Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 65 The sword Observation process

65| The Sword Observation Process

This chapter shows the handling and viewing process of the sword examination.

  1. Wear white gloves or hold a handkerchief in each hand.

how-to-handle-sword-1.jpg

 

  1. Bow lightly.  Hold the Tsuka (hilt) with your right hand and the Saya (scabbard) with your left hand.  Pull the Saya out.  Doing this, the back of the Saya faces the floor, and the Ha faces up.  The Mune should be resting on the inside of the Saya.  Pull the blade carefully.  Do not let the Ha touch the inner wall of the Saya to avoid accidentally getting scratches.

How to handle sword 2

 

  1. Set down the Saya on the left of the sword.  Prepare the sword tool.

How to handle sword 3

 

  1. Using the sword tool, push the Mekugi (peg) out of the Tsuka.

How to handle sword 4

 

5.  Pull and place the Tsuka and put Mekugi in the hole of the Tsuka so that you won’t lose it.

How to handle sword 5

 

6.    Pull the Habaki (metal piece just above the Tsuka, a gold piece in the picture left) and set them down on the right.

How to handle sword 6.a  How to handle sword 6

 

  1. Hold the Nakago with your right hand. With Washi (Japanese rice paper), or handkerchief or tissue paper, support under the blade with your left hand.

How to handle sword 7

 

  1. Using the light reflection on the blade’s surface, look at Jigane, Hamon, Boshi, and Mei, etc. To see Hamon, Jigane, and Boshi well, move the sword up, down, or sideways or rotate it to reflect the light in the right position.

１悦子の絵

  1. When you finish looking at the sword, bow lightly and reassemble it by reversing the process.

How to handle sword 9

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 13 | «Part 2» Middle Kamakura Period Tanto (鎌倉中期短刀 ), Uncategorized

46|Part 2 of — 12|Middle Kamakura Period: Tanto 鎌倉中期短刀

This chapter is a datiled part of chapter of 12| Middle Kamakura Period Tanto ( 短刀) .  Please read Chapter 12 before reading this section.

0-timeline - size 24 Middle Kamakura

                   The circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

In 12| The Middle Kamakura Period: Tanto  described that the shape of Tanto called Takenoko-zori had appeared during the middle Kamakura period.  This style of Tanto curves inward a little at the tip.  The drawing below may be a bit exaggerated to show the curve.  The real Takenoko-zori curvature is not so apparent.  Maybe a few millimeters inward. 

Usually, the length of the Tanto is approximately 12 inches.  Tantos are described as follows; a Tanto of approx. ten inches is called Josun Tanto (定寸短刀), longer than ten inches is called Sun-nobi Tanto (寸延び短刀), and less than ten inches is called Sun-zumari Tanto (寸詰短刀).

12Tanto drawing Mid Kamakur

 

Sun-nobi Tanto (寸延び)  　>   Jyosun Tanto (定寸)  　> 　sun-zumari Tanto (寸詰り)　　(longer than 10 inches)         　 (approx. 10 inches)                (less than 10 inches

13 «Part 2» Tanto photo

 46 Shintogo Kunimitsu Oshigata

Shintogo Kunimitsu (新藤五国光)  Sano Museum Catalogue, permission granted to use

The style above is called Kanmuri-otoshi (冠落し); the Mune side (opposite side of cutting edge) is shaved off.  The length is approximately 10 inches.  Woodgrain pattern surface, Nie on Ji (refer to 3 |Names of Parts).   Very finely forged.  Hamon is medium Suguha (straight).  Boshi is Ko-maru (small round).  Because of the Kanmuri-otoshi style, it may not be easy to see the Takenoko-zori; the Mune side bends inward very slightly.  Among the Tanto producers, Shintogo Kunimitsu is considered as the top Tanto maker.

13 «Part 2»Tanto photo with Saya

Above photo is also by Shintogo Kunimitsu (新藤五国光) with Saya.  Saya is the scabbard.  The handle of the scabbard (white part) is made with sharkskin.  Both photos are from Sano Museum Catalog.  Permission granted.