By Saint-Just September 29, in Nihonto. Dear New Friends, I am new to this forum. After long waiting and saving, I bought a Ko Naminohira Tachi. The Sayagaki from says: Hogen- era late Heian, So say the sellers - both in Japan and here in Holland. Other people with knowledge maintain, though, the Tachi which has one almost unreadable 'An' character near the peg hole is of later date: Kamakura. Not necessarily based on the nakago - in the National Museum in Tokio there are a few Heian tachi's who don't have the characteristic Heian 'Pheasant Leg' but a nakago similar as mine 'chestnut' The Tachi is ubi, 77 cm cutting egde, 99 cm in total, has a relatively low waist - but you please judge it yourself - and weights a little grams.
It has its Tokobetsu Hozon and is judged als Jidda: Hogen in Is there anyone who is at home with the newest insights? Unlike the previous posting for the Narishige, where there was enough of a kanji remnant to determine its reading, in this case they did not find the mei to be readable at all. Congratulations on a fine sword. I remember eyeing at the Japanese dealer but it was way above my level of collecting.
I do have it saved as Kamakura period work in my files. Unfortunately I am not a home during this weekend so I don't have access to all of my data. Ko-Naminohira attribution spans from late Heian into late Nanbokucho period. Late Heian - early Kamakura Ko-Naminohira work is very rare as so early swords usually are. The Japanese dealer who had it online is often quite optimistic in age attributions.
I am bit curious who told to you? You do have very nice tachi and I hope you will enjoy it. I can write better post next week when I am at home. I have c. I am new on fora and quite a digibete, so I hoop this message is reaching you. Yes, Ray, google translate told me the mei is unreadable. The original seller says it is the character An - and makes some far-going conclusions about that. I am just happy there IS a mei, on the right Tachi site Hi Jussi.
So you saw the blade. It was - and actually is - quote on top of what I could afford. But it came to Holland last year and I simply fell in love with it. I suspected the Japanese dealer has been quite optimistic in age attributions - but only after I did put the sword on hold. With Kamakura, perhaps I can live - the sword has a great size, a great elegance and seems very healthy to me. Late Nambuchoko periode would be unacceptable - and then I really should ask the dealer to reverse the sale.
