There are no stupid questions, but I'll try!

[JEE]

Kidding a little in the title, but I have question that I've been meaning to ask for a while.

 

Having never seen a traditionally made Japanese sword in person, do they appear the same in real life as in photos?

 

Let me explain that a little. :lol:

 

In most of the photos there is such a color difference between the cutting edge of the blade and back of the blade. It's almost like it's as dark as the bluing on a gun barrel.

 

Anyways, digging the site!

[Mark]

a sword is made of steel and should look like it. In books it refers to the steel having different colors (blue black etc) but these are very subtle. The sword should look like a clean piece of steel, the edge will have a misty or milky area where it is tempered, the area between the temper and the shinogi (or ridge) line will have a muted or "flat" appearance and above the shinogi it is usually polished shinny like a miror. So a blade may look like it has different colors or textures depening on photographed but should not look like it was blued like a gun

[bone]

I've been playing with a blue light behind a diffuser to pick up some of the grain and diminish glare. The result is almost a flat grey with just a hint of blue. As with everything if it looks different than other photographs you've seen of other blades, be very suspicious.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Jason, what you may be seeing is a photographic effect that often accompanies images of the "burnished" shinogi ji, where much of the time the steel appears much darker, (edited >)than say under different lighting conditions, as Mark suggests.

 

Below is the same section of the same sword only different lighting and camera.

 

[JEE]

Thanks I was thinking it may have to do with the way they are photographed.

 

I'm not looking at any blade in particular, just a general question. I guess it could be a little of a let down for some one if they were expecting such a dramatic difference as the professional photo make it look.

 

I've looked at books and photos online over the years but never had the chance to see one up close and personal and thought I'd ask.

 

 

 

  nagamaki said:

Jason, what you may be seeing is a photographic effect that often accompanies images of the "burnished" shinogi ji, where much of the time the steel appears much darker than it really is, as Mark suggests.

 

Below is the same section of sword only different lighting and camera.

 

[attachment=0]Image2.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]Image1.jpg[/attachment]