Jnat Finish Name?

[Unknown Stone]

So recently I accidentally created a JNat finish that looks completely matt and frosty from one angle, but almost completely mirror from a different angle. Almost like a layer of hi-gloss clearcoat is laying right on top of a very hazy kasumi finish.

Is there a specific name for this effect?
Is there a precedent for this within the sword polishing discipline?

 

[Unknown Stone]

Or is this what a normal kasumi finish should look like?

 

[Steve56]

Yep, that’s how kasumi is. It’s easier to see the effect on a kitchen knife if you polish it up with uchigumori or a similar stone.

 

[Gamma]

Sounds very typical. Most Jnat edges contain hazy qualities alongside reflective qualities.


Kasumi finish typically relates to a polish accenting the layers with clad steel, Jigane/Higane, temper lines, etc.

 

[Unknown Stone]

Well I’m guessing that there are probably different polishing styles with different aims depending on the intent of the sword maker.
Perhaps a blade smith wants a very subtle Hamon but wants to bring out the grain pattern?
I would imagine a variety of foundation and final polishing disciplines exists?

In other words Kasumi might not be a one dimensional thing?

I understand that one has to be careful about getting things mixed up between swords and razors of course but the whole thing makes me wonder about a broader range of possibilities even for the humble straight razor…

 

[JPO]

This is one example where the kasumi polish brings out the different steel types on this wide bevelled straight razor.
Each steel reacts different to the abrasives.
A synthetic stone will just give you a mirror polish.

 

[Unknown Stone]

Sounds very typical. Most Jnat edges contain hazy qualities alongside reflective qualities.


Kasumi finish typically relates to a polish accenting the layers with clad steel, Jigane/Higane, temper lines, etc.

So is it the term Kasumi technically a misnomer within this hobby?

Sounds like it’s more knife-specific if I’m understanding you correctly.

Is it more of an adopted term in regards to the SR hobby?

 

[Christian1212]

I think when kasumi finish is being referenced everyone is just talking about the haze from the jnats. There are many different levels to the polish though. I always get a really nice polish when I use my asano nagura and push my final tomo. When I jump straight from synthetics though the kasumi might not always be as clear.

 

[Gamma]

So is it the term Kasumi technically a misnomer within this hobby?

Sounds like it’s more knife-specific if I’m understanding you correctly.

Is it more of an adopted term in regards to the SR hobby?

The term Kasumi. as commonly applied in sharpening, is probably defined in numerous places across the internet. I know the term from sword/cutlery worlds. Not razor worlds.

So a 'normal' Kasumi polish, to me, would typically refer to polish on clad knives and swords.
The word Kasumi itself implies mist I think.
I don't think the polishing police are going to bust anyone for using the term to describe a hazy bevel on a razor. It's really not that important.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

The word literally means haze, or sometimes mist, so if that's what you're describing it seems fair enough to use it even if the term has additional connotations in the sword/knife context.

 

[Unknown Stone]

Just trying to get some clarity as to where the term came from.

Not trying to protect myself from the honing police.

Heck, if there’s no chance of getting in trouble with the honing police , I’m out!.

 

[ethompson]

Yes, the effect you've discovered of a glossy / hazy surface left behind by jnats is kasumi. While others are correct that the term is frequently used to describe any finish with contrast between materials or hardened / un-hardened parts of a differentially quenches blade, at it's purest the effect strictly refers to the misty finish without visible scratches. You can have a very fine, low contrast kasumi or a very matte high contrast kasumi - very different finishes, but both kasumi. Kasumi very commonly displays the characteristic you described where it is a glossy iridescent mirror viewed from a shallow angle and much more matte from a steeper angle. I’ve yet to find a stone from outside Japan that can even begin to compete with the surface left by great JNats in terms of capturing and refracting light in an aesthetic way.

Some recent work I did on a Shigefusa nakiri

Sword polishers will employ a range of stones on a single blade to bring out detail and build contrast. Balancing those characteristics in a beautiful, natural way is what separates a great polish from a decent one.

 

[Unknown Stone]

Yes, the effect you've discovered of a glossy / hazy surface left behind by jnats is kasumi. While others are correct that the term is frequently used to describe any finish with contrast between materials or hardened / un-hardened parts of a differentially quenches blade, at it's purest the effect strictly refers to the misty finish without visible scratches. You can have a very fine, low contrast kasumi or a very matte high contrast kasumi - very different finishes, but both kasumi. Kasumi very commonly displays the characteristic you described where it is a glossy iridescent mirror viewed from a shallow angle and much more matte from a steeper angle. I’ve yet to find a stone from outside Japan that can even begin to compete with the surface left by great JNats in terms of capturing and refracting light in an aesthetic way.
View attachment 1923519View attachment 1923520
Some recent work I did on a Shigefusa nakiri

Sword polishers will employ a range of stones on a single blade to bring out detail and build contrast. Balancing those characteristics in a beautiful, natural way is what separates a great polish from a decent one.

Yes, this is a great visual representation of what I am talking about. But as you’re suggesting here the term could suggest an entire range of final results.

 

[ethompson]

Yes, this is a great visual representation of what I am talking about. But as you’re suggesting here the term could suggest an entire range of final results.

Yep! All hon-kasumi polishes will share in common is that hazy / misty / glossy "scratch-free" effect, but under that umbrella there is a huge range of variation.