Katana appraisal request or direction.

[cronoskatana]

Hello,

This is my first post although i have been a member for a bit. I am looking to get more familiar with the domain. I am looking to get an appraisal for my Katana or directions on where i can get the blade appraised. I have do have the related HTHK certificate as well in the google share below. I have tried to translate as much as I could from the certificate and this is what i have but i will note the accuracy is not perfect: 

 

Certificate Details:

• 日本刀剣保存会 (Nihonto Kenkyukai): The Nihonto Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords
• 丹後守兼道 (Tango no Kami Kanemichi): Name of the swordsmith
• 平成九年十月十六日 (Heisei Kyunen Jūrokunichi): October 16th, 1997 (Date of appraisal)
• 長さ裏道寸六分有之 (Nagasa ura michi sun roku bun ari): Likely indicates the length of the sword blade in Japanese units.
  • 長さ (nagasa): length
  • 裏道 (ura michi): literally "back road" or "back path," but in this context, it refers to a specific measurement method for the length of a sword blade.
  • 寸 (sun): a traditional Japanese unit of length, approximately equal to 3.03 cm.
  • 六分 (roku bun): six parts of a sun.
  • 有之 (ari): exists, there is
     

Katana Details:

• 第一四二三七号 (Daiichi Yonisen Nihyaku Sanju Nana Go): Number 14237 (Serial number)
• This is a unique identifier assigned to this specific sword by the appraisal organization. It's like a social security number for the sword, allowing it to be tracked and referenced in their records.
• 銘文 (Meibun): Inscription or Signature (on the sword blade)
• This refers to any markings or inscriptions found on the sword blade. These could be the swordsmith's signature, a date, or other decorative elements. However, in this case, the certificate also mentions "磨上げ無銘" (Migakiage Mumei), indicating that the blade has been polished and any original inscription is no longer visible.
• 刃紋 (Hamon): Temper lines on the sword blade
• Hamon are the distinctive patterns created on the blade's edge during the heat-treating process. They are often considered one of the most beautiful and defining features of Japanese swords. The specific patterns can vary widely and are used to identify the sword's school or smith. In this case, the certificate describes the hamon as "五の目丁子乱小" (Itsutsume Chojiri Midare Ko), which is a specific type of hamon pattern.   
• 小丸 (Komaru): Slightly rounded sword tip
• This describes the shape of the sword's tip. "Komaru" means that the tip is slightly rounded, which is a common shape for many Japanese swords.
• 磨上げ無銘 (Migakiage Mumei): Unpolished blade, no visible inscription
• As mentioned earlier, this indicates that the blade has been polished, and any original inscription has been removed or is no longer visible. This is a common practice when restoring or preserving swords.
• 表裏 二筋麵 (Omote Ura Nifuki): Two lines or grooves on both sides of the blade
• This describes the presence of two lines or grooves on both the front and back sides of the blade. These lines can serve various purposes, such as strengthening the blade or providing a decorative element.
• 五の目丁子乱小 (Itsutsume Chojiri Midare Ko): Pattern of the Hamon (temper lines)
• This is a more detailed description of the hamon pattern. "五の目丁子乱小" refers to a specific type of hamon characterized by small, irregular patterns resembling a cluster of five eyes.
• 目釘穴個 (Mekugi Ana Ko): Number of holes for the mekugi (peg)
• Mekugi are small pegs used to secure the handle to the blade. This section of the certificate indicates the number of holes for these pegs.
• 壱個遅め (Ikko Okureme): Mekugi ana (peg hole) slightly off-center
• This indicates that one of the mekugi holes is slightly off-center from its expected position.
• 摂津国 (Settsu no Kuni): Settsu Province (historical province)
• This indicates the geographical origin of the sword or the swordsmith. Settsu was a historical province in Japan, now part of Osaka Prefecture.   

 
Google share: https://drive.google...tQwyr2fK?usp=sharing

 

I am looking for general feedback on appraisal ranges and where to go from here if this is something i would move forward with selling. I am unsure if that is something to go ahead with but i wanted to "test the waters". 

 

Much appreciated for any direction,

 

Regards

Costin

Edited January 17 by cronoskatana
updated link

[nulldevice]

You'll need to set that folder of your google drive to public access so people here can view the photos! 

[cronoskatana]

thank you @nulldevice , updated link with public access

[Nihonto student]

Hello Cronos,

paper attributes the blade to Tango no Kami Kanemichi Shodai (1 gen.) Mishina school, around the Kanbun era

 

Hawley rating: 60 points

Fujishiro: Jo saku

 

From what I see:
Koshirae and fittings are of good quality and in very good condition, the blade is in good condition but far from excellent, I seem to see that the tip of the kissaki is broken then I don't understand if the one towards the center of the blade is a superficial scratch or something more serious, however from a sale point of view  I would consider a polishing to reshape the kissaki and increase its attractiveness, as a Shinto O suriage blade in general  does not tend to be very attractive on the market.

 

BTW I like the hamon some traits remind me a of an O Kanemichi that I treasure, Thanks for sharing.

 

Giordy

[cronoskatana]

@Nihonto student Wow, thank you very much for this.

 

To be honest i didn't even notice the the kissaki tip until you mentioned it. Looking at the blade closely, i am actually unsure if there is damage or if it is just a ko kissaki. I would say the photos are not adding "value" compared to in person. I should have mentioned that there is a cut in the blade (img1 18). When i spoke to someone about the effect on the blade it was mentioned that it is not fatal because it is above the temper. 

 

I really appreciate the feedback! Thank you

[Nihonto student]

28 minutes ago, cronoskatana said:

@Nihonto student Wow, thank you very much for this.

 

 i am actually unsure if there is damage or if it is just a ko kissaki. 

 

Regarding the Kissaki, the one on your blade is to be considered O kissaki https://swordis.com/blog/types-of-kissaki/ , the broken tip is not a negligible flaw in my opinion, while I don't want to go overboard on the opening in photo 1-18 because it is too blurry.
There are people who can live with defects, others just want perfect blades... in any case the defects are inevitably reflected in the evaluation and for Shinto blades in general the defects have a greater specific weight than a Koto blade.

[SteveM]

A lot of errors in (what I'm guessing is) that machine-translation of the authentication paper. 

 

The authenticating organization is NTHK (not Nihonto Kenkyukai OR NBTHK, but a different organization altogether). 

 

Migakiage mumei →　Suriage mumei

Itsutsume Chojiri midare ko →    Gunome-chōji midare  (no "ko" on the end, just a misreading of れ)

Nifuki →　Futasuji-hi　(the meaning given is correct, but the kanji and reading are both wrong). 

Nagasa is 2 shaku, 2 sun, 6 bu (the translation read 貮尺 incorrectly

etc...

 

For a machine translation, it has done reasonably well - you couldn't imagine anything this accurate 5  years ago. The technology has become so advanced that it nails a lot of the difficult text, and only gags on the super technical stuff. The problem is that the super technical stuff is what is used to pinpoint schools and smiths. But, I imagine this is also a matter of time. In another 5 years, the level of machine translation and interpretation will be exponentially better.

 

[cronoskatana]

Thank you @Nihonto student and @SteveM 

 

I did use the Google Gemini translation and also uploaded an image of the certificate. Additional notes i have just old conversations outside the certification that were taken are as follows below. I didn't include them because i wanted to abide by the certificate content only. I think most aligns with the certificate though.

 

Kanemichi Katana is 27" long in the cutting edge. 
Double groove Hamon “temper”
Largemidare “irregular” with Gonome Choji “wave, clove like”; 
lots of Nioi “misty crystals” and there is one or tow Tobiyaki or tempered spots apart from the Hamon
Hada “grain” is Masame “straight grain” husky blade, but not heavy and the temper, in some parts of the blade, cover about half of the blade surface. 
The menuki “decorative metal ornaments the are woven under the tsuka-ito (handle wrapping)” is a peony design and the fuchi “the metal bordering piece between the swords tsuba (guard) and tsuka (handle)” has the double, crossed hawk feathers which is continued on the scabbard which is lacquered and simulated to look like wood grain. 
The Tsuba “Japanese sword guard” is not original to the blade and has been replaced
The only flaw in the blade is a small section of the metal has opened but is not fatal since it is above the temper.
 

 

[Nihonto student]

22 minutes ago, cronoskatana said:

 

 

Kanemichi Katana is 27" long in the cutting edge. 
Double groove Hamon “temper”
Largemidare “irregular” with Gonome Choji “wave, clove like”; 
lots of Nioi “misty crystals” and there is one or tow Tobiyaki or tempered spots apart from the Hamon
Hada “grain” is Masame “straight grain” husky blade, but not heavy and the temper, in some parts of the blade, cover about half of the blade surface. 
The menuki “decorative metal ornaments the are woven under the tsuka-ito (handle wrapping)” is a peony design and the fuchi “the metal bordering piece between the swords tsuba (guard) and tsuka (handle)” has the double, crossed hawk feathers which is continued on the scabbard which is lacquered and simulated to look like wood grain. 
The Tsuba “Japanese sword guard” is not original to the blade and has been replaced with a plain, iron fighting sword guard. 
The only flaw in the blade is a small section of the metal has opened but is not fatal since it is above the temper.
 

 

From the photos it is not so clear to me but regarding the notes the only thing with which  I feel like disagreeing is the hada, in the salient characteristics of this school the Masame is found in the shinogi (In this case as there is a double groove it cannot be appreciate) while in the Ji I would expect mostly Ko Itame as typical for the Settsu region.

 

All the best