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Shashikomi vs hadori

outlier48
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outlier48 Collaborator

outlier48

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Hi all - I have an early shinshinto era wak (~1785) that I may be sending for polish (which it truly needs and I think deserves). I am beginning my research into the difference between sashikomo and hadori. I'd appreciate your personal opinions on the pros and cons of these two forms of complementing the Hamon in the Shiage process. I'm not trying to start a heated debate; just trying to expand my knowledge. I would especially like to hear from any togishi.

 

Thanks,

 

Charlie Brashear

Ford Hallam Grand Master

Ford Hallam

Posted
Posted

In general terms shashikomi is regarded as the "natural" approach, in the sense that the polisher strives to reveal all that the steel has to offer. Various processes are employed that will enhance the hamon and hada contrast but essentially what you see is only what's there.

 

Hadori is sometimes regarded as a somewhat cosmetic polish in the sense that the overall outline of the hamon is emphasised and even whitened. This creates a very striking effect when viewed from a distance but if well done the finer details should also be clearly visible at close quarters. If not so well carried out there may be a loss of clarity in terms of the steels characteristics.

 

Some swords that may not actually have the most interesting of beautiful structure may benefit from a hadori polish.

 

Less sensitive, and less skilled/experienced polishers may always advise hadori as the effect is so very obvious. On the other hand, a really excellent sashikomi polish can easily be as striking but may be far more demanding to produce.

 

You get what you pay for though ;)

 

regards,

 

Ford

nagamaki - Franco Veteran

nagamaki - Franco

Posted
Posted

Hi Charlie,

 

Thoughts for consideration. It seems far more important to spend time researching the polisher to be selected in terms of quality of work, rather than focusing on which style of polish to choose. While one or the other of these types of polish, Sashikomi vs hadori, may catch your fancy, a less than optimum polish in either style would be very disappointing especially with the amount of time and cost involved. Then, after hopefully choosing an excellent polisher that has spent 10 years of his life as an apprentice, and is devoting the remainder of his working life as a sword polisher, you're going to what, try to tell the polisher how to best polish the sword, hmm. Perhaps, it is best to allow the polisher to decide how to put forth and present the best characteristics of the sword and his work. Sometimes it is necessary for nihonto collectors to adapt their thoughts and understanding to other ways of looking at things.

outlier48 Collaborator

outlier48

Posted
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Posted

Hi Franco - Thanks for the input. Your advice makes sense to me - let the sword and the polisher determine which style is best. However, I think there may be highly qualified toshigi who have different polish style "preferences" and it may be possible that a blade could show well with either style polish. Hence, my dilemma: what do I do if I get differing opinions from highly skilled toshigi regarding the preferred style of polish? In such case, is there any "rule of thumb" I could follow? Or, am I completely off track here (such that virtually any highly skilled toshigi will come to the same conclusion once he has the blade in hand)?

 

Sorry to be so "dull" on this subject. I am digging into the reference materials. While this wak was not forged by a really famous smith, it certainly will "out live" me and I ultimately want to see it properly taken care of so it can be enjoyed by others long into the future.

 

Regards,

 

Charlie Brashear

nagamaki - Franco Veteran

nagamaki - Franco

Posted
Posted

Hi Charlie,

 

If only the problem were of choosing between highly skilled polishers with differing ideas, but the reality of it is that it will be tough enough securing the services of one highly skilled polisher (fully trained in Japan), let alone two. That is if your sword fits their criteria of a "good sword" in the first place.

 

Hence, my dilemma: what do I do if I get differing opinions from highly skilled toshigi regarding the preferred style of polish?

 

Flip a coin. Another dilemma here is that too often collectors are learning about polish, polishers, and nihonto all at the same time. Optimally, the collector should already have a darn good idea of what to expect from start to finish before hand from any polisher, fully trained in Japan or not. This is one more reason for the serious nihonto collector to get out and see, study, as many good polished swords as possible before hand.

Brian Pedersen Rookie

Brian Pedersen

Posted
Posted

If I may be allowed to give my thoughts on this...

 

Today, the majority of swords i polish are finished in hadori.

In general, hadori tends to make nearly all swords look good, whereas a sashikomi style finish, in my opinion only suits certain swords.

It is best to leave the choice to the polisher, after all he is the professional and knows how to bring the best out of the sword.

reinhard Proficient

reinhard

Posted
Posted
a sashikomi style finish, in my opinion only suits certain swords.

 

That's what it is all about and not "Puritans vs Modernists". BTW every hadori-finish will disappear after decades/centuries of sword care anyway.

 

reinhard

Brian

Brian

Posted
Posted
If I may be allowed to give my thoughts on this..

Brian, since you are a polisher studying in Japan, I think your thoughts are not only allowed, but welcomed and appreciated. :)

 

Brian

Brian

Brian

Posted
Posted

Brian, that is awesome. So you are a fully qualified Western Nihonto polisher living in Japan?

If so..by all means please let us know your waiting period, how to get hold of you, and any other details.

 

Brian

Ted Tenold Mentor

Ted Tenold

Posted
Posted
Brian, actually I have finished my studies and i have just bought a house and made my own workshop :)

 

Sorry for the shameless self promoting

 

Brian, congratulations! I wish you success. Yours is not a shameless plug. ;) The member here need to know about craftsman such as yourself. It it pleases you, I suggest you list your contact info and if you get a website at some point we can place that in the links at the top of the NMB home page.

 

Cheers,

cisco-san Mentor

cisco-san

Posted
Posted

I wondering if pics from one blade exists which shows once in Shashikomi polish and once in Hadori polish. Just to see the difference :?:

All pics I know are from different blades.

Jacques D. Grand Master

Jacques D.

Posted
Posted

Hi,

 

I wondering if pics from one blade exists which shows once in Shashikomi polish and once in Hadori polish. Just to see the difference :?:

All pics I know are from different blades.

 

 

Have a look here, it is the same blade.

cisco-san Mentor

cisco-san

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

I wondering if pics from one blade exists which shows once in Shashikomi polish and once in Hadori polish. Just to see the difference :?:

All pics I know are from different blades.

 

 

Have a look here, it is the same blade.

 

 

Many thanks !!

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