Lack of boshi

[Abaris]

Hello all,

 

I acquired this wakizashi a few years ago and I noticed I can't find a clear boshi. My fear is has been reshaped rather than a bad polish. What do you think? 

 

It also looks like the habaki has been "polished" as it looks like it has some remnants of some kind of rain decoration.

 

The seller said it was in original polish when I bought it but... I don't know if that is true.

 

What is your opinion on the subject?

[Abaris]

[Abaris]

[Ray Singer]

It appears to clearly have a boshi in the photos above. The kaeri is not very clear but I do see the boshi. Are you saying that it is missing in one part of the kissaki, or that you are not seeing the boshi at all?

[Abaris]

@Ray Singer it's true I can guess it is there when looking at the pictures but I cannot while looking for it with my eyes... I mean, the hamon is clearly seen unlike the boshi. Polisher fault? Nihonto fault? Maybe smith's fault or even my own?

 

Are you seeing the kaeri? Because I'm not... I'll try to get better pictures tomorrow anyway.

 

About the kissaki, I do not think it has been reshaped, what is your opinion on that matter?

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer. It's really appreciated.

[Abaris]

BTW, it's a Muromachi (Koto) wakizashi, ubu.

[Franco]

  On 4/17/2024 at 7:04 PM, Abaris said:

My fear is has been reshaped rather than a bad polish.

Expand  

 

That is a definite possibility. If that is indeed the case, then it appears that the polisher did not reshape the entire kissaki as what should have been done.

 

However, as Ray said, it does appear like some boshi remains. 

 

Regards

 

 

[DoTanuki yokai]

I would say you should experiment more with the lightning and angle at which you look or photograph the boshi. It is common that the boshi does not get the Hadori polish and is harder to see. I posted pictures that shows how much the light and angle have an impact.  

[Abaris]

I'm amazed by your knowledge (all of you). I have a lot to learn.

[2devnul]

Hello,

 

Same as Ray, I can see Boshi without Hadori but no Kaeri. But only on first picture. I'm not able to see it on other pictures, so please try to make some more as advised by Christian. 

 

For me it doesn't look like a reshaped Kissaki. Maybe you can compare Kissaki with other swords from this smith to see if there is any significant difference. It could be just lack of Hadori = Togishi fault, not yours (unless you were cleaning Kissaki with Uchigo like crazy  )

 

[Abaris]

I haven't found anything else forged by this smith, but he did exist back then, as it's found in a few books and the nihonto club smith list.

 

I will take better pictures later today or maybe tomorrow, as long as time and family  allows.

 

"Mihara ju Masaie saku".

 

 

[Abaris]

Here are some more pictures. On one side I have been able to see the boshi with sun light, not so much on the other side, but still there.

[Abaris]

[Abaris]

[Jacques]

I'm not going to repeat myself, but you can only be certain of the presence of a boshi (or not) with the blade in hands.

[2devnul]

"Mihara ju Masaie saku" does ring a bell. I think my friend have/had sword signed like this. I will ask him for pictures. 

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

Here are the promised pictures. 

 

[2devnul]

More pictures ...

 

[2devnul]

... and Hamon ...

 

[Abaris]

I think it is the exact same blade  

[2devnul]

He sold that sword years ago. So it is possible.