NIOI · sword polishing · Leiden
(01) Kongō-dō · removing rust
000

Japanese sword polishing
and records. Leiden, since 2011.

[email protected]
Oude Vest 141, Leiden

Macro view of the polished steel of Mumei, Osaka shintō, Sukehiro school: Tōran-midare, rolling waves of thick nie; Fine ko-itame, very clean.
(f.)Register · Osaka shintō · 2021

SUKEHIRO SCHOOL

Mumei, Osaka shintō, Sukehiro school. Enpō era, 1673-1681. 70.0 cm, Hadori finish.

Move the pointer over the steel
to see the nie catch the lamp

(a.)The record

Measuredand noted

Received: Fingerprint rust, otherwise sound.

5 weeks on the bench, Hadori finish. Before the first stone we photographed both sides, measured the blade and noted every flaw, so the owner can see exactly what changed.

  • (a.)MeiUnsigned (attribution)
  • (b.)SchoolOsaka shintō
  • (c.)PeriodEnpō era, 1673-1681
  • (d.)TypeKatana
  • (e.)Nagasa70.0 cm (23.1 sun)
  • (f.)Sori1.4 cm
  • (g.)Motohaba3.22 cm
  • (h.)Sakihaba2.32 cm
  • (i.)Kasane0.75 cm
  • (j.)HadaFine ko-itame, very clean
  • (k.)HamonTōran-midare, rolling waves of thick nie
  • (l.)BōshiKo-maru
  • (m.)Nakago20.6 cm, kesho sujikai file marks, 1 hole
  • (n.)ReceivedFingerprint rust, otherwise sound
  • (o.)FinishHadori, 5 weeks on the bench
The whole blade of Mumei, Osaka shintō, Sukehiro school with its tang, after polishing.
(b.)Before and after

The samefew centimetres

Before: the steel as received, grey with rust and scratches. After: the same section polished, hamon and grain visible. As receivedAfter polish
‹ ›
(c.)Oshigata

The rubbing

Oshigata of Mumei, Osaka shintō, Sukehiro school: outline and ridges in graphite, the tang rubbed whole, the hamon drawn by hand.
(i.)Hamon. Tōran-midare, rolling waves of thick nie.
(ii.)Bōshi. Ko-maru.
(iii.)Grain. Fine ko-itame, very clean. The grain is not drawn on an oshigata; it is in the written record.
(iv.)Tang. The tang carries no signature. The attribution rests on the shape, the steel and the hamon.

Rubbing on washi, graphite and pencil, 1:1