Shinto Wakizashi - Hojoji Sadahiro. Please comment.

[2devnul]

Hello,

 

I humbly ask for any comments about this blade, thank you. 

 

Mei: Hojoji Sadahiro

Nagasa 53,5cm

Moto gasane 7mm

Sori 12mm

 

Pictures below. 

[Mark S.]

Here is one that was for sale here a few years ago.  Search feature is your friend…

 

 

[Mark S.]

I very much like the Hojoji school.  My ‘feeling’ about this one is that it is fairly atypical of the school.  I will only speak in generalities because I am far from an expert in the school.  And there doesn’t seem to be many Hojoji Sadahiro references I could find.  
 

Usually the hamon is more subdued than your example… slight undulating gunome to almost suguha.  The school is well-known for its deep regular gunome-ashi in the hamon that is very close to Kotetsu school.  Although the papered example I referenced has ‘some’ of the hamon features your blade has, so maybe this smith worked a little more atypical of the school in general?
 

File marks on your nakago are relatively close to Hojoji style.  My ‘impression’ of the Mei is that it is not as well cut as the papered example I referenced… and the “hiro” kanji gives me great pause when compared to the example.  
 

Hojoji blades are usually fairly straight (lacking sori), are heavy and wide.  While I haven’t handled an extensive number of blades to know if that is always the case, yours ‘appears’ a bit lighter, more slender and has a bit more curve than I am used to.  
 

Boshi are usually O-maru and wide.  Yours is a little more narrow than I have seen, although it does turn back in the proper shape.  
 

So what is my final evaluation?  You have a nice blade in good condition.  However, it does not exhibit many of the standard characteristics of a ‘typical’ Hojoji blade and I think the Mei is a bit weak.  Of course I could be COMPLETELY wrong.

[2devnul]

  On 7/11/2023 at 5:17 PM, Mark S. said:

So what is my final evaluation?  You have a nice blade in good condition.  However, it does not exhibit many of the standard characteristics of a ‘typical’ Hojoji blade and I think the Mei is a bit weak.  Of course I could be COMPLETELY wrong.

Expand  

 

Hello,

Thank you very much Mark. This is most helpful. I haven't bought that blade yet, I'm considering it. 

I'm hoping to use arguments from this conversation to either resign from buying or lowering price. Still, even if it's a gimei, the blade has a very good polish and overall condition is great. 

 

Any other comments are welcome and much appreciated. Cheers!

[Mark S.]

I’ll ask you to tread lightly.  We have a general rule that we don’t comment on pending sales (which I did not know this was) and I would hate to be accused of meddling with a potential sale that could be between members here (of course I don’t know the details of your purchase).  I am not here to help or hurt either you or the seller and am FAR from any type of seasoned evaluator… I was just sharing my opinions on the details of a blade from a school I enjoy.  

[2devnul]

Hi, 

 

Digging out the topic. Approved (also in my opinion) Gimei, but still, a very nice blade. Condition/polish is perfect and length qualify this in my eyes for Kakate-Uchi Koshirae (nice to have one in collection). It is also a book example of Notare Hamon (PS. last picture of Kissaki is a different sword, added by mistake).  

 

I'm really thinking about buying when I have budget for it. 

 

@Mark S. Thank you very much again for the help/comments, much appreciated! 

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

Bought, will get long Tsuka, a Kakate-Uchi Koshirae style. I'm leaving mei untouched (I heard ideas about removing it since it is gimei). Should be a nice addition to the collection. 

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

If anyone is interested, this is the final version of Katate-Uchi style Koshirae. 

BTW, this is first Tsuba with Shakudo rim I have. I love it (Shakudo generally). 

 

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

I apologize for digging out the topic but I wanted to share some more pictures. What do you think? All comments are appreciated. 

 

 

[Deiro]

can't say much on the blade itself considering that it is likely a gimei. If it isn't the deviations are actually the strong points unless you're a school purist who wishes to have something to properly study as a benchmark, for my amateur eyes it looks great from a distance. and the mountings certainly looks good.