ChrisW

You'll see me there with the rest of the Indiana guys! Will be nice to meet some more folk.

Who is doing the polishing work for you? I'm curious! Definitely share pictures of the mei if you've got it!

As far as I know, the ITK is closest to you for a group dedicated to study of nihonto. We meet in Morgan County, which is in the central part of the state about 30 minutes south of Indianapolis. Though our next meeting will be informal and held at the Chicago Sword Show at the end of this month. Believe me when I say the show is definitely worth seeing if you have any interest in learning more about nihonto! You'll be seeing both traditionally-made swords and WWII era blades.

Finding a collector's club (Token Kai) would be your best bet to hook up with fellow collectors. If you'll tell us what region of the country you're in, we can probably point you to one! If you're in the Midwest, might I humbly suggest the Indiana Token Kai? I know there's also clubs on the east and west coasts as well. The Chicago Sword Show is also coming up. This show would be ideal for you to meet a TON of collectors and see more swords than you could imagine being in one room!

Ask him to take it to Shinsa first. There's one in Chicago next month.

Big yikes.

What Stephen said is the route I would probably go. You cannot go wrong with Grey's advice either (and he will probably indicate some measure of the same or exactly the same too).

What Bruce means by "civil blade" is a sword that was made prewar and not in a large factory setting, AKA probably hand-forged by a blacksmith. Dismounting the blade from the tsuka and looking at the nakago would be the tell in this case.

Yup! I haven't seen one in person yet, but maybe this year at the Chicago show.

This is not necessarily true. There is the "Satsuma-age" but it is avoided at all cost and usually only done to a sword with a completely broken-off kissaki. Generally speaking, probably 99.9% of all suriage work is done from the nakago up. Generally a blade is considered castrated in terms of collectibility if it has had satsuma-age done to it; but there are rare exceptions if it is done really well and the blade is important. A lot of satsuma-age was also done to make an ad-hoc functioning blade; ergo the origin of the term "Satsuma" which refers to the Satsuma rebellion where even broken swords were pressed into service via this technique. This sword is definitely not Satsuma-age, it is suriage; possibly machi-okuri (wherein the whole nakago is kept, but the machi are moved up on the blade).

Without a doubt, this is an older blade. The shape, the number of mekugi-ana, and the way the nakago presents all leads to the assumption this is an older blade. The only thing even remotely wartime about this blade is the leather combat cover. Color of the patination and overall shape leads me to guess MAYBE Kanbun shinto? But I'll leave that guess to better educated folk. This was probably a family blade carried for the war, might be gunzoku (civilian contractor) or it might be something else of that nature; but the mounts are not very close to regulation at all unless it was done post-war, but unlikely. Originally, the mounts might have originally been in the handachi style (that guess is based on the style of kashira). It appears the blade was originally longer than 25" or so based on how the nakago appears to be suriage.

I believe the going rate for a good polish nowadays is about 100-120/inch, per Bob Benson/Woody Hall. John said it best, the polish is still good enough to not warrant a full polish.

The photos here aren't really showing much other than the blade appears to still be in its saya (scabbard) and it looks VERY straight for something you believe to be on Japanese origin. It appears it might be a nagamaki if it is Japanese? Try some closeup shots after you've managed to draw the blade out from its scabbard and see about getting some measurements too. That ought to be a start for us to give you a better read of what you might have.

The metal shows activity but seems a bit lifeless, like a bad acid polish or buffing wheel was rendered unto it. It has that hazy, waxy appearance about it. Or it could just be a really sleepy wartime polish. The silver-plate habaki promises a decent blade. I'd be interested in seeing the nakago as well.

Yes, but only because people don't have to live there. Just imagine an amusement park from the 1980's, left to rot without proper maintenance for 40 years! If you want a good amusement park in Indiana, go to Holiday World. Family owned, clean, free drinks and sunscreen, well-gardened and shaded paths, with a waterpark that you can make a day trip out of on its own without even touching the normal amusement park!

We either get the newer generation interested in them now.. or they go to scrap when we're gone. In general though, I've seen an uptick in interest in nihonto lately. But we cannot get complacent, the duty falls to all of us to get younger people into the hobby. Or as I said will happen: they'll end up unwanted and will turn to dust in the wind. So, ignore generational differences, ladies and gentlemen: reach out, educate, share, sell them at a reasonable price, and do your part to make sure the things we love live on past us.

Looking forward to it, see you all there!

That place is a train wreck, rusty, decrepit, and smells.. has the whole nine yards of horribleness! But our meeting was wonderful, and we'll see you at the Chicago show!

The ITK meeting on March 4th was a great time. Thanks to everyone who showed up! We discussed old business, then Shinsa preparations with Mark Jones in attendance, then we had a wonderful photography session of the blades presented photographed by our own Johnathon Crow. Big welcome to our newest member: Jim Tobin! Our next meeting will be an informal one held at the Chicago Sword Show next month! All are welcome to stop by the 'Indiana Island" at the show and chat with us/peruse our blades/books/tosogu!

Hey Ray, I noticed you're a resident of Indiana like myself! I've sent you a message if you want to meet up with another collector.

Many tanegashima with proper care and maintenance are anything but wallhangers. Some of them are still used in demonstrations in Japan today. Of course, you would want it to be thoroughly inspected by a knowledgeable gunsmith first and you would use low-velocity powder. I am not sure if there are very many modern makers though I believe there are a few.

Our next meeting is a week from today (Saturday), 10 A.M. at the Morgan County Public Library. Any and all are welcome! The meeting topic is: Photography of Nihonto/Shinsa Preparations. Expect to see some nice blades being presented for photographing by a skilled photographer! I'll see about sharing some of the results here. DM me if you have questions.

There. Something to countermand it! Though don't know why they'd do so either.

Just looking at the way its been cut down, I would guess its older than the Edo period. Looks koto to me.

I would say you could easily post it here on the board following the format Brian has asked us to use and you'll get a sale quickly. I would say this is a good project blade for someone willing to send it off to be polished.