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Post by rgsnj on Mar 27, 2024 18:10:06 GMT
I am a new member, first post. Years ago I collected just about anything now I am retired trying to not leave a mess for my daughter. I have a sword with a signature that I am hoping to benefit from the expertise of the members. I was told that it is Japanese with an old blade, hoping it's not Chinese. I would appreciate any help possible Thanks much rgsnj    |
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Post by larason2 on Mar 28, 2024 21:10:02 GMT
Yeah, I think it's Japanese, but my opinion is worth what you paid for it! The signature and texture on the tang (nakago) looks legit, (though the filing marks are rather rough! Also, the forgers have become good at these sorts of signatures sometimes) and it has one of the arsenal stamps, so from wartime I think. The blade has a nice hamon, but I can't see enough detail in the blade to tell tamahagane vs. some other steel. It's scratched up, but not terrible. fittings standard but not bad condition. Standard advice applies, to know with assurance needs to be properly polished and submitted to Shinsa, which will probably cost more than it's worth. There's other forae you can check, like r/katana or the Nihonto Message board.
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Post by rgsnj on Apr 1, 2024 17:10:44 GMT
larason2,
Thank you for your reply and advice. I did see that the cost for an appraisal wasn't worth it. I'll start cleaning and polishing everything then see how the market is.
Thanks again
rgsnj
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Post by blackprince on Apr 2, 2024 0:46:51 GMT
In case it is the genuine article - Don’t clean or polish the tang. Appraisers tell the age of a sword by the rust on that part. Also, I wouldn’t recommend polishing any part of the blade unless you know what you are doing. Polishing away the hamon is possible.
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Post by larason2 on Apr 2, 2024 1:54:27 GMT
I agree, traditional Japanese polishing is very time consuming and difficult to learn, requires a lot of specialized tools, and there's a lot that can go wrong that can ruin the blade. Usually even if you have all the tools, you end up ruining at least the first few (so better to learn on reproductions). Putting a western burnished polish on it will damage the finish in a way it's going to be hard to get it back even as good as it is now. The way to preserve the value the best, especially if the polish is in a reasonably good shape as it is here, Is to leave it as is. Give it a fresh coat of mineral oil or choji oil and wipe the blade with a soft cloth, and you can't go wrong. Over time repeated oilings will convert red rust to black rust, which won't continue to damage the blade. If you're impatient, you can rub the red rust with a piece of bone or soft copper. This is also time consuming, but it will not likely result in ruination. Once you get black rust though, best to leave it be after that.
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Post by treeslicer on Apr 2, 2024 18:02:54 GMT
larason2, Thank you for your reply and advice. I did see that the cost for an appraisal wasn't worth it. I'll start cleaning and polishing everything then see how the market is. Thanks again rgsnj Hi, of course it's authentically Japanese. Given that it has a "sho" stamp, it has a gunto (military sword) blade made for WW II. www.japaneseswordindex.com/military.htm The entire sword looks like an authentic Type 98 shin gunto, to me.
Everybody see the "sho" stamp now?
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Post by rgsnj on Apr 8, 2024 16:19:42 GMT
Thanks to all for your post and advice. I'm glad I found this board, I'm going to leave it as is.
rgsnj
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