Nihonto Question on Re-Tempering

Battara · 30th August 2020, 08:22 AM

Greetings folks,

I know that this is not my usual area of expertise nor comment, but I do have a question concerning nihonto:

Is it typical for a Japanese katana or wakasashi blade to be re-tempered?

If so, why?

Would it lower the value if it were re-tempered?

Rich · 30th August 2020, 12:23 PM

It is not typical, but not uncommon for a katana or wakizashi to be re-tempered if it was burned in a fire or had the kissaki broken
It needs to be done by an expert. Please don't try it yourself. It drastically changes the curvature and also will have a different hamon from what the original swordmaker did. Yes, Re-tempering makes the blade far less valuable in the Nihonto market. Any serious collector can spot a re-tempered (saiha) blade quite easily.

Rich
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm

Battara · 30th August 2020, 07:48 PM

I was hoping you would chime in Rich. Thank you. And no I wouldn't dare do such a thing since I am not a swordsmith.

mariusgmioc · 30th August 2020, 09:24 PM

In nihonto the tempering defines the blade and it is an essential part of it.

I would say that Rick put it quite mildly, but from the point of view of a nihonto collector, a re-tempered blade is worthless.

Battara · 30th August 2020, 11:35 PM

Domo arigato to you both.

This is what I figured but was not sure. That is why I am so very careful and know what I want and don't want to throw away my money on re-tempers, blades with kizus, blades that need massive amounts of polish, etc.

mariusgmioc · 31st August 2020, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Domo arigato to you both.

This is what I figured but was not sure. That is why I am so very careful and know what I want and don't want to throw away my money on re-tempers, blades with kizus, blades that need massive amounts of polish, etc.

Nihonto collecting is unforgiving to the extreme with even minor defects rendering an otherwise healthy blade worthless.

However, this doesn't mean the blade has no value from historical or ethnographic point of view.

Now, it is our choice how much weight do we place on nihonto criteria/standards and how much on ethnographic criteria/standards.

However, if one wants to be on the safe side, one would only aquire NTBHK papered blades from reputed nihonto dealers... preferably directly from Japan.

30th August 2020, 08:22 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,342	Nihonto Question on Re-Tempering Greetings folks, I know that this is not my usual area of expertise nor comment, but I do have a question concerning nihonto: Is it typical for a Japanese katana or wakasashi blade to be re-tempered? If so, why? Would it lower the value if it were re-tempered?

30th August 2020, 12:23 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	It is not typical, but not uncommon for a katana or wakizashi to be re-tempered if it was burned in a fire or had the kissaki broken It needs to be done by an expert. Please don't try it yourself. It drastically changes the curvature and also will have a different hamon from what the original swordmaker did. Yes, Re-tempering makes the blade far less valuable in the Nihonto market. Any serious collector can spot a re-tempered (saiha) blade quite easily. Rich http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm Last edited by Rich; 30th August 2020 at 02:47 PM.

30th August 2020, 07:48 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,342	I was hoping you would chime in Rich. Thank you. And no I wouldn't dare do such a thing since I am not a swordsmith.

30th August 2020, 09:24 PM	#4
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,912	In nihonto the tempering defines the blade and it is an essential part of it. I would say that Rick put it quite mildly, but from the point of view of a nihonto collector, a re-tempered blade is worthless.

30th August 2020, 11:35 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,342	Domo arigato to you both. This is what I figured but was not sure. That is why I am so very careful and know what I want and don't want to throw away my money on re-tempers, blades with kizus, blades that need massive amounts of polish, etc.