Hutt

Thanks Very Kind, I'm in Bristol, but frequently also in South Devon...

Thank you all, certainly seems like it's not anything particularly special from your kind observations. Which are much appreciated. In that case, I will take your advice and seek a way to maintain; rather than restore the blade and hold onto it myself as I personally enjoy it greatly. Many thanks.

So it appears there is some shinae near the base of the blade, the rest of the blade looks clear apart from some rust. Is this a Horii Toshihide? If so does it have any worth in any sense? If not can I treat it as a normal knife and use some fine grit sand paper to remove rust and polish the blade? Any idea to condition the silk on the handle? How would this blade have been made, any ideas to its history? Thanks again in advance

Right apologies for the terrible quality. It being Autumn in the UK the sun has set by the time I'm home. Attached are the best I could get with my iPhone. Thanks so much for your help!

Thank you kindly Joe, I'll do this tonight. What aspects of the sword are useful to photograph, excluding the signature on the tang?

Hello, Thank you for accepting my forum registration. My wife has inherited a sword from a relative who has the papers to bring it home as a WW2 keeps sake. I would like to find out whether it has any cultural or financial value, and if not, I'd like to learn how to preserve and care for it, for my pleasure. I have spent a few days reading up, so as to not hopefully be completely useless to you i hope. Of that; firstly, could you explain how to remove the handle to photograph the tang, and what details you require photos of? I attach a photo of the handle as the first port of call. Many thanks for your help.