Katana: what do you see ?

[Wari-kogai]

Hello,

 

I do have only one nihonto and would like to know, what you can see

as far as possible (gave my best but making photos is not that easy).

I was told that this sword is nothing more than a piece for the very

first steps and that it probably won`t take any further polishing, too.

I will later on tell you, what me myself has been told about this sword.

I won`t tell you straight away for that you`ll stay totally unprejudiced.

 

Below I`ve linked two photos but the whole set

will be available only as a small zip-file (ca. 6,98 MB).

The zip-file-link will be below the sample picture I`ll post.

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword/Blade%20right%200.jpg

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword/Nihonto%2001%20complete.jpg

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword/Kashira%202.jpg

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword%20%206,98%20MB.zip

 

Maybe your answers will match what I`ve been told, maybe not.

By the way: the menuki do show mushrooms but unfortunately

even with the sword in hand one has to look quite carefully.

[Andi B.]

...my boardstyle is subsilver2 (style of this forum's appearence) so I see nothing but yellow text on pale blue ground....

[Guido]

same here ... :?

[drbvac]

I see yellow text on dark grey and light grey links to photos in between. The mounts don't look fantastic but the blade could indeed be OK, although a little tired.

 

Need better pics

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi,

 

The wakizashi looks to be fine based on shape, but the condition of the polish is simply too poor (obscure) to see any detail.

[Wari-kogai]

Sorry guys,

 

I just wasn`t aware of this problem. I now found a color

which should do well with all 3 styles of board-appearance.

Please don`t judge my very personal interests by this color.:D

 

 

Need better pics

Did you already look at the pictures inside the linked zip-file ?

If you did, it could become a bit diffcult for the mounting

(the blade has to be photographed again, anyway).

I`ll try my best to get some better photos soon.

 

After trying out the search-function without success,

any hints on how to take good photos are welcome.

 

As far as I was told (& do think I see), polish is poor

and the blade is tired, also (just as you mentioned).

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi,

 

If I'm seeing the images in correct proportions the saya looks to be considerably longer than the blade (is that correct?). In which case it is possible that this wakizashi may simply be serving the function of being a tsunagi for the koshirae. It is not unusual for out of polish swords that may also be somewhat tired to be used for this purpose.

[Guido]

I now found a color which should do well with all 3 styles of board-appearance.

What's wrong with the default color(s)?

[Stephen]

I agree whats wrong with white font? as far as the zip file....it dont open

[Wari-kogai]

What's wrong with the default color(s)?

I agree whats wrong with white font?

Okay,... then this will be the first forum, where I do use the preselected colour. :D

 

 

as far as the zip file....it dont open

??? This is strange, I created the file using winrar and the link works very well for me ???

I will link some of the pictures and attach another zip-file with new photos of the blade.

In the case that the problem remains, it seems, that ´`ll have to link all of the photos.

 

From the first pics/zip-file:

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword/Nihonto%20Tsuka%20right.jpg

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword/Tsuka%20&%20Tsuba%201.jpg

 

From the new pics/zip-file:

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword_2/bladelength%20to%20saya1.jpg

 

The new zip-file itself:

http://www.kubushi-tengu.de/zeitordner/sword_2%20(6,48%20MB).zip

[Andi B.]

as far as the zip file....it dont open

??? This is strange, I created the file using winrar and the link works very well for me ???

I will link some of the pictures and attach another zip-file with new photos of the blade.

In the case that the problem remains, it seems, that ´`ll have to link all of the photos.

 

I also use WinRAR and both zip-files work...

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Wow, great flaws collecting, forgive my frankness but this sword is dead.

[Stephen]

It opened i just did not wait long enough, as stated above its a steel tsunagi ...or one heck of a blade showing all kizu one can find.

[Wari-kogai]

Yes, this blade is not as the others I`ve seen or hold in hands.

i know, that to a real collector it must look very hmm "strange". :D

At least i was told something whose essence can be reduced to:

"A mercedes is a mercedes and a bycicle istays a bycile.

One can not expect a mercedes for a bycile`s prize.".

 

Well, if someone wants to say, which flaws look especially bad, just do so.

 

 

The dates I got are as follows:

 

- unsigned war-blade is mounted in a Higo-koshirae, probably Kamiyoshi-family

- Mino-blade, although there`s Uchinoke, which is typically for Yamato & Yamashiro province

- has Hotsure & Kuichigai-ba, also

- Blade was bigger (although not much longer) but has been extensively polished

and further polishing would be to dangerous for this blade

 

- end of 15th century, maybe later (difficult to say 1480-1560/70 ?)

 

- Dragon-tsuba with gold (see rest on end of left part of "beard"),

probably 17th century, not much older, as it is relatively small, thin other than earlier ones

(held such one in hand), erhabener Eisenschnitt (??? cutted iron, positive form ???)

 

- Koiguchi & kojiri correspond, made of brass, roe-shape (fish-eggs) (Kojiri has Kebori as i see it)

 

- Fuchi & Kashira correspondend, connectd stars or something like that,

Fuchi has Kebori, Kashira has Yanamichi-kebori (typical for Higo)

 

- Don`t know the name for the saya-style and if blade saya was painted brown later on or......

 

- Flaws from retempering: 14,5 - 17,5 cm from Munemachi on right side

 

Any agreement, correction etc. is welcome.

[Stephen]

most of these if not all. You cannot make this blade any more that it is with romantic notions.

[Wari-kogai]

most of these if not all.

Whenever one thinks it can`t get more bad than it actually is......

Thank you for the picture, I added it to my others pictures of flaws

(in the case, once I`ll try to buy another sword good to have it).

 

 

You cannot make this blade any more that it is with romantic notions.

At least I could use it as an quite good example for showing

(all?) the kinds of flaws which are possibly seen on a sword.

 

As a newbie I won`t seriously argue with you or other mebers

about this sword`s worth as i´m not in the position to do so.

Nevertheless out of pure interest I`d like to know its history,

as far as it is obvious from style of blade, mountings etc..

[drbvac]

Classic silk purse out of a pigs hind end