Cutting hi

[Kanenaga]

I have a katana which does not have hi, but is "crying out" for bohi (or futasujibi). Is it ever reasonable (or feasible) to cut hi into a finished and polished blade?

 

Les

[Rivkin]

Not something I personally did but yes I've known people doing it.

[Franco]

8 hours ago, Kanenaga said:

Is it ever reasonable (or feasible) to cut hi into a finished and polished blade?

 

Normally it is done after the foundation polish is finished. Which allows the polisher to polish the hi that has been cut while finishing the rest of the sword.

You can try asking Brian Tschernega. 

[Brian]

You'd have to know the construction of your sword quite well, as it would be easy to go through the outer layer and into the core steel unless you know the skin steel isn't thin. Risky imho.

[lonely panet]

Why do you want a Hi? 

 

 

[Cola]

What does it look like when a sword is crying out for a hi (other than the absence of a hi)?

Not meaning to criticize of course, it's your sword you can do whatever you want with it. But what makes you reconsider the choice of the smith not to cut a hi in the blade?

[Nobody]

57 minutes ago, Cola said:

What does it look like when a sword is crying out for a hi (other than the absence of a hi)?

Not meaning to criticize of course, it's your sword you can do whatever you want with it. But what makes you reconsider the choice of the smith not to cut a hi in the blade?

 

FYI, comparison of swords without a hi and with a hi.

 

Watch from 5:30.

日本刀に彫ってあるミゾ(樋)はどんな意味があるの？溝がある刀とない刀の違い（What does the groove on a Japanese sword mean?）

[Kanenaga]

To be clear, we're talking about a shinsakuto. It has horimono but no hi. Regrettably, the maker is no longer living, so I can't ask him. I like the combination of horimono and hi, which I sometimes see (like the 2 below). Also, like many contemporary swords, it's heavy, so hi would lighten it.

Just askin' tho.

 

 

[Kanenaga]

Moriyama san, thanks for the video link. I wish I could understand it.

[Scogg]

It's my understanding that ato-bori bo-hi is typically done to hide flaws; but can also potentially expose deeper flaws like fukure and ware. 

Might sound aesthetically pleasing, but the risk may not be worth the reward. 
To each their own of course.
-Sam

[2devnul]

Possible = yes

Reasonable (also if you add costs) = I don't think so

 

If you are looking for training sword (my understanding) then maybe it is better (and cheaper) to sell this one and look for a new one that meets your criteria (bohi etc...)? 

 

[Jacques]

Atobori have been used in all eras, often to rebalance a blade which has been suriage or to mask a defect (fukure) revealed by polishing.

[ROKUJURO]

Lee did not mention TAMESHIGIRI, and I don't think one would seriously practice it with a sword that has HORIMONO.

BOHI in this case are q question of aesthetics and of course money. I would discuss this subject with a competent polisher.