hxv Posted June 2, 2012 Report Posted June 2, 2012 Hi Everyone, How would you characterize the hada in the pictures? Would you say itame, mokume with itame, or would you say mokume (o- or chu-)? If you want to see picture of the nakago (mumei) and/or of the suguta, please let me know. I apologize, but the sword is badly out of polish. Part of what I am trying to figure out is whether I should spend money to have it polished or preserve it as is. I am looking for guidance, so please let me know your opinion. Some measurements: Nagasa: 27 1/2" (70cm) Nakago: 8 1/4" (21cm) Sori: 3/4" (1.9cm) Motohaba: 1.3" (3.3cm) Motokasane: 0.3" (7.6mm) Thank you, Hoanh Quote
paulb Posted June 2, 2012 Report Posted June 2, 2012 Dear Hoanh, I am one of the worlds worst at trying to describe hada or other attributes of a blade when it is out of polish. I am sure others will offer a more enlightened view. However based on what is immediately visible: My first reaction is that it looks like some of the Chinese attempts to produce folded steel. This may just be the result of its poor condition. If it is right I think the best way to describe it is nagare itame,or running itame hada. There are also some areas of mokume. It reminds me of some of the late Edo attempts to combine lots of different quality steels to try and create the impression of a complex ji hada. This is also suggested by the kasane which is thick. generally this is not associated with high quality. Having said all that you reallly need to show it to an experienced collector/polisher (proper one) and get there view on it. The crudeness I am describing may just be a condition issue but I am not confident that this would polish to give you the result you are hoping for. Quote
hxv Posted June 2, 2012 Author Report Posted June 2, 2012 Hi Paul, Thank you for your guidance. I am not too confident that this sword will polish out nicely, either. That's precisely why I am soliciting guidance from the membership here. One thing for sure is that this is not a Chinese fake. I think you are right about it being late Edo, though. I have attached 2 more pictures for your consideration. The lack of sori and the suguta suggest shinshinto. Anymore thoughts you might have about the sword would be much appreciated. Regards, Hoanh Quote
paulb Posted June 2, 2012 Report Posted June 2, 2012 Thanks for the additional pictures. Yes I agree with you it is not a chinese fake. I still think your best bet would be to try and show it to someone in hand. Based on your original images I doubted it would polish well but looking at these and remembering how thick the blade is you might be pleasnatly surprised. I would still go with late Shinto or Shin-shinto for period. good luck Quote
paulb Posted June 2, 2012 Report Posted June 2, 2012 yes I can see what you mean. If it is then I guess the success of any polish will depend how deeply any acid treatment penetrated the surface Quote
Brian Posted June 2, 2012 Report Posted June 2, 2012 Might just be a lemon juice etch. These really obscure more than they show. Brian Quote
hxv Posted June 2, 2012 Author Report Posted June 2, 2012 It looks like I will package the blade up and send it to Bob Benson for an opinion. Thank you all so much for your constructive comments and guidance. Regards, Hoanh Quote
Ron STL Posted June 3, 2012 Report Posted June 3, 2012 This looks more sue-koto to me, but rather course work in for the jigane. I would call this large itame mixed with mokume, all with nagari-itame (running itame), with masame showing in the shinogi-ji. The masame appears to be rather loose (open). The sword appears to have a nice sugata (shape) but the forging seems pretty course. Saying this, I would be surprised if this would be a wise place to spend your money for a polish these days. Having just paid for a Japan polish (at 79 yen/dollar) it is an investment to be thought over. (In my case, it was well worth it, but not all swords are worth that sort of spending.) Just my humble opinion of the sword from what I see from the photos. Ron H. Quote
hxv Posted June 3, 2012 Author Report Posted June 3, 2012 Hi Ron, Thank you for your guidance. What you gave me was the sort of advice I was fishing for. I was not at all sure if the sword warrants a polish. I'm surprised you think the sword is sue koto, though. I thought more shinshinto, or late shinto at best. Could you expand on why you think sue koto? That would be instructional for me. Regards, Hoanh Quote
Lindus Posted June 5, 2012 Report Posted June 5, 2012 Be carefull of some replies,they perhaps do not know re Lemon juice etc. looks OK to me. Try the last stage polish, will not harm the blade but is good for the soul and will bring some results. Roy Quote
Jean Posted June 5, 2012 Report Posted June 5, 2012 Having looked upon ewords being etched in front of me to see if it remained any hamon or not, I can assure you that this greyish/dull look is quite typical (BTW it was not lemon but very diluted acid) of etched blades. Once you have seen one, the result is so spectacular that you cannot mistake (unless lousy pictures, bad lights) Quote
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