Thoughts on this hataraki?

[nulldevice]

What are your thoughts on this hataraki right above the habaki? There are a number of short dark lines that are all seemingly running at the same angle. They look like chikei to me but to have so many running in the same direction isn't something I've seen previously. 

 

I tried to capture pictures in various lighting to better show what I'm seeing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shugyosha]

I think it perhaps looks odd because the hada is tending towards masame hada and whatever it is is following the grain of the steel but it does look like chikei or some similar activity.

[nulldevice]

5 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

I think it perhaps looks odd because the hada is tending towards masame hada and whatever it is is following the grain of the steel but it does look like chikei or some similar activity.

 

That makes sense. This is the only area where the hada diverges from a uniform ko-itame to slightly more flowing and these chikei-like formations are shorter and thicker here than the rest of the blade where they are thinner and fit in well with the itame hada.

[Jacques D.]

From what I can see, they don't look like chikei; personally, I'd look toward a bad application of nugui, but I can't be sure. As I can't stress enough, you can't judge by photos.

[nulldevice]

2 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

From what I can see, they don't look like chikei; personally, I'd look toward a bad application of nugui, but I can't be sure. As I can't stress enough, you can't judge by photos.

I'm just looking for thoughts. I own this sword and this activity stood out to me so I tried to capture photos in different lighting and at different angles to get some input. 

[Matsunoki]

Maybe core steel just starting to peek through?  Hopefully not and it’s not how it usually starts but……images are always tricky. The hada definitely looks weaker/rougher in that area in one image…..

 

[nulldevice]

29 minutes ago, Matsunoki said:

Maybe core steel just starting to peek through?  Hopefully not and it’s not how it usually starts but……images are always tricky. The hada definitely looks weaker/rougher in that area in one image….

 

here’s one more image. I was able to get the blade out with the DSLR yesterday and capture hundreds of bad photos and a few good ones! 
 

Unfortunately a lot of quality is lost going from raw to a compressed jpg. 
 

I believe this sword should be maru-gitae construction

 

[Lewis B]

It really helps to load large high rez images. I find Google Drive to be a decent hosting site. Or use what Brano uses ie Zonerama.com

[nulldevice]

1 minute ago, Lewis B said:

It really helps to load large high rez images. I find Google Drive to be a decent hosting site. Or use what Brano uses ie Zonerama.com

I’m editing the rest of the photos now and then I was going to post them in another thread for appreciation/possibly a poor kantei

 

I’ll add links for google drive with the raw images when I do that so the quality is preserved. 

[GeorgeLuucas]

Hi Chandler, nice looking sword! Congrats!

Photographing Nihonto is so challenging. Whenever I try, like you mentioned, I get one great photo for every 100 bad ones. Which fills up my phones memory really quick 

I wonder... if the features you're seeing might be light scratching/abrasion from wiping the blade. I can see some active rust on the last photo you shared, near the hamachi and munemachi. I can imagine that over the years, someone maybe wiped the blade from that area north toward the kissaki, causing some scratching? 

Just a theory/idea, as I cannot see it in-hand.
All the best,
-Sam
 

[Lewis B]

3 minutes ago, GeorgeLuucas said:

I get one great photo for every 100 bad ones. Which fills up my phones memory really quick 
 

Sam, thats probably where you're going wrong.   A proper digital camera with full control of the exposure, aperture and speed, on a tripod, with appropriate lighting (depending what activity you want to highlight) and last but not least, a macro lens. Then you'll probably improve your stats. 

[nulldevice]

12 minutes ago, GeorgeLuucas said:

Hi Chandler, nice looking sword! Congrats!

Photographing Nihonto is so challenging. Whenever I try, like you mentioned, I get one great photo for every 100 bad ones. Which fills up my phones memory really quick 

I wonder... if the features you're seeing might be light scratching/abrasion from wiping the blade. I can see some active rust on the last photo you shared, near the hamachi and munemachi. I can imagine that over the years, someone maybe wiped the blade from that area north toward the kissaki, causing some scratching? 

Just a theory/idea, as I cannot see it in-hand.
All the best,
-Sam
 

That area under the habaki had a few spots that I’ve spot dabbed with a very light coat of oil. 

 

There are some very minor scratches and I’ve been extra cautious when cleaning and wiping the blade to start a few inches above the habaki when wiping and then clean the area by the habaki wiping towards the nakago with a separate tissue to not drag any debris. 

 

if you’re coming to the Vegas show, you can look at it!

[GeorgeLuucas]

4 minutes ago, nulldevice said:

if you’re coming to the Vegas show, you can look at it!

I'd love to see it! Looks like some nice activity going on there.

Just an idea; and the more I look, the less it looks like scratching 

Best of luck,
See ya in a few weeks!
-Sam

[Matsunoki]

Well if it’s one piece construction that rules out core steel!

In your last photo enlarged below the features do appear to be abrasions or scouring of some sort and they do run at a strange angle. But again….images….