought was Mino Den, but "could" be Sue Bizen maybe...

[cju777]

Thanks JP! I’ll try and get some better photos in or more detailed descriptions of the activity up over the weekend when I have time. See what I can do to narrow it down!

[cju777]

Not much more to go off of, but I do have updated measurements and some *slightly* better photos of the hamon line. Polish till makes it hard to made out any activity in the steel, and lots of small ware. Assessment still falls as a mumei probably kazu-uchi mono, not sure Bizen or Mino though. Appreciate the history of these swords, but really highlights how nice the  true art pieces stand out.

 

Nagasa: 61.5

Sori: 1.7cm

Kissaki: 3.1cm, ko-kissaki

Kasane: 0.6

Width at the hamachi : 2.8cm
Width at the kissaki : 1.8cm

 

Given the discussion on kazu-uchi mono in another post, sharing the newer details to have another example on the board.

 

 

 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I would feel late Muromachi Bizen is a quite reasonable guess.

[Shugyosha]

Might be one of those katate uchi that had a machi okuri in order to take a longer tsuka. 

[Geraint]

Dear Chris.

 

I would not be too quick to rush to kazu uchi mono, not all late Koto swords are such and though this has some small flaws that does not necessarily mean the same.  As regards the kissaki given the look and measurements you supply it would not be ko kissaki but rather an extended chu kisssaki.  This would fit with Jussi's  suggestion.  I confess that I cannot make out much of the boshi, what do you see there?

 

All the best.

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Can we see the mounts as well?

[cju777]

2 hours ago, Geraint said:

 I confess that I cannot make out much of the boshi, what do you see there?

 

 

 

 

Geraint-

Sadly the boshi is much out of polish and not much can be seen-

[cju777]

1 hour ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Can we see the mounts as well?

John-

Sure, I shared it in the mil forum when I got it. Exactly what I was looking for to have an example of the period.