Death-Ace

Hey Robert. A beautiful Koto you have and for a very fair price! My condolences for your loss and I pray for your health. Have a community of folks here if you ever need us!

I was wondering. Could it possibly be arsenal assembly numbers for older blades remounted for military mounts? There was that one mumei Muromachi Bizen wakizashi and the same with the Sa katana in Type 98 mounts that tokashikibob had posted a while back.

I saw that second auction! Something looked fishy. Same pictures as sohei, yes. I mean if they were good like this, Id reuse them, but to resell the exact same blade a week later?

Sorry about the wait! Again, appreciate it. It was a bit difficult in hand to notice if it was shobu zukuri or not. Unfortunately, you are right, the yokote was completely erased. The prices you listed are definitely what it would be, albeit the parties I'm using is a bit more, which would mean this is a labor of love, which is what it comes down to. If this does go through polishing, I'd definitely be going the NTHK route whenever the next shinsa would be after completion. Depending on the news, I am still considering retracting it from polish. Haven't received any further word as of yet, as they appear to be a bit busy, but will keep everyone updated!

Thanks again, man. Hoping not, even if not financially viqble, it is a nice blade in hand as it is, but If hate to see if it is an umegane that popped out during polish. Nada, not too much at all, honestly, only about 250 overall, which surprised me, even with condition issues.

Haha, like the reference! That's the spot that bothers me and hoping it truly isn't. I was wondering if that was a possibility, but having someone more knowledgeable is definitely a big help! Hopefully when I hear back from Brian and Takeo I keep getting some good news, bit if not, hate to do it, but Ill probably request for it to be sent back.

I do apologize for those pics. Unfortunately, the phone I'm using doesn't have the resolution of the past one I owned. That is the one thing that puts me at unease, but when examining it, it didn't appear to be actually be one, although it looks it, which is very strange. When I receive more word from up north, I'll definitely post it before the final decision. Edit: Looks like I forgot to add the pictures of the blade without the koshirae! I do apologize!

Appreciate it guys! I hear you on amateur restorations, I knew a few back in my hometown alone yeara ago that would give advice od acid and steel wool without realizing what damage would occur to the blade. Yeah, I did sound a bit dumb, and should have mentioned that about what the acid leaves behind and not that it is eternal, so I do apologize, haha. I do appreciate the advice on what to do without baking soda nearby on a blade that had an acidic substance used! I honestly hate rust with a passion, so that was the only reason I decides windex as a last ditch measure to neutralize the acid used while it was still viable. Thankfully yes, I wouldn't go near the nakago. Ive only been seriously interested on the art of nihonto for the past decade, but one of the first things I learned was what happens if using substances on the nakago. This is the blade in question: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22994-militaria-show-wakizashi/?fromsearch=1 Please forgive the flash photography! When posted on one of the FB pages, Chris Bowen and Ray Singer gave their input, so I figured I would send it to be assessed. I have gotten food word from Brian, but also awaiting Takeo's advice, as well. It does have quite a bit of activity and the Uda/Ko-Uda school has been a favorite of mine, so thats one of the reasons I sent it. Even though the polish may negate what I put into it, I figure for the 200, I'd take a chance. It is a lovely blade in hand and the activity and hamon was obscured before the application of choji and isopropyl.

Hey guys! Might be a weird question, but has anyone seen or had a blade that was acid polished, but then sent to be either demolished or had the acid neutralized (aka: sodium bicarbonate, the "Baking Soda Bath"). We all see blades that have been acid polished and while they look pretty, isn't so hot and know the effects and uninterrupted acid has on steel with time. I have a wakizashi I posted here and a few places that has many attributes to Muromachi-era Uda and have sent it to Brian Tschernega and Takeo Seki for polish and shirasaya. Unfortunately, when I bought it, the guy had purchased it the day prior and attempted the lemon juice method with a q-tip throughout rhe blade. When I brought it home, I didn't have any baking soda, so I utilized ammonia-rich Windex and, as with all my blades, a good quality oil and high percentage isopropyl alcohol. I'm hoping my fears can be soothed being a Koto blade that hopefully isn't the porous steel of quite a few and that I was able to neutralize any acid remnants. Windex isn't the best, bit hoping it worked in this scenario.

Haha, that is a pretty neat story on how you came to use that name! No worries, somehow the mass majority of people I've met while in active duty pronounce my first name right off the bat while it took a while for others to befpre I enlisted...one even called me Ribs.

Haha, anything that makes a laugh counts! But that's what I was thinking...but guess a first name also identifies as a last initial in this age, haha.

Haha, nice video! Yeah, for the most part, they always seem to have hopped up prices, but wouldn't mind getting one of the Martini-Henry's from them. Still though, if it was a good blade, then hell, would be worth the setup. However, like you all said, they probably know what they have, but still, its more about the money for them anyways, which cant blame them, they are dealers. I'm awaiting a response from them, just intriguing as to "why its worth 3000 and ancient." haha. Jean, will do. That's nuts, though, for as long as I've been on there, they seem alright for using the first initial, last name basis, but I still don't mind.

I usually cruise the site at the International Military Antiques and note that they sometimes have a good blade or two, but some listings have some bad pics of doesn't really focus on the blade. But some of the big name ones or least ones they don't bother with look gimei. Just went there tonight and saw a listing of a mannequin representing an IJA officer with fully antique gear, including an oldie in quality T98 mounts. Suriage with partial mei, rust stained blade with a few chips. Habaki looks nice, and a unique shape and the bohi looks well cut, but unfortunately, very little pics of the blade, but looks to have lost its hamachi. I can see a bit of a wide hamon, but very little to go on. According to them, its worth $3000 alone. The rest of the set is nice and honestly, if someone were to buy the whole set, would be a nice setup for a display, but the sword would probably a gamble. Sent a message inquiring details on the sword, see what we get. For your eyes: https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-Japanese-wwii-officer-tropical-uniform-group-with-katana-and-mannequin# But in any case, fun times reading the remainder of the mei. Thanks again to Stephen for posting the cheat sheets on one of my threads! It is much appreciated and have been having fun looking at random untranslated blades on eBay deciphering it all.

The wakizashi is sold! Thank you, Grant!

Reduced to 500

Gunna lose a lot but has to be done! Reduced to 550

Bump.

Reduced to 600

Reduced to 650. Good deal for a polished and mounted older blade.

Time to try again! Price reduced to 700!

One last reduction to 750

Btt (same rules, but forgot to add: the free shipping is in North America, but am still happy to ship OCONUS)

Reduced to 800

Glad to hear! The guy has always been good in my book and give aciurate descriptions, especially on out of polish blades. if I had the money, there are a few blades I wpuld have bought from him. Kudos to him and to you Andrew for putting in the work!

Thanks for the comments, guys! I definitely have had some good luck, but a lot of bad as well this year. Wish I could keep it, but things happen. Crossing fingers, I hope the car issue is the last of it of this stream of bad juju.