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Posted

Josh,

at first glance the blade does not look like a genuine NIHONTO. The HAMON is strange, like oil-quenched or "acid-enhanced", but that is only my opinion. If you want to show the NAKAGO we could say more.

The military SAYA does not fit the old TSUBA. TSUKA and FUCHI look new to me (from a IAITO?).

NAKAGO photos always oriented tip upwards, against a dark background for good contrast.

Posted

Interesting observation I was told by a person in the community that the polish was amateur and that it was a shinto blade. I will get pictures of the Nakago from the dealer and post them but it is mumei.

Posted

Looks like a genuine old sword that has been heavily and possibly very badly “improved”.

The saya lacquer looks to be a fairly common crushed abalone and pine needle finish with what might be some old Handachi fittings (the suspension fitting looks wrong)

The blade looks acid polished maybe

The tsuka has been badly re-wrapped

The blade looks to have extensive hadaware in the shinogiji (openings in the forging above the shinogi)

Gives the impression of a “bitsa”…..bits of this and bits of that.

…..but better clearer  images needed including the nakago. 

  • Like 3
Posted

I seriously doubt its shinto. Boshi and nakago are a must, but what we see is:

Very dense hada.

Very plasticky-uniform hamon

Nioiguchi as if drawn by hand

Modern low quality elements in mounts (some things are ok).

 

Yes, acid can produce a white uniform nioiguchi, but this appears is more like showato which is oil quenched. Its something other than proper nihonto I suspect.

Posted

Hamon is definitely fake..bad polish as well. It might indeed be a shinto or shin-shinto but this is not a good sword as your first one. There is not much to study and learn. 

 

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Posted

Josh,

my first impression after a look at the NAKAGO photos is that it is probably a genuine blade. But as I wrote above: NAKAGO oriented vertically, tip upwards, dark background to have a good contrast. These photos cannot show whether it is an 'old' blade or a faked patina on a more recent blade.

The blade has a considerable SORI which may be original to the blade or a result of SAIHA. 

Reminds me of KOMONJO swords.....

Posted

Take this as a lesson of how much there is still ahead of you to learn. Try not to repeat the same lesson/s. 

If serious about collecting and study of nihonto join a study group, attend shows, build a library.

Even the most experienced nihonto collectors will make mistakes. It's never easy.  

 

 

Regards

 

"Don't mistake temptation for opportunity"

 

"Desire is the cause of suffering"

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted
5 hours ago, Americankyzen22 said:

Thank you this sure is a learning lesson but what intrigued me is everyone has a different opinion which to me is a little intimidating.

 

My first experience with nihonto came when I attended a gun show in search of an iai blade for practice.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending upon the perspective, I came across a Japanese Sword Study Group table where it quickly became evident that I had no idea of what a nihonto was or what I was doing.  On the fortunate side of things this short overly enthusiastic Chinese man behind the table talked me into buying my first book (The Japanese Sword, by Sato), and then talked me into attending the sword study meeting that evening. A kantei venue where I got to see five quality swords in full polish. That was it, there was no going back, study, study, study, to make a long story short. Train your own eye, begin to learn the knowledge for yourself. It will be challenging every step of the way. The path becomes smoother and less intimidating with practice.

 

Regards

 

  • Like 2
Posted
2 hours ago, Americankyzen22 said:

Pictures of the nakago

Josh:

There is a torokusho visible in the nakago pic. Is it for that blade? In general, torokusho are not issued for fake or mass produced, oil quenched blades.

 

John C. 

  • Like 1
Posted
36 minutes ago, John C said:

Josh:

There is a torokusho visible in the nakago pic. Is it for that blade? In general, torokusho are not issued for fake or mass produced, oil quenched blades.

 

John C. 

Unfamiliar of what that is are you referring to the documents in the picture?

Posted
2 hours ago, Americankyzen22 said:

what

I was referring to this. A registration document swords must have in Japan. It will have basic info about the sword.

 

John C.

Screenshot 2024-05-16 at 7.07.52 PM.png

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