Masame in the ha

[pcfarrar]

I've got an interesting o-suriage wakizashi that has clear masame hada in the ha.

 

Is this a particular trait of any school in particular? I think I remember reading somewhere that you see it in Muromachi Bizen swords but can't find the reference.

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[paulb]

Peter,

I think this is seen in a number of schools and traditions. One of the most noted is the Yamato Shikkake School where masame hada running throug in to the hamon is a kantei feature. It also extends in to the boshi to produce the "old mans beard" appearance hakkake.

If it was Shikkake you would expect to see bright ko-nie in both hamon and jigane, although this decreases in later generations.

regards

Paul

[pcfarrar]

Thanks for the help Paul. The hamon appears to be mostly nioi and has a Bizen look. The boshi is midare-komi but doesn't have any hakkake.

 

The nagasa is 23" so it looks to have originally been a 27" katana.

[Gunome]

Hello,

 

Have a look in Yamashiro. If I remember correctly some school have massame in the ha and nioi deki hamon. Unfortunatly I haven't my book under my hand ...

Nevertheless, I distinguish massame in the ji and not only in the ha in the first picture/close up of hada.

[pcfarrar]

Thanks Sebastien I will have a look in Yamashiro.

 

I managed to get a photo that illustrates the activity in the sword quite well.

[micha]

Hi,

 

Can you add some pictures of the boshi ?

 

Micha

[pcfarrar]

Hi Micha,

 

Photo of the boshi as requested.

 

Peter

[micha]

Hi,

 

How about Yamato Shizu ? Is there any ko-nie in the hamon?

 

Picture below is a Juyo Yamato Shizu.

 

Micha

[Jean]

I would have thought of Naoe Shizu, togari ...

[pcfarrar]

I would have thought of Naoe Shizu, togari ...

 

Naoe Shizu seems a good call, a lot of the features match up well and as you mention the hamon has plenty of togari-ba.

[Jean]

Pete,

 

Two pictures of mine

[paulb]

Peter/Jean,

Something to consider, I seem to remember one of the points used to differentiate Yamato Shizu and Naoe Shizu is supposed to be that there is less activity in the hamon in Naoe Shizu work. One thing clear in Peter's sword is there is a lot going on in the hamon. Could this point back towards Yamato Shizu?

[Jean]

Mainly the nioi deki and thickness of the nioiguchi could lead us back to Yamato shizu.

 

Let's be clear Paul, I have never handled a yamato shizu blade so I cannot compare the hataraki but one thing I can say is that Naoe Shizu style covers a very large range in hada and hamon.

 

I have seen Juyo Naoe Shizu blades with no masame and with extremely different hada and hamon than mine - With the Courtesy of Aoi Art

Katana.doc

[paulb]

Yes Jean I understand your point. I have seen a few blades attributed to Yamato Shizu and Naoe Shizu and as you say there is a lot of variation within both. If you look at Yamato Shizu in particular the same term may be used to describe swords made in different areas and in different styles so I guess these variations are not surprising.

Regardless of the attribution I think Peter's sword looks an interesting work

[micha]

I stay with Yamato Shizu.

 

Micha

[Curran]

I disagree.

I see too many later Mino traits in what I can see in the photo.

 

I won't explore it too much more without considerable photos, but definitely lean towards Mino.

A calculated shot in the dark: take a look at Mino Akasaka Senjuin School (?) and see if that is a better fit.

 

Curran

[Jean]

Interesting Curran, seems everybody (3 of us ) see Yamato Mino features in this blade (Tegai or Senjuin). I am not sure concerning the Boshi for Akasaka Senjuin, but Mino Nambokucho, yes I agree.

 

All agree, it is an interesting sword Peter