Dick Tait Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 Hello Everybody, This is my first post, please be gentle with me! (N.B. I did not cause the damage!) I inherited this blade recently and am wondering if the Kissaki is restorable? Thanks in advance, Dick Tait Quote
Brian Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 Is that kiri-ha on one side and shinogi zukuri on the other? You realise that if so, you have something quite unusual there? It's bad damage, especially at that angle. On the kiri-ha side the bevel would have to be extensively reshaped. Can't see the boshi on that side, but on the other, if I am seeing it where it is, then yes, possibly. These opinions are always depenant on a professional togishi examining it in hand, but from the look of it, then it might be. This one, even more than usual, requires a good polisher though. I would send it to Bob Benson in Hawaii and ask for his opinion. I am sure the members here would love to see more pics of the sword. Katana, wakizashi, tanto? Overall condition? Signed? Regards, Brian Quote
Dick Tait Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Posted January 4, 2009 Brian said: Is that katakiri-ha on one side and shinogi zukuri on the other? Brian, I'm not sure - all these terms are new to me! I live in UK, so Hawaii is not an option. Thanks for your reply. Dick Tait Quote
Brian Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 Dick, An example (if it is indeed like this) http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/Uda.html Most I have seen have hirazukuri on the other side, but of course there are examples with both. Also this for explanations: http://www.ncjsc.org/tsurikomi-1.html How long is the blade? Brian Quote
Brian Hancock Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 Hi Dick, If you live in the UK try Tony Norman or Les Stewart both are very good polishers. Cheers, Brian. Quote
Dick Tait Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Posted January 4, 2009 Brian said: An example (if it is indeed like this) http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/Uda.html Most I have seen have hirazukuri on the other side, but of course there are examples with both. Yes, it is indeed like this, but reversed. Would this mean that it was made for a left-handed person? Brian Hancock said: If you live in the UK try Tony Norman or Les Stewart both are very good polishers. Thank you Brian. Regards, Dick Quote
Stephen Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 please more pix, this looks like it could be very interesting. Quote
sencho Posted January 4, 2009 Report Posted January 4, 2009 Interesting.... Does anyone know if there is a practical purpose for a blade to be made Katakiriha-zukuri....? ... apart from it maybe being fashionable at the time... Cheers.. Quote
Jean Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Apart from being fashionable, is it not an "exercice de style" to show the smith craftmanship at his best? Technically, I don't know if this kind of forge is much more difficult to achieve than the classical ones, what do our NMB specialists think about it? Quote
IanB Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Dick, Depending on where you live, I'm sure one of the ToKen Society members would look at the blade for you. Send me an email. Ian Bottomley (Chairman Northern ToKen Society) Quote
sencho Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Jean said: Technically, I don't know if this kind of forge is much more difficult to achieve than the classical ones, what do our NMB specialists think about it? ..... and apart from perhaps showing excellence of a smith's craft, was there any practical purpose for the end user... apart from the fashion of a particular period? cheers! Quote
Brian Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 John I can't really see any benefit over the other styles such as shinogi zukuri or hirazukuri. In fact I can see there possibly being some disadvantages in the cutting action. I am sure the blade would want to pull in a certain direction. Maybe the sword was a bit more stiff laterally due to the offset lines, but I can't see any other practical advantage. There is always a desire to experiment and do things that you don't see everyone doing, so perhaps this was more of that. Stronger blade? Then why not go for kiriha-zukuri on both sides? I'm betting it was just experimentation. I do think it was maybe harder to forge, especially since the smith would be unfamiliar with the shape compared to the other standard shapes. Then again, when you look at a Japanese sword and fittings, very the last thing that springs to mind is purely utilitarian and ease of manufacture.. :D Brian Quote
loiner1965 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 brian you are very observent as i saw these pics earlier before you replied and i never noticed the different shapes either side.....where abouts are you in the uk as if near to me i love to see first hand as only ever seen in books Quote
Dick Tait Posted January 5, 2009 Author Report Posted January 5, 2009 Brian said: I am sure the members here would love to see more pics of the sword. Here are some more pictures: Shin gunto Type 98 mounts. This is an officer's sword. Army Menuki with Mon Mokkoku. This makes me think that it is a "family blade" Katana; blade length = 63cms long. Your views would be apreciated. Regards, Dick Tait. Quote
Stephen Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 Quote makes me think that it is a "family blade it sure looks to be so far, well need to see the Nakago and some more of the blade, please. Quote
Stephen Posted January 5, 2009 Report Posted January 5, 2009 looks like some great work in the blade, nakago (tang) pix? Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted January 6, 2009 Report Posted January 6, 2009 Brian said: I can't really see any benefit over the other styles such as shinogi zukuri or hirazukuri. mmm... I'm lost at this. I grew up with the mantra "form follows function" and AFAIK Nata uses no other tsukurikomi then katakiriha zukuri (which dates back to Kamakura), so it must have something useful, but really can't say what such a mix as the one we see here can improve in a blade with the length and the purpose of a sword. Something eludes me... Nice blade anyway. Quote
Dick Tait Posted January 6, 2009 Author Report Posted January 6, 2009 Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini said: Brian said: I can't really see any benefit over the other styles such as shinogi zukuri or hirazukuri. mmm... I'm lost at this. I grew up with the mantra "form follows function" and AFAIK Nata uses no other tsukurikomi then katakiriha zukuri (which dates back to Kamakura), so it must have something useful, but really can't say what such a mix as the one we see here can improve in a blade with the length and the purpose of a sword. Something eludes me... Nice blade anyway. Interesting, could it be; that with the change in sword length in the early/late Muromachi period from long Tachi blades to much smaller Uchi-ganta (and the way that they were worn, and drawn for speed) have anything to do with it? Easier to draw the blade when time was of the escence? This article Characteristics of the Japanese Sword details this time change (and my sword most closely matches the shape and length of the one for this period in the picture at the bottom of the page. Quote
pcfarrar Posted January 7, 2009 Report Posted January 7, 2009 Maybe a Satsuma sword, looks like a potato vine in one of the photos. Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted January 7, 2009 Report Posted January 7, 2009 Dick Tait said: Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini said: Brian said: ISomething eludes me... Easier to draw the blade when time was of the escence? The flat side is either on omote or ura, so I think it's something different considering that lefty weren't allowed to skirmish with left guard back then... Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 7, 2009 Report Posted January 7, 2009 In the early 90's I had a shinken made by a smith in California (Phil Hartsfield, I think his name was) in a non-traditional alloy. This sword was made shinogizukuri, but, he was experimenting with katakirihazukuri. His explanation was that a sharper edge could be made this way and it made a better cut. Obata Toshishiro sensei was a test cutter with his swords, but, I only saw him cut (in pics) with the shinogizukuri style. This may or may not be the case in actuality, but, that was the reason given. He called it in his vernacular a chisel edge. John Quote
Dick Tait Posted January 7, 2009 Author Report Posted January 7, 2009 Joseph P. said: It sure is gorgeous. Shinto? If the Nengo is to be believed; Late Koto. Quote
Dick Tait Posted January 10, 2009 Author Report Posted January 10, 2009 Hello again all, having difficulties in finding out much about the mei & nengo, so I'm throwing it open to yourselves for any help and discussion that may throw some light:- Mei: "Soshu Ju Tsunahiro" Nengo: "Tem-Bun Hachi-Nen Ni-Gatsu Hi" What do you guys think? I've not managed to see any hi-res images of 1st (or 2nd) gen Tsunahiro mei to make a comparison with. Although it does look similar to this example in the V&A museum which was signed as 1st gen, but attributed to 3rd gen. Why would he do this??? Regards, Dick Tait Quote
Guido Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Here's a photo of the Nakago of a Shodai Tsunahiro Tantô I own for comparison: Quote
Stephen Posted March 15, 2009 Report Posted March 15, 2009 Top work who may i ask was the togi? Quote
Dick Tait Posted March 15, 2009 Author Report Posted March 15, 2009 Joseph P. said: Beautiful! :D Stephen said: Top work who may i ask was the togi? Bushido Quote
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