Show us your dragon horimono.

[Richard Thomas]

My Tanto by Nobukuni..

[IJASWORDS]

A 1935 KANETOKI, in type 34 mounts, special order for Lord Tsukaharu. 

[Bryce]

Fantastic contributions guys. There is some beautiful work on display on this thread now, but there must be plenty more out there.

Cheers,

Bryce

[zuiho]

Here is a Showa era example on a katana from the smith Nagamitsu. It was likely a very special order.

It is signed Bi zen (no) kuni ju nin ichi hara Naga Mitsu Kore tsukuru . It is undated. 

There are dragons on both sides set in lozenges as well as bohi. One dragon chases a fireball while

the other clutches a sacred jewel. This item was brought back by my Uncle Ed from Japan. He was part of

a team confiscating weapons after WW2. These are his pictures taken outside on his porch in 1996.

 

          Cheers, William G.

[PNSSHOGUN]

That is rather exceptional, can't recal seeing a Gendai Nagamitsu with Horimono. His long signature usually indicstes the most diligent work. Do you have pictures of the mounts? 

[zuiho]

In reply to PNSSHOGUN, 

                       The above Nagamitsu had only a shirasaya and I have only photos of the blade.

 

             

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

Here is another Gassan from the internet. This one was signed Sadakazu, but was probably done by Sadakatsu.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[paulb]

not mine but on a sword I wrote about

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

I have heard people talk about male and female dragons in horimono and have noticed that some dragons have a spiky tail and some have a ken tail. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[Tcat]

4 minutes ago, Bryce said:

G'day Guys,

I have heard people talk about male and female dragons in horimono and have noticed that some dragons have a spiky tail and some have a ken tail. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Cheers,

Bryce

 

 

Ken tail is male. Also, female animals depicted tend to have open mouths...or so I've been told, someone might want to confirm.

[Gerry]

Here's a partially exposed dragon horimono in relief on an osuriage katakuriha wakizashi I have.

 

[Gerry]

And these are a pair of male and female dragons on each side a katana I have.

 

[Bryce]

Quote

Ken tail is male. Also, female animals depicted tend to have open mouths...or so I've been told, someone might want to confirm.

Thanks Alex,

There doesn't seem to be any consistency with the "open/closed mouth" and tail type.

Cheers,

Bryce