Muki Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 I am looking at this particular sword and am wondering if the nakago pictured shows a burned katana? Other than the obvious sahia that would occur does this otherwise destroy all the value of this? Thanks, Jim Quote
Bruno Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 The nakago doesn't look like burned to "newbie forever" eyes. It shows just show natural patina. I would more look at the blade itself and the gueniness of the mei to evaluate the quality of the sword. Quote
sanjuro Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 Hi Muki. I tend to agree with Bruno on this. I dont see in the picture provided, that this is a sword identifiable as damaged by fire and then retempered. Colour and texture however are difficult to reproduce accurately in a photograph and I would reserve positive judgement for an 'in the hand' assessment. To answer your question on value; The nature of a retempered sword is that the steel and its working are still there as the original smith created the blade. The original temper that was his final and most telling work has however been altered by an unknown hand. The sword is therefore not absolutely original. Value comes down to who made the original sword, and how good a job was made of the retempering. That is, how close to the original the now retempered sword is. Value is certainly decreased as an art object, but if the sword is a known blade originally by a famous smith or a sword with a historical significance then the retempering is looked upon as unfortunate but not utterly ruinous, and the sword is therefore judged by an altered set of criteria. Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted January 2, 2011 Report Posted January 2, 2011 That does seem rather "worn" for a Shin-shinto blade, tho'.... Quote
cabowen Posted January 3, 2011 Report Posted January 3, 2011 Ken-Hawaii said: That does seem rather "worn" for a Shin-shinto blade, tho'.... You are discounting the Eisho date? Quote
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