interesting nakago

[werner]

Hi,

 

Maybe somebody can enlighten me concerning this unusual nakago shape - ebay Item number: 280602555182

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Nihonto-Sa ... 415537332e

 

Jock

[John A Stuart]

It looks to be re-shaped for kyu-gunto mounts. Shipped anywhere in the whole wide world except Canada!!!??? John

[David Flynn]

Definately not made like this. Looks like someone has taken a lump hammer to it.

[Peter Bleed]

Jock,

Thanks for calling our attention to this sword. I agree with Brian. This was certainly reworked for kyu-gunto usage. There will come a time when swords like this are appricated as legitimate reflections of trends in Japanese history and sword usage. They once were treated like damaged - even destroyed - goods. There seem to be no signs that heat was involved in the reshaping, but can you imagine the force that must have been involved. This seems like a very collectible sword.

Peter

[jason_mazzy]

well if the signature is legitimate I believe it will be a considered a heck of a deal in the future

[Kevin]

Hmm! My guess is that you wouldn't do this cold. You'd heat the bit of the nakago that needed to be reshaped in a forge and bend it over the edge of the anvil. The marks on mune are consistent with that. Wouldn't take much force to do it at that heat - it's surprising how easily a bit of red hot steel bends. If the nakago was properly heat-shunted, the applied heat wouldn't damage the blade or muck up the hamon.

 

There's a slight difference in colour in the patina around the second area of bending, but that may be lighting. In any case, forged iron and steel can go a nice black - think blacksmith-made wrought iron gates. It's also had over a hundred years to patinate after having this done. Colour of patina may not therefore be a good indication.

 

Kevin

[kuromido]

It looks like it was held in a vise and bent cold.

I dont see any change in patina that would indicate heating.

 

Thats my 2 cents worth, (and probable value)

 

PeterD

[werner]

Jock,

Thanks for calling our attention to this sword. I agree with Brian. This was certainly reworked for kyu-gunto usage. There will come a time when swords like this are appricated as legitimate reflections of trends in Japanese history and sword usage. They once were treated like damaged - even destroyed - goods. There seem to be no signs that heat was involved in the reshaping, but can you imagine the force that must have been involved. This seems like a very collectible sword.

Peter

 

 

Hi Peter,

 

I guess you like this one too...:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/real-Japanese-Nihon ... 415539338d

 

Jock

[Kevin]

It looks like it was held in a vise and bent cold. I dont see any change in patina that would indicate heating. Thats my 2 cents worth, (and probable value)

 

:-)

 

I was looking at the deformation on the mune. That looks to me more like bending over the side of an anvil, rather than a vice. In fact its the wrong way round for a vice, unless you were hammering above the bit you were bending (i.e. you clamp the tip of the nakago in the vice), which would be a very awkward and risky way of doing it. A large amount of effort would also be needed to work it cold, which then entails some risk to the integrity of the nakago and even the blade. It might well fracture at the mekugi-ana. Not exactly exact either. Working it hot would be a far better idea, with far less effort and risk involved, and would cause the pattern of dents seen.

 

As for patina - it's a photo of unknown colour temperature of a nakago that was probably altered of the order of about a century ago and which has had time to develop a patina since then. It's therefore not a reliable indication.

 

Kevin

[nagamaki - Franco]

have to wonder whether someone thought this reshape was necessary in order to mount as a cane sword.