The Smell of Steel (literally!)

[Andi B.]

Hello all,

 

probably a bit strange on the first view but I have a question regarding the smell of a nakago.

 

I know that the odor of a blade can be a hint of special treatments.

It is difficult to explain in words but the nanako of one wakizashi blade (ca. 1700) smells a bit strange.

I have no clue what causes this (bad) aroma - I smells similiar to a piece of mammoth tooth I have. If you snuffle the nakago there is this intensive, kind of "organic" / "not really ammonium but...?" smell...

 

Maybe one of you has made similiar experiences and can tell me, what happend with the steel?

[Mark Green]

My friend has a sword we call "old smelly" . It is an old cut down koto katana that has some loose grained steel, still very pretty though.

When you pull that sword from it's saya, the whole room smells of choji. It is the most wonderful surprise. It makes this old, very used sword, something very special to both of us, and anyone else that has had the pleasure.

All we can figure is that thee sword has absorbed so much choji oil, that it is a wick. And it really does make it extra special. Funny about this kind of sensory stimuli.

Mark G

[johnb]

Urushi does it for me! My wife and daughter hate the fresh smell...it is pretty nasty, but I love it. And once it's almost cured...yummmm. I sit on the sofa watching the telly and sniffing a freshly usushi'd saya. My wife has suggested I see someone for help.

 

John B

[Lee Bray]

If the smell reminds you of mammoth tooth, perhaps the nakago(I presume you don't mean nanako) has been subject to extensive rubbing with bone or horn?

[Andi B.]

... the nakago(I presume you don't mean nanako)...

 

...thanks - I always mix these both words...

[loui]

Maybe the nakago was repatinated? I often smell the nakago first thing to see what I am dealing with.

 

I Love the smells that are sword related, my koma nagura stones all smell differently for the most part, some have an aromatic perfume smell and others smells like swamp water - all beautiful to my nose.

 

Louis