Where to start?

[snort]

A few months ago at a swap meet I saw a Katana for sale. I'm always on the lookout for low priced antiques to add to my collection and I always wanted a "samurai sword" so we haggled a bit I I bought it from him. He told me that he had inherited it from his grandfather who brought it home after WWII. That was his story, anyhow.

 

After researching around on the interwebs I discovered there was a lot more to these things than I realized. And that cheap copies from China abound — did I just buy a costly reproduction? Or is it the real deal?

 

I removed the Tsuka to see if it was signed and found these markings. I copied them as well as I could because I didn't want to clean off any of the scale & rust until I knew more about cleaning — they don't show up clearly in a photo at all.

 

If possible, could someone help me identify exactly what I have here?

 

 

I want to know what this is, it is for my own knowledge, I am a collector, I don't sell my stuff, I'll let the wife do that when I'm gone.

 

TIA

george

[Ray Singer]

Appears to be an example by Ichihara Ichiryushi Nagamitsu (市原一龍子長光), which are often found in these Type 3 gunto koshirae. Circa 1940s.

 

https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/naga.htm

 

[16k]

From the little I see, I tend to believe it’s real, but pending more pictures of the naked blade and close ups of the temper line.

[Stephen]

My prediction came true. Nagamitsu is the smith.

A pix is in order..i cant read your chicken scratch top kanji.

[Stephen]

Ray is fast on them fingers

[b.hennick]

Hey Stephen:
I didn't know that you could predict the future. 

[Ray Singer]

Good decision to avoid removing rust on your own. That should only be handled by a professional, otherwise you may devalue/ruin your sword. Here is a primer on care and maintenance.

 

http://www.nbthk-ab.org/swordcare.pdf

 

 

I copied them as well as I could because I didn't want to clean off any of the scale & rust until I knew more about cleaning.

[vajo]

The Koshirae is very promising. I like it. 

 

You make a good deal with that sword.

[snort]

damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snort]

The Koshirae is very promising. I like it. 

 

You make a good deal with that sword.

 

damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snort]

This photo posting stuff sucks!!!!!

 

WHY doesn't the option to 'attach files' show up until I select "other options?

 

Then what you've just spent fifteen minutes composing just disappears

 

and when return all you have is the photos and no text

[vajo]

Hmm that looks like a problem.

 

 

You should look on the other side.

 

I hope its only a scratch.

[Stephen]

More reply options

Choose file

Attach this file

Add reply....

That should do it.

Unless file is too large

[snort]

I was trying to reply (and quote) vajo's post to ask if he needed a closeup of the Kashira

 

and to add a photo of the Hamon and the damaged end

 

 

george

ps: My last four post should be only one post

<heh>

[Stephen]

Yes Chris it needs some TLC.

ITS saveable and good ranked smith worthy of restore.

[snort]

Yeah. vajo, I agree. But it was what enabled me to bring the asking price down $100

 

george

[vajo]

$100 really. Thats a bargin with hagire or not well done. 

 

As Steven said.

[snort]

$100 really. Thats a bargin with hagire or not well done. 

No, that was not the price, sir, I got the guy to reduce it by $100.

If you want to know what I paid for it I can PM you but I'm not going to post it here.

Just me — I guess.

 

george

[Stephen]

Hell i dont have that quote thingamajig down.

[snort]

That 'scratch' down on the Hasaki is not a scratch. It is a divot.

Completely thru the blade, about the diameter of a pencil lead.

Looks like someone used it to bridge across 220 volts — it's clean, like it was put there on propose.

 

george

[Stephen]

Do you mean kissaki?

What do you mean....ok Chris changed his photo on me. I cant keep up with you two.

[ROKUJURO]

George,

welcome to the NMB!

In your first post you wrote .... 'I always wanted a "samurai sword"... I am sure you know that this is probably a good quality sword from WWII (not looking at the damages), but not from the SAMURAI era.

Restoring this might cost a little fortune but may result in a very nice blade. Congratulations!

[ChrisW]

Welcome to the NMB George! You're in good company here.

[SAS]

If that little scratch near the kissaki is really a hagire, the blade is considered to have a fatal flaw.

[snort]

Yes, sir, I respect your explanation but, ya see, I'm just one of them 'citizens' out there that is not a member of this worthy group.

 

Out here in Podunk they call 'em all SAMURAI swords (I think ya can thank hollyweird for that). If I were to refer to this blade as a Koshirae (is that the correct name for what I have?) my peers would be quick to tell me I was wrong, that it was a samurai sword and do their best to make me feel the fool. <grin>

 

Anyhow, I'm glad I dropped by to pay ya'll a visit. I have learned a bunch since I registered (despite the agony of the registration itself).

Thank everyone who has volunteered their opinion and while I do recognize that they are opinions, I will regard it as good information. My main propose for coming here was to learn about my blade. I now know much more than I did yesterday and I'm sure there's a ton of stuff yet to learn, in matter of fact this could become another very expensive hobby. An I ain't goin there.

 

No, no, this ain't goodbye, I just want to add to my introduction I did a couple hours ago. I will for sure stick around for at least six months and see if I fit in anywhere here. As usual collectors come from ALL walks of life and the personalities in collector's forums are always — uhm, to say — interesting <grin>.

 

Tnx again,

george

[snort]

Unh... isin't the Hasaki the bottom part near the end?

The, a, Kissaki is the center, right?

And it's about 10 cm down the edge from the point.

​About the diameter of a pencil lead and about five mm from Hasaki

 

george

[Stephen]

Everything with a grain of salt here mate. Some real hair splitters here.

Some ol salts cant help them self so like you say stick around and read some past post. Ask more questions pleanty will help.

[Stephen]

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/glossary.htm

[Stephen]

Habaki is the collar next to hand guard..or tsuba.

[ROKUJURO]

George,

the KOSHIRAE is the complete mounting of a sword. The KISSAKI is the tip of a blade, and HA or HASAKI is the cutting edge. You will have to learn some vocabulary, it seems that WIKIPEDIA has something for you (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_Japanese_swords), but not all is correct. The hardened part of the edge is YAKIBA, not Yaiba. So you better drink from several different fountains...