Texxan_82

I guess that would help things wouldn't it...? I live in Denton Tx, about 30 miles north of Dallas This is the place I was talking about http://www.dentonmartialarts.com/swd.htm But, I could also ask I guess. Does anyone know of a good place to get my sword looked at in the Dallas Fort Worth area? regards, sean

I wasn't expecting it to be that old. Is there any way to bring out the mei or is it lost? I know polishing can be expensive, so that may not be an option just now. What should I do to keep the blade from deteriorating any more than it has? I know there are some very deep pits in the tip of the blade. Anything on cleaning, oiling, etc.? What about the scabbard? Did the military use whatever reptile skin that is or is it older as well and brought to war? What should I use to keep it from deteriorating as well? I found a place where I live that does inspections, cleaning, polishing. Should I just take the blade to them to take care of it instead of me trying to take care of it? Their site says 3-5 days, but I'm not sure leaving the blade with someone that long is wise. Thank you for the information y'all have given me so far. Sean

Here are the close ups.

The quality of these pictures aren't the best. Only camera I have is an iphone which doesn't always want to work with me. I took some measurements as well. I didn't have anything to measure in cm so it's all in inches, don't know if that really matters. Nagasa ~26.5" Nakago ~8" Saki Kasani- 3/16" at bottom, 1/4" at Machi Moto Kasani-1/4" Again, forgive the quality. They may be too bad to help. On the first set of pictures, any idea what the arsenal mark is on the tsuba? Thanks y'all

I don't mind posting more pictures. What should I photograph specifically to help?

My grandfather brought this sword home after the war. Story has it his CO numbered everything the soldiers wanted to take and drew numbers out of a hat, he won the sword. Has anyone else heard of anything like this? There aren't any identification marks on the blade or tang. I have found 1 arsenal mark on the tsuba, a star with a symbol inside it. Each of the spacers and tsuba have what I guess is inspection marks. what looks like a V with short extended legs. Where it intersects faces the blade cut out, I don't know what that is called. On the opposite side is 4 lines perpendicular to the cut out. I've had trouble getting a good picture of the hamon line, probably bad light and a flash. I'll try some more and see if I can post a better picture. It's a shallow, not very uniform, wave with crests around 1/2 to 1 inch each. There are a couple or so light colored spots above the line on each side. I've learned the mon is called Maru-ni Jigami. I can't find anything on what family used this crest, and I don't know if it is possible to. Anything y'all can tell me would be much appreciated. Thank you, Sean