Opinions, Please

[Bruce Pennington]

Please let me know what you think.  I have my opinion and looking for confirmation.  Don't want to bias by saying mine, or showing nakago.  I'll post it after.  Thanks guys!

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

The pictures haven't come through.

[Bruce Pennington]

10 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

The pictures haven't come through.

Strange.  I can see them.  I did a "Copy picture" and pasted.  I'll edit the post and upload them.  Should fix it.

[Michaelr]

Bruce sorry I can’t help you with anything But I really like what I see. I buy what I like and this style of hamon is what I like. Good luck as I am sure others will jump in soon and provide you with the information you are looking for. Also I was able to see all your pictures

  MikeR

[PNSSHOGUN]

This looks to be a Showato, perhaps partially forged and folded but oil quenched. It would not be surprising to see a Sho stamp on the Nakago.

[Brian]

I agree. High end Showato. Seems to show some hada, but the hamon looks oil quenched.

[John C]

Just a question...seems to be a lot of well defined ashi. Is that typical of oil quenching or does it have more to do with the application of clay?

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

23 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

It would not be surprising to see a Sho stamp on the Nakago.

Bingo!  

 

You guys nailed it.  I'm always on the lookout for a Showa-stamped blade that could be gendaito.  While I personally think all Showa and large Seki stamped blades were inspected/approved showato, there remain the stories of a couple blades that papered at shinsa with the showa stamp.  

 

Thanks for evaluating this one!

 

@Michaelr  - this is from an ebay sale.  I think it's still active if you search for it.  It's an undated Yoshikane in shirasaya:

[Michaelr]

Thank you Bruce

  MikeR

[ROKUJURO]

In this state of polish I would not confirm this blade was made from folded steel. The HAMON reminds indeed of an oil quench, but there is no metallurgical reason to fold alloyed industrial steel.

Only a clear evidence of HADA on a traditionally polished blade would be a proof of folded steel. For my old eyes, the above photos do not show that.

[Guest Simon R]

Hi Bruce,

 

Here is one by Kanemichi which was recently sold by a Japanese sword dealer.

It is a very obvious oil quench with no hada and has had its Sho(?) stamp removed without even bothering to try to disguise or age the fresh yasurime.

 

Oh, and it received Hozon certification from the NBTHK in 2016 - complete with the clumsy patch of new file-work shining forth from the origami's photo.
Showato is apparently the new gendaito.

 

https://www.Japanese-sword-katana.jp/%E6%9C%AA%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E/1610-1123.htm

[Bruce Pennington]

10 hours ago, SRDRowson said:

It is a very obvious oil quench with no hada and has had its Sho(?) stamp removed without even bothering to try to disguise or age the fresh yasurime.

 

Oh, and it received Hozon certification from the NBTHK in 2016 - complete with the clumsy patch of new file-work shining forth from the origami's photo.
Showato is apparently the new gendaito.

Thanks Simon!  So the blade got a Hozon rating even though it's clearly showato.  Reminds me of the Mantetsu that recently got a rating.  

 

So, the evidence that we have in hand still supports that showa stamped blades were showato.  

 

PS: For clarity, I have 30 Kanemichi blades on file - 26 are showa stamped, 4 have the large Seki stamp.  So, technically, this blade could have had a large Seki removed, but the odds are in favor of it being a showa.

[vajo]

Whats going on there in Japan. Oil hardnend showa-to with Hozon. 

Strange..