Nice Discovery: Mei On A Really Bad Treated Katana-Wakisashi

[francantolin]

Hello everybody,

 

I bought an old Japanese sword without scabbard in  really bad conditions for few money

( reaaally bad conditions  ! )

 

I started to clean it and found a mei on both side of the basis of the blade.

 

Is it a genuine old sword ? Is it possible to translate ?

 

I don't know what to do with the blade, ( and what they have done before !!!    )

Is it possible to save-restore it ?

 

Mei Pictures:

 

 

 

 

[francantolin]

The blade ...

[francantolin]

Pieces...

[Ray Singer]

Definitely a genuine sword. As far as the signature, the first part is 因州住壽___ (Inshu ju Toshi___).

 

Perhaps:

因州住壽宗 - Inshu ju Toshimune

[Ray Singer]

Date would be Bunsei 5 Nen 8 Gatsu Hi (a day in the 5th month of 1822)

[Guest]

Franco

take a close look - does that last character look more like 宗 or more like 実?.

[francantolin]

Hello and thank you both really really much !!!

I will post closer-better pictures of the mei today.

Kind regards

 

Franco

[John A Stuart]

I think there is little doubt it is Toshimune. John

[francantolin]

Hello,

here some ''better'' pics of the mei,

for the blade. I will post the pictures in another forum categorie I think.

Kind regards !!

[francantolin]

Now correct pictures !

Still Big Thanks !!!

[Ray Singer]

No change to the prior translation.

 

因州住壽宗 - Inshu ju Toshimune

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello Franco, the worst part / flaw of the blade will be teh critical point as to whetere it can be restored or not. Being a Shinshinto blade you probably have enough meat left to deal with any pitting taht can been seen from the images ... the nicks are not too bad. There is just one spot in your images that troubles me. Please see attached. It could just be some discoloration. I would like to see a better image of this area. In general larger images of the blade would help to advice on wheter it is restoreable or not. Best regards

[francantolin]

Thank you Raymond for the translation !!!

[TheGermanBastard]

- ... posted in wrong topic

[Peter Bleed]

I bet this sword will polish just fine and be a terrific addition to a collection. Luis points outs a suspicious spot, but I I still think it will be all right.

Peter

[Prewar70]

Seriously now. I am barely an amateur but if this sword would polish out just fine than I would be amazed. I've had 3 blades polished thus far that started out in far better shape and I was surprised at the flaws that appeared.

[Bazza]

Choose your friends carefully and your swords more so...

 

BaZZa.

[Guest]

Agreed Toshimune

Likely part of Toshizane school but he is Meikan more...

-t

[TheGermanBastard]

I bet this sword will polish just fine and be a terrific addition to a collection. Luis points outs a suspicious spot, but I I still think it will be all right.

Peter

 

 

Hello Peter,

 

I would take any bett against you

 

It is actually worse than I first thought. No chance on this old lady ...

[Ken-Hawaii]

Luis is right. Keep the blade as it is, & for what it's worth, Franco. Now you have a starting point from which to learn...including what you should spend your money on!

 

Just because a blade COULD be restored (to some extent) doesn't mean that it SHOUld be. Your blade would have to be drastically reshaped to get rid of that bad spot.

 

Have you bought some books to start the education process?

[SAS]

No way that would polish out.

[PNSSHOGUN]

At best it could be reshaped into a O-Tanto.

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello John,

 

I guess only into one with a missing boshi

[PNSSHOGUN]

Well you would clearly do a new Yaki-Ire for it (we're this far down the rabbit hole now)....

[SAS]

Then we could discuss the meanings of preservation.......