Interesting hamon style - now with nakago pic

[Jorgensen]

Hello,

 

Just got this one today. Bought it from an older man, that use to collect spanish weapons and had this one up for sale in the local papers. Told me he got it from a friend, who had it from his father, who brought it home from Japan... The usual story I guess...

 

I think the blade looks very interesting and very, very active and beautiful hamon. I can't take any pictures yet of nakago - its totally stuck and cant get the blade out of tsuka... not yet - working on it...

 

But if anybody have an idea of school, age, maker... anything... I really would love to hear your opinion.

 

Nagasa: 35,5 cm

Mihaba: 2,9 cm

 

Tried to do pics best as I could - hope they are ok to judge from. Large picture, pls allow time to load it.

 

-Jimi

[cabowen]

Looks like hitatsura....

[Surfson]

Yes, looks like hitatsura hamon on a shobu zukuri blade with tokugawa mons on the mounts. Very nice.

[Jorgensen]

Thanks you for your answers...

 

From your information provided, I did some research both online and some books.

 

The mount with Tokugawa Mon is of those mass-produced made after 1868 and was commonly sold to traders and turist. The Hamon is hitatsura and tobiyaki. Both ji-nei and chikei are visible when looking at the blade. Lot of activity. Hada seems to be itame with some mokume.

 

Some blades that look quite similar to mine is reffered as Soshu-Den and Sue-Seki. Some write this type of blade is rare to find (it always sounds good to write, right?). The hamon style (comes from full-temper of the blade) seems to be mostly used in nambokucho - muromachi period and became rarely used after 16th century...

 

I dont know anything about this type of blade - other than above info I have found - have never got one of these before now. Any support on my info above and information on age/school will be a big help and highly appreciated.

 

Meanwhile I will try to have it disassembled carefully, so I can take a shot of nakago. Dont want to break anything. But am really curious to see whats hiding.

[Jean]

Jimi please, resize your pics so they appear directly without having to follow a link, it is much easier

[Jorgensen]

Jean, yes, it will definitely be much easier and have resized the pictures.

 

Here is pictures of nakago - I finally managed to get rid of the tsuka. Was glued on.

[kbt]

6 ?

Kim

[Jean]

Jimi,

 

For what it is worth, I should say the sue Muromachi period as in your pictures some crescent dots appear either Mino or Soshu (Bizen did it also) but the Shobu zukuri suguta is more frequently met in Mino than in Soshu

[Kai-Gunto]

6 ?

Kim

Maybe it was for assembly purpose when mounted in the tokugawa brass bling bling

[kbt]

So I was right ? Maybe I'm not to old to learn. lol

Kim

[Brian]

Can we get an overall pic of the blade without habaki?

Does the mune taper at the top?

Usually these mounts come with junk blades, but this one appears to be an earlier one remounted for late Meiji market. Proof that you must never assume anything when seeing mounts.

 

Brian

[Jorgensen]

Jean, Kim, Gunto and Brian. Thanks for your replies.

 

The number 6 on nakago - Kim was right - I have discorvered is figuring on the habaki as well. I think Gunto is right about assembly and im guessing that, when the early meiji export mounts/wooden inlay scabbard was being made, they have separated the blade from the original koshirae and have numbered the parts, that they were going to use for the new mounting, including the original habaki and therefore numbered it (as these meiji mounts were mass-production) to keep everything in order? Does this sounds as a possible conclusion to you other guys?

 

Jean, thank you for your opinon on Soshu vs. Mino school and age. Very educative and I highly appreciate it. How is it possible to judge this more accurately you think?

 

Brian, Im am not 100% sure what you mean by "Does the mune taper at the top?", but if I understand it the word taper correct, its the "ihori-shape mune" and then answer is yes, it is , but I have added some new pictures as you asked for and hope this will answer your question fully. It seems to me that nakago has been cut down and mune-ha has been moved a little bit?

[Brian]

I was looking at the possibility it was a cut down nagamaki or naginata. The back edge would have been quite thin in many cases. But I think that theory is unlikely.

 

Brian

[Jorgensen]

Hi Brian,

 

Maybe you are not way off! The back edge actually IS quite thin, but gave it no further attention in first hand... it tapers in at the tip... Mune measures approx 3mm width. Why do you think that would be unlikely?

 

-Jimi

[kbt]

I like those fittings, not sure what that says about me .

Kim

[Brian]

Kim,

It says you have a lot of studying ahead :lol:

Those are pressed brass, mass produced export mounts made to appeal to Westerners.

I think this may have once been a naginata or nagamaki, now shortened. Hard to tell for sure, but looks like it needs to be seen in hand by someone.

 

Brian

[Jorgensen]

Kim,

well its shiny and goldish... Brian is right - does exactly was its made for... looking appealing. For me its an export mount, but will keep it - surely not because of its value in dollars, but I think it historically marks the end of the samurai age and with my other earlier swords/mounts it shows a historically line and for fun and that is worth something to me.

 

Brian,

I will let someone see it in hand, I think you are right about it probably could be a nagamaki (naginata I personally dont think). Also I am wondering if a piece like this could be worth sending to polishing and maybe shinsa.

 

Ricecracker.com (I love this name :D ) has a nagamaki - somewhat longer though, that makes me think of mine:

http://www.ricecracker.com/swords/s8.htm

[edzo]

Hi guys,

I have read in an earlier article that this full temper technique was rarely used during the shinto and shin-shinto period. Ed F.