Norimitsu katana

[Nicholas]

Hi everyone,

 

    I have a sword signed Bishu osafune Norimitsu dated late 1400’s and I was interested in knowing if this sword would be considered Kazu-uchi-mono. Does it pre date the mass produced sword era? The Bishu, lack of Kuni character and short signature is what makes me question the sword. It looks to be of good quality to me but has seen many many polishes.
p.s. it’s hard to take detailed pictures of the blade due to state of polish. But if you need more pictures I will take them.

Thank you

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Nicholas, nice sword. As it is signed and dated, the chances of Kazuuchi-Mono go down significantly. However the best way to verify this is the actual blade, some closer detailed photos would be needed to help any further.

[Nicholas]

18 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Hi Nicholas, nice sword. As it is signed, the chances of Kazuuchi-Mono go down significantly. However the best way to verify this is the actual blade, some closer detailed photos would be needed to help any further.

Thank you, here are some better pictures of the blade

[Nicholas]

[mywei]

Looks like its shobu zukuri? Unless the photos havent captured the yokote

[Nicholas]

12 minutes ago, mywei said:

Looks like its shobu zukuri? Unless the photos havent captured the yokote

Yes the sword is shobu zukuri. Interesting shape. I have 2 shobu zukuri blades from Bizen around the same time period.

[mywei]

Doesnt look like kazuuchimono imo

 - interesting less common shape, deki looks tight in the photos provided, nengo present etc

 

Worth a professional polish I reckon

[Nicholas]

58 minutes ago, mywei said:

Doesnt look like kazuuchimono imo

 - interesting less common shape, deki looks tight in the photos provided, nengo present etc

 

Worth a professional polish I reckon

A fresh polish would be nice. But I’m afraid the sword is beyond thin and wouldn’t make it through another polish.

[Brian]

Nothing there really suggests a bundle sword, and the date I think is also not consistent with those.

[DoTanuki yokai]

Nice blade, I also don’t think it is a katzuuchimono. 
From what I have seen blades with Shobu Zukuri have less tapering in Mihaba what makes them heavier what speaks also against a cheap sword. 
Does the Boshi turn back ? On the pictures it looks like it don’t, what gives the appearance of Naginata Naoshi but the Nakago  looks Ubu.
 

I would say nice find and I love the strong looking Sugata. 
How long is the Blade ? 

[Nicholas]

8 hours ago, Brian said:

Nothing there really suggests a bundle sword, and the date I think is also not consistent with those.

Thanks Brian, the date of the sword I believe is around the Onin war. So before Sengoku.

 

6 hours ago, DoTanuki yokai said:

I would say nice find and I love the strong looking Sugata. 
How long is the Blade ? 

Thanks, the nagasa is 23 1/2 inches. As for the boshi one side has no turn back and the other has traces of tempering that would suggest a turnback. But the sword is super thin at the mune. Most likely on its last polish.

[Nihonto Chicken]

I have a Norimitsu katana papered to Eisho.  The sugata is kanmuri otoshi, and it is likewise short.  It is cited as originally a sword and not a nagamaki naoshi.  It is quite thin and light.  In view of this, I would recommend a hands-on review by a professional togishi as cost effective to determine whether a polish is warranted.  Good luck!

[Nicholas]

2 hours ago, Nihonto Chicken said:

I have a Norimitsu katana papered to Eisho.  The sugata is kanmuri otoshi, and it is likewise short.  It is cited as originally a sword and not a nagamaki naoshi.  It is quite thin and light.  In view of this, I would recommend a hands-on review by a professional togishi as cost effective to determine whether a polish is warranted.  Good luck!

Thanks. I believe this sword was made as a katana and not a naginata also. Unfortunately I don’t think a polisher would be able to do anything with this sword. I believe in the beginning of its life it was quite an impressive sword and whoever owned it cherished it.