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Post by sparky on Apr 26, 2009 14:26:35 GMT
Okay, I got the tsuka off thanks to alant ;D. Here are some pictures of what I found. Still no numbers stamped anywhere, but no MEI (sword signature) either. Is it typical for the bo-hi to travel to the end of the tsuka? To me it looks like the sword was cut down, like part of the blade is now the tsuka. After cleaning the rust off ......................... just kidding
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2009 14:48:25 GMT
Very cool info guys wish someone would give me a sword LOL
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2009 14:54:39 GMT
it very well might be a cutdown Katana, wouldn't be the first.
I was watching a show about antique swords and this 14 year old brought in a Katana that was in pretty rough shape but it was a hundreds of years old. When the antique guy took it apart they were amazed to find out that the Katana was actually cut down to that length!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2009 15:23:27 GMT
I know that in the US during WWII many things normally made of steel were put on hold so the steel could be put to more important use. This is why I appreciate my 1943 US Navy MK-2 machete as it is example of something deemed worthy of using steel for. Not that I have checked, but it would not surprise me to find out that it was made out of old car springs instead of new steel from a forge. I do know it is a very nice steel though and far better than the newer USN machetes.
I know from reading The 47th Samurai that Japanese did gather up (and this is a true shame) old family samurai katanas to be made into swords to be worn in a purely gunpowder age by some officer or non-comm. It looks like that sword is one of them. So, the question is – how old was the sword sacrificed to make that sword and how famous was it? I can’t even guess at the odds that you can get that question answered.
But I am sure you will certainly read The 47th Samurai with a heightened interest. I am amazed to hear of this story because it is just way too close to Hunters fiction (but I doubt you will end up using it for real battle).
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Post by sparky on Apr 26, 2009 15:39:48 GMT
I'm sure that the habaki comes off and this is the only part of the blade I have not seen, but again I'm nervous about screwing something up. Do I need to take it off? Would I just tap it down to remove?
And I really do what to thank everyone for their help. All of the advice has been incredibly helpful!
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Post by randomnobody on Apr 26, 2009 17:08:51 GMT
Yep, no doubt it's a cut-down old blade. How old is what I'd like to know.
Were it me, I'd send some pictures around to a few polishers and throw up a thread at SFI or the NMB and see what the more knowledgeables there had to say. I'd certainly like to see what this thing looks like cleaned up a bit, if it can still take it. The hamon looks like it ought to last a minor polish, but there are a few other factors that would need to be addressed first...
As to the habaki, it should slide off fairly easily...if not, tap it gently with something softish until it's free enough to just slide.
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Post by sparky on Apr 26, 2009 19:28:04 GMT
Yep, no doubt it's a cut-down old blade. How old is what I'd like to know. Were it me, I'd send some pictures around to a few polishers and throw up a thread at SFI or the NMB and see what the more knowledgeables there had to say. I'd certainly like to see what this thing looks like cleaned up a bit, if it can still take it. The hamon looks like it ought to last a minor polish, but there are a few other factors that would need to be addressed first... As to the habaki, it should slide off fairly easily...if not, tap it gently with something softish until it's free enough to just slide. Thanks, I'll try that when we get home. Spending the day at the in-laws. Want to here something funny? A neighbor just gave me another sword!!!! I now am the proud owner of a SLO. A stainless steel, plastic handled katana want to be ;D When I first started looking at buying a sword thank God I found SBG. Otherwise I may have bought some junk like this. I'll post pictures when I get home so all can laugh
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2009 22:02:00 GMT
That handle is hella cool sparky.
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Post by sparky on Apr 26, 2009 23:17:58 GMT
Well here are the promised pictures. Another free ??sword?? Or now that I know a SLO Real imitation ivory handle Genuine 440 stainless steel blade This baby is DEFINATLY a collectors item ;D Maybe I could cut it down and make some knives out of it. The scary thing is this thing has an edge, not great but sharp enough to hurt someone. Darn did I just hijack my own tread ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2009 23:20:27 GMT
I've owned a few really cool looking SLO Kat's just for display....
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Post by YlliwCir on Apr 26, 2009 23:22:20 GMT
Hey, Sparky, that first sword is really cool. Your lucky. btw I used to have a SLO something like that last one there. LOL
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Post by randomnobody on Apr 26, 2009 23:23:19 GMT
I've nearly bought a few like that myself. Well, "it's the thought that counts," I guess. Display it somewhere not-so-prominent when they come over next.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2009 0:25:25 GMT
That'd be a cool handle on an actual, real sword, maybe I just say that because I like curved hilts, but screw you guys for thinking that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2009 0:48:14 GMT
Hey Congrats on your good fortune Sparky! This was a really interesting thread....I still haven't read everything over on Steins site, but I learned a lot about gunto today, thanks everyone
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2009 12:35:26 GMT
Some people have all the luck. At least now your neighbor is safer with you having that sword. It is kind of cool looking.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2009 13:08:32 GMT
Gratz on the gifted sowrd! That's a really nice piece of history to own. Many of us would love the opportunity to own something from the past like that. I'm happy for you that you got it and happy for us that you shared it with us
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Post by sparky on Apr 27, 2009 20:09:02 GMT
Thanks all!!! As Clint Eastwood asked, I do feel lucky ;D It's just really cool to think, what has this sword been a part of and what has it seen. If it truly is a very old sword that would be sooo cool. And if it's not it would still be sooo cool! I have learned more about the Katana trying to figure this thing out than I would have otherwise. The second sword given to me my boys love, so I'll probably blunt it and bolt it to the wall in their bedroom. That way we will never have a "helicopter" blade. Thanks again for all the help on this SBG family!
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Post by randomnobody on Apr 27, 2009 20:17:39 GMT
Have you posted this on any of the other forums, especially NMB, yet? I'm quite curious to hear their thoughts.
I'm goin to go ahead and say this thing is probably a few hundred years old (250+, I'd wager) but that's only based on the patina of the shortened portion, which would be much younger than the orignal nakago, at least typically. I can't say anything else about age, origin, etc. because I simply do not know enough, but I'm pretty comfortable in giving this blade at least two or three centuries.
Maybe even Koto, though I won't go that far.
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Post by sparky on Apr 27, 2009 20:33:41 GMT
Have you posted this on any of the other forums, especially NMB, yet? I'm quite curious to hear their thoughts. I'm goin to go ahead and say this thing is probably a few hundred years old (250+, I'd wager) but that's only based on the patina of the shortened portion, which would be much younger than the orignal nakago, at least typically. I can't say anything else about age, origin, etc. because I simply do not know enough, but I'm pretty comfortable in giving this blade at least two or three centuries. Maybe even Koto, though I won't go that far. At this point no. This is the only message board I'm a member of. I have to find the time to join others I guess in order to post the pictures. I have sent some pictures to a guy in Texas who may be able to help me though.
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Post by randomnobody on Apr 27, 2009 20:38:27 GMT
You really should swing by the Nihonto Message Board at the very least. They're a strict bunch but they know their stuff. I used to browse and post there, as the FNG, but haven't in ages...
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