While my mother was helping my grandparents clean the pantry downstairs (which was also a tool shop for my grandpa), they stumbled across an old wakizashi.
My grandfather was never in combat in world war two - he was drafted and served in the Navy on a supply vessel. After a station in post-Bataan Philippines, he was stationed for a time in Japan, where he said he found this while doing PT.
The sword is now rusted to heck, and looks to even have some paint on it. It also has a bit of what looks like filing on it. It's not in good shape by any means. I have no doubts it is a WWII era wak, but what I want some opinions on....is would it be worth restoring? I apologize for the grinder marks - my grandfather had absolutely no clue what he had. To him it was just a big knife. I appreciate what he did in his time in WWII....but his actions against this blade may...offend...some people. Just realize he didn't have any clue what a nihonto was - or even a Samurai for that matter. Well, hardly, at least.
The tang does not has a signature on it,but it does have the three, uneven holes that I would associate with a non-factory made sword (I have no idea, really, but I have only ever seen it on pics of nihonto). On the SBG forum, it was noted that two of the holes seemed tapped, and one is drilled, giving a possible clue to its age. I am also looking to find a polisher qualified to maybe polish a section of the wak and see what we have under that aged and beat up steel.
Can anyone with some expertise chime in and give their opinion? Thanks!!
Crockett
Here's some pics for ya'll.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0396.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0388.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0390.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0412.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0414.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0403.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0413.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0407.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0410.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0418.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ ... CF0417.jpg
Thank you ahead of time for any and all opinions!
Aaron