Kmad

Hi All, For cleaning inside of scabbards I use brazing rods with brass or bronze wool 2 or 3 mm rods are perfect You can bend the brass to hold the cleaning wool firm to the rod Use brass rods because they are softer than steel rods and they have some good flexibility. I also use bronze rather than steel wool as it will not scratch steel but will remove rust Regards Ken

Hi Thanks all for all the info. I will have to try and translate the new words. I forgot to mention this cord came with the sword Might this also be original to the sword as all the other parts look un messed. Thanks again and I will be back with more questions after work. Ken

For sake of completion this is the Tool I used

Well I got it apart the peg . It was a friction fit in two parts just pushed together, very tightly I made a dowel that fitted the larger hole and pushed out the smaller diameter inner sleeve came apart reasonably easily I think someone may have tried to removed handle with some force as the copper or brass was a bit dented No markings on the tang but holes from a re mount you guys will be able to discern something from the shape I hope. The tsuba is quiet nice and intricid So can anything be learned from this development Any extra pictures no issue. Thanks all for your interest. Ken

Hi Stephen I am meeting with an Irish collector once we arrange a suitable time, so i will leave well enough alone in the interim. Ken

Yes Stephen I can see daylight through the hole Now one thing I did not mention is that the Tsuba is loose and there is space from either missing seppa or the handle has slipped downward but if I can see through the hole this implies (in my mind) the holes in the tsuka is lined up with the hole in the tang so the blade is not held by anything other than friction (or rust) the hole for the menuki are different diameter from one side to the other further implying the wedge shaped menuki would have gone here at one stage Thanks for interest, Ken

Hi Luis, quiet an unusual post to be honest. I am a very infrequent poster here but I am quiet up to speed on "Honourable forum etiquette" from other forums. I read your comment as trying to hinder a sale or get the other purchaser to lower their offer. to observers the following is the Time line of interaction between Luis and I. I never offered the sword in question for sale, he instigated the potential purchase, I inform him what others are offering with no mention that I was going to sell for that price and then he slams the door and walk away like a child. I read PM interaction as personal and to be left there. To Luis: Maybe your purchasing technique works, I deal a lot, I collect a lot and I find being fair, open and pleasant works a lot better, maybe you should try it and see if it works for you too. Moderator I apologise for the miss use of a discussion on swords but I needed to say this. Again thanks to all who have Contributed to this discussion to Luis I say nothing. Ken

Hi Ken I know study is important but I collect flintlock pistols not Japanese Swords. I have had 5 Japanese swords so far in my life and have sold on two so I am not a collector just a v interested observer who loves the history of these swords. I happened across the two swords I have up on the forum as a side purchase along with some muskets. I reckoned the deal was good and purchased the two swords if I turned down the deal or said I would come back later I knew both swords would be gone so I made the gamble. A semi educated gamble but a gamble paid off. But you are right and I will purchase an introductory text to Japanese swords. I tend to have regretted more what I did not buy over what I have bought so far I am ahead and I have a nice collection put together. Regards Ken

Thanks for the extra information. I can’t see any more damage but I do not realy know what I am looking at to be honest. I will look back over previous posts to see if I can decipher some of the posts. With r3fer3nce to hitting the books I may do sometime but I am getting more of an idea as to what to purchase when they come along Kind regards Ken

Hi Bazza There are no vice marks it is a line of file marks I am using kitchen spotlights for the pictures on an I pad so the images are terrible Cheer Ken

Hi Steve Yes I realize the chip is quiet deep in the hamon and for this reason I assumed it was not going to be of interest to anyone Pity as it is quiet a hefty blade which I think may have been nice once Koto period is I think early 1600S so a similar age to the other sword I have posted up. But I realize age is not something you Japanese sword collectors hold close to your heart All interesting and thanks for comments Ken

Hi As a follow on from the sword I posted yesterday here is the other sword that came in the bundle of items No markings at all on it and just the bare blade and scabbard. If anything can be gleaned from the poor pictures and the poor condition blade I would love to know more Blade length 25 inches and overall length just under 31 inches Again your help is appreciated and if I can be of assistance with my knowledge base of Irish flintlocks please ask as I would love to pay back your sharing of knowledge Thanks Ken

Thank you all for your replies. If I can get the handle off I will take pictures and put them up here for your appraisal. I promise I will look after the sword and do nothing to compromise it in any way. If anyone would like any more pictures just ask but Januaty in rainy Ireland is not the best for sword photography Kind regards to you all for being so helpful. Ken

Hi All I know I am out of my depth on this one so I think I will do nothing for a while. I will put light oil on the blade and leave it at that You would be horrified if you saw where I pulled this out of the guy was demonstrating to me in his kitchen by cutting an apple in half on a chopping board! I I reckoned I had to get the sword out of this guys hand as I reckon he might have gone cutting trees next I am amazed at the condition as this was one un loved sword. I got another blade and scabbard thrown into the package and I will open a new thread on the other blade but unfortunately the blade is not half as nice or good condition and there is nothing on the tang. In the mean time can you let me know if it ever had wrap on the grip as there is no shadow left on the grip from staining where there was a gap in the wrapping Also is the blade straighter than other katana as a style thing or just the way it is made for this example. And the age of 1600 is am amazing to me would others concur . I know one sword collector in my locality so I will reach out to him I guess I did ok either way as I have 75 euro into this and the other sword I am away up the mountains for the day but I can get any other helpful pictures up on the forum tonight. Regards to all. Ken

Hi If it does unscrew how do you grip the screw as there is no slot and I do not want to grip it in a vice grip Also I have read some time the screws are left handed thread which could add to the priblem Thanks Ken

Looks like the peg is not there so I guess the handle is just v tight Picture from both sides attached I will take more pictures of the tsuba a in better light tomorrow Regards Ken

Thanks Ian How would you go about taking off the handle as there seems like no easy way to open the screws and also can you tell by looking at it as to when the mounts date from. Is the fact the blade so thin due to many polishes or is this just the style of the blade Regards Ken

I am not sure what attached is I was wondering how to remove the handle to see what is underneath or if it is worth looking at This came with a load of antique muskets as part of a job lot out of an old theatre The sword feels right it has a nice balance but it is a lot thinner blade than any Japanese sword I had previously The ray skin handle feels correct and the saya looks and feels correct. The handle seems to be held on with screws with no obvious way of opening them Blade length comes in at just under 25 inches and the hamon is quiet linear with no discernible pattern It is evening here so hard to take better pictures on the tablet Any info appreciated Regards Ken

Thanks all Yep worse than i was hoping to see but i will be in Dublin on Saturday so I will go in to view anyway Thanks for learned comments and Brian I love the Star Trek reference Regards to everyine Ken

Hi All Thanks Robert 300 bucks is around 250 euro so I suppose maybe that is all it is actually worth, so I am just getting it at retail value, the blade pictures might shes some light abet "bad light" on the item in question some pictures of the blade looks to be quiet butchered and re shapened any opinions again welcome Regards Ken

Hi All Thanks for the comments, The extra seppa does look wrong but it looks like the Menuki is in it for a while.i am not sure what is going on there As the saya is there I hope the blade is not completely written off. I will pay for it tomorrow and pick it up on Friday night or Sat. Morning Any more observations welcome. Ken

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Hi all I have opertunity to purchase the attached, These are all the photos I have and no other info Seller says the handle has not been off and knows nothing about item Cost would be 250 euro So from the v poor information what do you think, are the fittings of reasonable quality Even if the blade (of which I have no information on except that it has a blade) A friend found it in an antique shop they said the blade is not in great condition. But the person knows noth8ng about Japanese items I can buy it tomorrow and pick up on saturday or do you think it is just rubbish. So assume the blade is rusted and pitted am I getting something nice and of good quality from the images shown, the fittings to my eye look good I am a risk taker and if I loose a few euro 8 will at least gain some education Thanks Ken

Thanks guys Looks like it has some age to it but I taught the engravings looked v v odd Happy Christmas to you all Ken

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