Effective lighting (for inspection), and suggestions

[edzo]

Hi to all,

 

I have a question regarding lighting for inspection purposes. I think (personally), my questions are contributory to the site because it shares my experience (in its infancy), of learning about Nihonto that other members can draw on. That said this is my question and any response will be appreciated.

 

Thursday I re-inspected a blade, for the second time. On the first inspection I noted that the Hamon included brilliant(nioi) twin ashinaga (long twin ashi being slightly opposing, paired and symmetrically occurring along blade from the munemachi at equal intervals which appeared to be 1- 1.5 inches (estimated), apart reaching to the ha from a suguha hamon. On my second inspection I could not raise the ashinaga at all. Is there certain or preferred lighting or technique that I might use to bring out the activities in a hamon?

 

Thanking you in advance,

Respectfully,

Ed F.

 

“There are some things that are not referenced in books”

[Mark]

to see the hamon and activities a 100 wt incandescent light bulb seems best. Hang the bulb a bit above eye line and a 5-10 feet away hold the blade between you and the bulb, sight down the blade. If you are looking for utsuri the bulb may be best over your shoulder and the hada may show best with the bulb above you. Just my personal experiance

[Brian]

"Golden" or yellow light works best. Those fluoresecent or "energy saving" bright white lights don't have the same effect.

Sunlight as the sun is setting also works for me.

 

Brian

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

Thursday I re-inspected a blade, for the second time. On the first inspection I noted that the Hamon included brilliant(nioi) twin ashinaga (long twin ashi being slightly opposing, paired and symmetrically occurring along blade from the munemachi at equal intervals which appeared to be 1- 1.5 inches (estimated), apart reaching to the ha from a suguha hamon. On my second inspection I could not raise the ashinaga at all.

 

What changed between the 1st and 2nd time, light source, angle, height, method of holding the sword?

 

Is there certain or preferred lighting or technique that I might use to bring out the activities in a hamon?

 

Hang the bulb a bit above eye line and a 5-10 feet away hold the blade between you and the bulb,

 

Anywhere from a clear incandescent 15w to a soft white 40w to 100w incandescent bulb will work to see ashi. Much has to do with positioning and angles to get the light to deflect off the surface of the sword back toward the eye. Many collectors sight directly down the sword, may I suggest a more deflective angle with the tip of the sword still pointed toward the light source, but with the nakago extended to one side, then play by slightly twisting and slightly raising/lowering, and so forth, until the light deflects at the correct angle revealing activity.

 

Different lighting (wave lengths) will reveal different features, some more than others, if nothing else experimenting/playing with varying light gives more reason to study the sword

[edzo]

Hello,

 

Thursday I re-inspected a blade, for the second time. On the first inspection I noted that the Hamon included brilliant(nioi) twin ashinaga (long twin ashi being slightly opposing, paired and symmetrically occurring along blade from the munemachi at equal intervals which appeared to be 1- 1.5 inches (estimated), apart reaching to the ha from a suguha hamon. On my second inspection I could not raise the ashinaga at all.

 

What changed between the 1st and 2nd time, light source, angle, height, method of holding the sword?

 

Is there certain or preferred lighting or technique that I might use to bring out the activities in a hamon?

 

Hang the bulb a bit above eye line and a 5-10 feet away hold the blade between you and the bulb,

 

Anywhere from a clear incandescent 15w to a soft white 40w to 100w incandescent bulb will work to see ashi. Much has to do with positioning and angles to get the light to deflect off the surface of the sword back toward the eye. Many collectors sight directly down the sword, may I suggest a more deflective angle with the tip of the sword still pointed toward the light source, but with the nakago extended to one side, then play by slightly twisting and slightly raising/lowering, and so forth, until the light deflects at the correct angle revealing activity.

 

Different lighting (wave lengths) will reveal different features, some more than others, if nothing else experimenting/playing with varying light gives more reason to study the sword

 

Hi Franco, Thanks for your input. I inspected the blade on a sunny day near the window the first time utilizing the sunlight and an overcast day the secong time. I am negotiating with the owner of the sword at his residence that does not offer the ideal conditions or lighting devices. At the second inspection I was flabbergasted to see the extent of activity in the hamon (lesson learned), but bewildered by the lack of the presence of the ashinaga observed the first time.

 

Thank you very much for your recomendations I willfollow your advice.

 

Respectfully

Ed F

[edzo]

"Golden" or yellow light works best. Those fluoresecent or "energy saving" bright white lights don't have the same effect.

Sunlight as the sun is setting also works for me.

 

Brian

Hi Brian and thank you for the advice. I have noticed in many photos that have been posted in various locations that the "yellow" tint appears, i wondered about that and this might explain it. I will take your advice along with others and try and perfect a technique.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ed F.

[edzo]

to see the hamon and activities a 100 wt incandescent light bulb seems best. Hang the bulb a bit above eye line and a 5-10 feet away hold the blade between you and the bulb, sight down the blade. If you are looking for utsuri the bulb may be best over your shoulder and the hada may show best with the bulb above you. Just my personal experiance

 

Hi Mark,

 

Thanks very for the input. I am planning to set up a staging area where I can experiment with lighting. I come away with this now understanding better that different lighting variances & techniques may reveal a wealth of information about a blade.

 

Respectfully and gratefully,

Ed F

[nagamaki - Franco]

I inspected the blade on a sunny day near the window the first time utilizing the sunlight and an overcast day the secong time.

 

Hello, there is your answer, sunlight on an overcast day is generally too diffuse for revealing ashi.

[edzo]

I inspected the blade on a sunny day near the window the first time utilizing the sunlight and an overcast day the secong time.

 

Hello, there is your answer, sunlight on an overcast day is generally too diffuse for revealing ashi.

 

Hi and thanks Franco,

 

What I found most amazing was that the blade had an incredible amount of activity that was not present on my first inspection except for the sugha and the nioi ashinaga, i thought at that time that was it, and later (second inspection), to see the other dominant activity it seemed like i was looking at a different blade. To me amazing and a real learning experience!

 

Thanks for your input, be well

Ed F.