Crows beak?

[KungFooey]

Hi folks,

 

Well, I bought my first, genuine Japanese sword a while back and I was waiting to receive it before posting lots of pictures.

Unfortunately, I think I got bit with no one to blame but myself. 😥

 

On only one side of the point are two tiny  little scratches but I think they make what is called karasuguchi crow beak.

 

 

Bummer.

Dee

 

[GeorgeLuucas]

If it's only visible on one side of the kissaki, then it might just be a scratch. 

Hard to say based on this photo alone, but my gut leans toward superficial scratch - possibly from drawing from, or inserting into the saya. 

Looking forward to more photos when you get the sword in-hand. 
Cheers,
-Sam

[Shugyosha]

Hi Dee,

If it's only on one side, I'd tentatively suggest that it's just a scratch and nothing to worry about. Does it cross the back (mune side) of the kissaki? If you post some pictures of that and the other side you'll get some better opinions. Out of interest, does the blade have papers?

[KungFooey]

7 minutes ago, GeorgeLuucas said:

If it's only visible on one side of the kissaki, then it might just be a scratch. 

Hard to say based on this photo alone, but my gut leans toward superficial scratch - possibly from drawing from, or inserting into the saya. 

Looking forward to more photos when you get the sword in-hand. 
Cheers,
-Sam

Thanks Sam but they look deep under a magnifier.

[KungFooey]

6 minutes ago, Shugyosha said:

Hi Dee,

If it's only on one side, I'd tentatively suggest that it's just a scratch and nothing to worry about. Does it cross the back (mune side) of the kissaki? If you post some pictures of that and the other side you'll get some better opinions. Out of interest, does the blade have papers?

Thanks John,

it doesn't cross the back and it's definitely not on the other side.

It's only got the old green papers so I already had a few warning bells ringing in my ears. 🙄

[KungFooey]

This is the strip of auction photos - better than any I could take.

(i even researched the maker and compared his signature to many others.)

Oops - that didn't work 🤦🏻‍♂️

Edited December 4 by KungFooey
Pictures failed

[Shugyosha]

So it's probably just a scratch then. If you're genuinely concerned, you could see if you can return it? I suspect that you're going through what most of us went through with our first blade where there is a tendancy to worry that what you have is flawed in some way and perhaps significantly.

 

The green papers are not necessarily a problem of themselves, but if they give the name to a big name smith then you might get a different result if you submitted the blade to shinsa today. The trick is not to have paid big name money for a minor smith, but I'm sure you've done fine.

[KungFooey]

13 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

So it's probably just a scratch then. If you're genuinely concerned, you could see if you can return it? I suspect that you're going through what most of us went through with our first blade where there is a tendancy to worry that what you have is flawed in some way and perhaps significantly.

 

The green papers are not necessarily a problem of themselves, but if they give the name to a big name smith then you might get a different result if you submitted the blade to shinsa today. The trick is not to have paid big name money for a minor smith, but I'm sure you've done fine.

I really appreciate the encouragement and support John - thanks so much.

 

I tried to get some shots in daylight today. It definitely doesn't appear on the back or other side of the point - which is something. But up close it does look more like a little flaw than a scratch. 😥

 

 

[Shugyosha]

One problem with photographing swords is the way that the light hits the edge of tiny scratches or delaminiations and makes them look far worse than they are in reality and viewing under a magnifier can make them look like the Grand Canyon. For me that's only a scratch as it is far less visible near the back edge of the kissaki whereas it would be more visible in that area if it were a crack running from the edge inwards so, at the very worst, it's a tiny ware but I don't think that it is.

 

Saya that have been around for any time do accumulate crud and even the most careful handlers of swords have accidents so swords can pick up tiny scratches or scuffs so whilst we all want our blades to be pristine, unfortunatlely things like that occur. Enjoy your new sword!

[ROKUJURO]

Deanne,

usually a scratch would appear to be straight. This seems indeed to be a KIZU, but I think it would not be considered as fatal as it shows only on one side (HAN KARASUGUCHI ). Fortunately, the polish is not the best, so it is not dominantly apparent.

[DRDave]

There appear to be numerous straight line scratches in the first photo, and only a few small ones on the other side, none of which run in the same direction as the ones in the first photo.  Maybe a lighting thing?  You might get a polisher's opinion on whether the issue you're concerned about would polish out.  Looks like there's some masame going on, so I'm thinking there may be a lot to enjoy about that blade. Congrats!

[KungFooey]

I wanted to thank everyone again for their kind words and encouragement - this is a great place to be a member! 😊

 

I looked again and now think it's a tiny lamination flaw not heat crack. Phew!

 

I certainly don't regret buying it because it's SO darn beautiful to look at. 😍

I know about the maker Kunimasa and who he studied under - so it's a nice piece of Kanbun Shinto history.

 

Dee