MY NEW NIHONTO SHOWED UP TODAY.

[bmoore1322]

Okay i had this posted in another section just for viewing of the smith's signature.

 

I have the sword with me, came in the mail today, and wow, I really love this sword.

 

Here are some pics of it, the Tsuba looks all hand carved , not cast, as there are no cast marks at all, the wrapping on the tsuka is in perfect condition, the fittings are different then my other Showa fittings, as this was fitted with combat fittings, as one member said this might have been an family blade taken into combat, as it is an Wakizashi blade in a full size Tsuka, and only one pin hole, so this tsuka must have been made for this sword, as it fits the blade like a glove, perfectly.

 

The blade is signed by Bichu No Kami Tachibana Yoshihiro and has a Kiku on the back of the nakago, the blade is 21" long, The hamon is choji, so I think so from my books, and I can see Hada in the blade as well.

 

The Saya leather cover had a little surprise I was never told about, it has an American name written on it in pen, as I think that it might have been the GI that brought it home, and the inside of the leather cover has Japanese Kanji, which hopefully would spell the Japanese soldiers name, I cannot read Japanese, so I'm hoping another member in here can tell me what it says.

 

The blade is need a of a good full polish, which I will be having it done.

 

I added some pics I never had before, so I hope you all like it.

 

thanks

Brian

[nagamaki - Franco]

A valid papered example for comparitive study http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/K9305_W6623_E.htm , congratulations on your nihonto purchase. More, see [No.11(page 18)]

http://www.choshuya.co.jp/1/0811/member_frame_sword.htm and http://www.token-net.com/juyotoken/juyo-yasuhiro680-0901/juyo-yasuhiro-1.html

[bmoore1322]

Yes, I am very happy with this one.

 

It will be getting a full polish on it, I really like the Tsuba, I didn't at first, I was more interested the blade, and when I saw the name, and Kanji on the leather Saya cover, that really made my day.

 

Here are a couple more pics of the Tsuka.

 

thanks

Brian

[bmoore1322]

Okay, I don't mean to sound stupid here, but I see a lot of swords here lately, where the signature has been chalked in white , is there a purpose for this, other then to bring out the signature for looks only, or what, as I see no other reasoning for it.

 

Brian

[hxv]

Brian,

When the mei doesn't photograph well, "chalking" the nakago improves the contrast and usually results in better pictures.

 

Hoanh

[bmoore1322]

@ Hoanh

 

That's what I was thinking , but never know, so that I would ask.

 

thanks

Brian

[mdiddy]

Brian,

 

Can we see pictures of the blade? See if you can 'light up' the hamon and take a photograph.

 

Bitchu Yasuhiro has a very characteristic choji midare hamon. Concentrate on comparing the workmanship in the blade to known good examples. Franco provided good examples. Googling should turn up more.

 

Matt

[bmoore1322]

@ Matt

 

Yes. I will try to get some good pics of the blade, and hamon.

 

 

@ Franco

 

I really love this one the best of the ones you showed me;

 

http://www.token-net.com/juyotoken/juyo ... iro-1.html

 

 

Brian

[bmoore1322]

Here are the best possible pics of the Hamon I could get, The blade is need of a good complete polish, which she will be getting.

 

 

Some are with the flash, and some are not and i took the pics on top of the air hockey table in the rec room in the basement, because of its white top might have helped.

 

Either way I'm really happy with it.

 

Trust me, it is still very sharp where I was was holding the blade where the Habaki would rest, as I was turning the blade to try and get some good pics, I split my thumb open pretty good.

 

I would still love to know what the Japanese Kanji says on the inside of the leather Saya cover.

 

 

 

Thanks

Brian

[Veli]

Hello Brian!

 

Nice wakizashi! Do you have a sword maintenance kit with an uchiko ball? There seems not to be any deep rust, so cleaning the blade repeatedly but gently with uchiko might make the hamon a bit more visible. Please be careful with your fingers, it is easy to cut oneself when wiping the uchiko off.

 

There are subtle but significant differences in the signature when compared to the 1st generation Yasuhiro (all the links given are examples of the 1st. gen.), but there were also 2nd and 3rd generations, so I wonder if this could be a blade by either of them. Unfortunately I cannot find oshigata for the later generations.

 

 

 

BR, Veli

[bmoore1322]

Yes, I have nice cleaning kit I bought years ago, and yes It already bit me tonight when I was taking pics, but that's fine, as it was well worth it, I take it as warning.

 

Brian

[bmoore1322]

@ Veli.

 

Yes there are very little differences in the two, very little, and I think that could be that carving your name with a chisel into metal would not be exact every time.

 

I think I read years ago, that sometimes sword smiths had assistants , and may be they would sign his name into the blade for them, just like secretaries today would do for their boss'.

 

Not sure if that is true or not.

 

I will use my cleaning kit and see if it helps.

 

Brian

[mdiddy]

Brian,

 

Thanks for sharing pics of the blade. Given the condition it is hard to make an exact comparison. From what I see (which could be a stretch since we are looking at pictures of an out of polish blade over the internet), your hamon does look to be some version of choji (or gunome). However, the choji do not look as clustered as they do in some of the examples by Yasuhiro we see. I will concede that most of the examples you are going to find on here, in person, or eslewhere on the internet are likely of the first generation. But they should be a guide to the type of workmanship exhibited by Yasuhiro. Keep digging and researching (and reading)!

 

Matt

[bmoore1322]

@ Matt

 

Yes, I will keep reading, and yes it will be getting a full polish done to her.

 

That should bring out the beauty of the blade.

 

Thanks

Brian

[bmoore1322]

Like you advised to do I gave it a good cleaning today, and yes it did help bring out the Hamon, I took this pic earlier, and red outlined the best I could do.

 

@ Matt, yes I think it does look the same, I did the best with the red out line, but in person it does look the same in the pic you posted.

 

Brian

[mdiddy]

Brian,

 

That looks better. Here are some questions for you:

 

1. What activities can you spot?

 

2. What does the boshi look like?

 

3. What does the yakidashi look like?

 

4. Can you show us pictures of these?

 

Best,

 

Matt

[bmoore1322]

Here are some more pics of the Boshi, and the Yakidashi, on the Boshi you can see some of the Hada activity also.

 

You can see the Hamon in these pics since I did a good cleaning on it today.

 

 

Brian

[christianmalterre]

This item here...

is sorrowly False!

Congratulations!

 

Christian

[Veli]

This item here...

is sorrowly False!

Congratulations!

 

Christian

 

And your analysis is based on...?

 

Veli

[Ron STL]

Brian, looking at the nakago of your Yasuhiro and the placement and overall "feel" of the mei's carving, I'd bet money on this sword being right for shodai Yasuhiro. The hamon also looks as it should for Yasuhiro. Being of the Ishido group, he was copying Bizen hamon in this case which greatly resembles Ichimonji hamon. I would suspect there will be utsuri showing after a 1st class Japanese polish. I once owned a signed Yasuhiro which, if memory is correct, was more of a suguha, but these smiths did both suguha and the Bizen choji style hamon. An interesting mumei (unsigned) katana here (found in mint, high quality naval kai-gunto koshira, mon on menuki, etc.) displays a similar hamon. Before shinsa, it was thought to be shinto, Ishido school work but others felt it was actually Ichimonji. It was finally put through shinsa (Miyano-san) and was papered to Ishido Yasuhiro den. (Most unsigned blades will receive the "den" designation, so it seems.) Anyway, I'll see about attaching some photos of my blade; it's interesting to compare hamon. Ron H.

[bmoore1322]

Please explain to me why is " sorrowly false "

 

 

@ Ron, that is pure beauty, thanks for showing it, and yes my Hamon looks like that, its hard to bring it out, as it needs a good polish, and I'm not very good at doing the whole red line thing, I did the best that I could do.

 

Brian

[drbvac]

Ron:

 

Are you absolutely sure?

 

- I was sort of wondering where this was all going as soon as they started talking of a good polish and the fact that sometimes with chisels the mei looks different etc. It is fairly easy to come up with possible explanations to explain the differences in oshigata of authenticated signatures and hamon appearance in an attempt to convince oneself of the fact that your blade is not a copy. I have done it myself but please be advised at least IMHO the differences in signatures between several blades by the same smith are almost none in terms of angulation, depth of cut, angles, size etc.

 

If yours does not match the first oshigata's submitted - it's not that smith - you may find it is a second or third generation but it will take more study. You are certainly entitled to have this blade polished but just to improve its appearance in itself - don't bet on it becoming a great example of this particular smiths work.

 

Please correct me in my errors = only way to learn

[Ray Singer]

Hi Brian, you need to be aware that the Yasuhiro has several kizu and there is a fukure which is in the process of opening up. Consider carefully before making the decision to put this sword through a polish, and if you do decide to polish the sword make sure you are going to someone with the training and skills to address these types of problems. You should weigh the costs for restoration and what the end result will be with what you could buy with those same funds. I frequently see nice, signed, ubu, papered, shinto wakizashi in polish with no notable kizu in the 4-5k range.

 

- Ray

 

Here are some more pics of the Boshi, and the Yakidashi, on the Boshi you can see some of the Hada activity also.

You can see the Hamon in these pics since I did a good cleaning on it today.

Brian

[bmoore1322]

Yes, I plan on having either Jimmy Ayashi, or David Hofhine, do the polish for me, I have had others tell me to send it to Jimmy Ayashi.

 

Brian

[Ray Singer]

If you are decided not to send your sword to Japan for restoration then Jimmy Hayashi is an excellent polisher. Not to beat a dead horse, but before you make a decision I would encourage you to calculate your expected total costs including what you originally paid for the sword + habaki, shirasaya, polish, papers (including agent fees). Most times it is not advisable to go through this process with a sword that has notable flaws or if the mei is questionable.

 

- Ray

[bmoore1322]

There is a long waiting list, so i have plenty of time to think it over, but will be getting polished, if not Japan, then David Hofhine, as I have looked at his work, and he does good work.

 

This is my Nihonto, and plan on keeping it a very long time.

 

Thanks for sound advice.

Brian

[David Flynn]

Brian, this sword has faults. These faults may and probably will become worse, with a polish. Next, have the Mei (signature) fully checked out, to make sure it is Genuine. As you like this sword, leave it as it is for a while, whilst you are on your learning curb. With more Knowledge, you may eventually change your mind and save some money.

[bmoore1322]

Okay, David I see what you mean, as if I do have it done it looks like 8-12 month waiting list to send it out, and I can always change my mind.

 

Brian

[bmoore1322]

Would it help if I told you all that I bought the sword from a very reputable dealer, and sword polisher also.

 

Brian

[Peter Bleed]

Brian,

You have received a wide range of opinions - - and given us all an interesting ride. I'll side with Ron Hartman - dahhh - I would bet heavily that this is a legit signature. Like Ron, I've owned a shodai Yasuhiro and I have seen a bunch more. They are not uncommon and from my experience rather varied. It is also important to recall that there were a couple of generations. My guess is that this blade was made by the 3rd generation. That kizu just behind the yokote worries me. And I agree that this blade would be within Dave Hofhine's range.

Peter