Katana with Koto blade

[Ed Maroli]

Sorry but they are not the best photos.

[Ed Maroli]

The temper line is hard to photograph

[Ed Maroli]

The cutting edge is 27"

[Ed Maroli]

The mon is for either the Kasai or Nukui clan

[Ed Maroli]

The hardware is all high quality.

[Ed Maroli]

All parts are 'numbered' and matching

[Ed Maroli]

There are 5 tang holes and I believe the blade was longer at one time.

[Ed Maroli]

I will try to post more tomorrow. The vets family "wisely" cleaned the blade before selling it

Ed Maroli

[Ed Maroli]

It has a medium straight(chu'-suguha) temper line

[Ed Maroli]

more

[Ed Maroli]

better picture of mon

[Ed Maroli]

All parts numbered 438

[Ed Maroli]

Shallow curve with torii variety blade

[Ed Maroli]

Habaki is copper clad in silver and is very high quality.

[Ed Maroli]

more

[Ed Maroli]

The heavy blade is unsigned and dates from 1400-1500

[Brian Wolfe]

better picture of mon

Hi Ed,

This mon of 3 oak leaves (kashi) is shared by the Makino, Horimoto and Kasai families among others. [reference: Military Swords of Japan 1868-1945 by Richard Fuller and Ron Gregory, pg.96]

You say that this might have been cut down.

Does the temper line run along the blade and up the tip to the back edge of the blade or does it run along the blade and out "through" the tip's edge? If it runs out the tip and not along it then this means it has been shortened at one time. Cut down swords are not uncommon. It was a way to reuse damaged swords and to extend the usefulness of the longer blades when they fell out of accepted tactics on the battlefield.

I like your sword very much, thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

[Ed Maroli]

Brian, thank you for the info on the Makino and Horimoto clans. I found the Kasai and Nukui from http://www.samurai-archives.com/

Ed Maroli :cheers:

[Ed Maroli]

The temper line looks as if it runs straight at the tip. This is why I believe it may have been longer.

Thanks, Ed

[Brian Wolfe]

Yep, a cut-down, I have a katana that does the same.

Still a very nice sword.

Somehow I think these have a lot more history associated with them than a blade that was never touched. They were made and then for whatever reason reworked into a shorter sword. I think the chances a reworked blade saw action is greater than a pristeen blade.

Regards

Brian

Edited April 17, 2009 by Brian Wolfe

[Stogieman]

I think anytime we see multiples of mounting peg holes in the tang..... whatever blade bears them bears serious examination and study. I have a friend in town here with such a blade that he rummaged out of an auction house years ago.... I will attempt to get images from it for your enjoyment.