Old Katana, or is it?

[IanS]

Hi Jim, trust you are well. Thanks for the comments, it doesn't look as good as the photos, but a great deal better than it was. I have a good idea on how to get the hamon back, but I need to research it first. I found that if I had a good polish on the hamon, using a slightly coarser grit gently, could show it up as the edge being harder was less prone to show the faint scratches. I intend to use the traditional method once I have learnt it!!!

[IanS]

Here are the two "oldies".

From left to right,

400 year old blade. 400 year old blade.
700 year old blade. 700 year old blade, note the combat cuts on the side of the blade. Probably from the Genko wars in the early 1300's.

The hamon on both blades can be seen.

[browningautorifle]

the two "oldies".

Very nice blades. I can see the battle damage, also the last pic shows one nick in the edge from same...very nice.

[IanS]

Hi Jim, I've just received an email about the katana I've just rebuilt. My contact thinks the blade is late Koto, early Shinto, that's 1500's into 1600's. He'll have a better idea when he handles it, I don't know when that will be.

Best wishes,
Ian.