Robert C. Walker Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Here are some photos of my wakizashi, fresh from the polisher. I realize that they are poor photos but I wanted to get something posted. I will work on getting better ones. I am finding the boshi particularly difficult to photograph. I have been looking forward to getting the sword back so that I could study it and begin to understand all that I have been reading. I am working through describing the characteristics of the blade. I have not finished yet and I need to take some measurements but here is what I think I see so far: Tsukurikomi - shobu-jukuri Sori - Torii-zori O-kissaki with rounded fukura Iori mune with steep oroshi Nakago - Ubu, standard Nakagojiri - ha agari kurijiri Yasurime - kiri Jihada - ko-mokume & masame Hataraki - ji-nie Hamon - sugaha Boshi - It is really clear to the eye but I am stumped and I doubt these pictures will help Quote
Robert C. Walker Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Posted June 3, 2009 A couple more just because I think it is pretty. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Congratulations and I hope it gives you endless pleasure! Quote
Mark Green Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Nice sword Rob! I just love those Shobu-zukuri waks. Your Boshi looks to be Omaru/Komaru, hard to see the turnback length. Enjoy, and thanks for the pics. Mark G Quote
Jacques Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Hi, Mark Green said: Nice sword Rob! I just love those Shobu-zukuri waks. Your Boshi looks to be Omaru/Komaru, hard to see the turnback length. Enjoy, and thanks for the pics. Mark G IMHO, it looks more U-no-kubi-zukuri. :D May we know who is the polisher? Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Jacques D. said: Hi, May we know who is the polisher? http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2165&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30 see bottom post on page 3 link above. Food for thought: When it comes to collecting nihonto the Japanese have set the standards of excellence, and this applies to polishers and polishes as well. As students and/or collectors it is our burden to learn and understand what excellence means when it comes to nihonto and to polishing too, even if we decide to participate and collect at a level of our own comfort somewhere below the top level. From my own experience the two, nihonto and polishing, are one in the same, like peanut butter and jelly, , well, maybe not like peanut butter and jelly, but I think you get the point! Here it can be said that experience is the best teacher, in fact there is no other way than to see and study swords in polish with your own eyes! And, the more excellent swords and excellent polishes seen the better. The trick is to learn from these experiences, which means critical analysis, critical analysis of the sword, critical analysis of the polish, critical analysis of your self as a student, even when critical analysis means things don't turn out the way intended. There is a progression of learning that takes place as with most any subject and there will be dues and tuition to pay. The trick is to not pay too much or repeat the same lessons over, and that is where critical analysis comes in. "When it comes to nihonto its never easy", as a good friend always reminds me. And, yes, I have paid my nihonto and polishing dues and tuition. Quote
reinhard Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Hi Robert, Taking pictures of hamon is quite tricky. One way consists in placing a spot or a single light bulb slightly above the top section of the sword and taking the picture from a low camera-angle slightly above the blade from opposite direction (i.e. from the bottom end of the blade), not unlike you are appreciating hamon when holding the sword in hands. This must be done in a dark room. The results will present you with at least a few inches of the hamon visible. You can see pics made by this techique on many Japanese web-sites and on Darcy Brockbank's, amongst others. reinhard Quote
hybridfiat Posted June 3, 2009 Report Posted June 3, 2009 Very nice indeed. It looks almost identical to my latest purchase. I hope to have that polished in the near future too. Quote
Mark Green Posted June 4, 2009 Report Posted June 4, 2009 Hi Gang, Looking at Robert's pics, That hamon sure does run very large into the Nakago. Could we get a full Nakago, and part of the blade shot please, Robert? I think your polish looks good. Very natural. very much like it likely looked, when carried for work, hundreds of years ago. There is nothing wrong with that. So what does everyone think------- Mino? Moromachi? BUNGO???? I'm thinking shinto. just a feeling? Did the polisher have a say at this? I've seen a few Bizen, 1500's They were very powerful looking. The Mino a bit less beef., more if they were shinto I forgot, were the sizes ever posted on this sword? If not, Geeze Rob??? As my friend Reinhard has said many times, Size matters!!!!!!!! Newbees this is a MUST!!! The sizes, tell us a bunch. Not having the sword in hand is bad enough, We must have the facts, so those few here that know,(not me) Know what they are looking at. Pics are tough. Reinhard gave good advice. Check out Darcy's photo page. And experiment. New cams make this easy. Its all about the light angle. And Rob, your sword is very interesting, lets study on it some. Why would someone make this wonderful blade, with all the work that it took, and not sign it??? I just don't get unsigned swords, that do not have huge flaws. Do you think that one little blister, although deep, would keep the smith from claiming this work? Rambeling on now, Later, Mark G Oh, and Jacques, U-no-Kubi-zukuri? Please explain? I thought that was when the Shinogiji is slanted in the middle, while the lower part and the kissaki are normal. Or can it be like this as well. And wouldn't that need a kissaki, on a wak or Katana. I think, if it isn't a cut down pole arm, than it seems standard Shobu-zukuri to me. But I'm just a beginner, and have seen very few of this style, in hand. Quote
Jacques Posted June 4, 2009 Report Posted June 4, 2009 Hi, Quote Oh, and Jacques, U-no-Kubi-zukuri? Please explain? http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/styles.html Quote
Keith Larman Posted June 4, 2009 Report Posted June 4, 2009 This is just a guess, but maybe Jacques is referring to the photo 244 up above? It looks like a reflection of something in the room on the shinogi ji of a shobu zukuri piece to me, but ... You see the same reflections in some of the other images. Quote
Jacques Posted June 4, 2009 Report Posted June 4, 2009 Hi, Keith Larman said: This is just a guess, but maybe Jacques is referring to the photo 244 up above? It looks like a reflection of something in the room on the shinogi ji of a shobu zukuri piece to me, but ... You see the same reflections in some of the other images. You are right Keith, seems i need new glasses Quote
drbvac Posted June 8, 2009 Report Posted June 8, 2009 I believe this wak is U-no-Kubi-zukuri., and actually it isnt a wak as its signed on the omote side! Quote
Robert C. Walker Posted June 8, 2009 Author Report Posted June 8, 2009 I just returned home after a 5 day trip with no internet access. Thanks for all the discussion and comments during that time. I will try to take some more informative photos and I will post some measurements. Quote
reinhard Posted June 9, 2009 Report Posted June 9, 2009 Robert and Brian (Barrett) seem to be talking about two different blades here. Any explanation for this would be helpful and prevent from further confusion. Thanks. reinhard Quote
Robert C. Walker Posted June 9, 2009 Author Report Posted June 9, 2009 Thanks Reinhard. Definitely no signature on my blade. Quote
Mark Green Posted June 9, 2009 Report Posted June 9, 2009 Hi Gang, I think Brian was just trying to show us what a true U-no-kubi-zukuri looks like. It would help though Brian to show the whole sword in a pic. But I would say that is a (UNKZ) for sure. Robert's is a basic Shobu-zukuri. Very interesting one at that. I for one, would still love some more pics, and measurements. Mark G Quote
Robert C. Walker Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Posted June 12, 2009 Nagasa 36.6cm Nakago 10.7cm Kasane 0.5cm Sori 1.1cm Motohaba 2.9cm Quote
Robert C. Walker Posted June 12, 2009 Author Report Posted June 12, 2009 I will upload a photo of the full nakago as soon as I can. Last time I tried I was unable to upload any images so I will try again tonight. Quote
Robert C. Walker Posted June 13, 2009 Author Report Posted June 13, 2009 Hopefully these are useful. Quote
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