Help with a wakizashi and katana,, signatures and tips

[Pompe]

Hi,

This is my first posting here.

My interest in Japanese swords is quite recent, i do collect other Japanese antiques though.

But even so, i have two Japanese swords in my drawer, which i´ve bought at smaller auctions long ago.

The first one is a katana. I do not know the age of this one, its signed, and to my opinion the blade seems quite nice. But it has spots, a few chips, and looks overall a bit messy.

My question is, what should i do with it? Is the quality or condition too bad? Can anyone tell me something about the signature?

 

The other one is a wakizashi, which is partly bought for the nice koshirae, fine fuchi-kashira and so. The blade should be koto, it is signed. But the blade itself is a complete mess. Looks like someone worked hard on it in the garage.. Can someone read the signature? Is the blade completely ruined?

 

Many thanks

Pontus

[Mark]

do you want to know what they say or do you want tips on figuring it out? if you want help we can give some direction, if you just want to know what they say see my translation below.

 

katana

Hitachi (no) Kami Muneshige

 

 

tanto

Hirotsugu

 

[Pompe]

Thank you for your reply.

Can anything more be said from the reading of the kanji?

Are those signatures good?

What do you think of the two swords?

Should i just leave them like they are or are any of the worth polishing?

 

So many questions.

Thank you for any comments.

/Pontus

[uwe]

Hi Pontus,

I think the "Muneshige" is worth more attention and surely restorable. For the tanto, more pics are necessary

Uwe

[Pompe]

Thank you.

Ok, thats good to hear. I kinda feared both of them would be rubbish

Any idea of how much a polish/restauration would cost? The length of it is about 68cm.

Is there any cheap polishers in europe? Or does it have to be sent elsewhere?

 

/Pontus

[Gunome]

Is there any cheap polishers in europe? Or does it have to be sent elsewhere?

/Pontus

 

Show the blade to a polisher, and he could advise you about the state of the blade and the possibility to restore it.

There are good polishers in Europe.

You could find cheap one, but not sure of the results.

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

There are only two traditionnaly trained polishers in Europe; one in Belgium and one in Italy. Price is around 26€/cm.

 

The Muneshige seems to be the second generation, can we see the whole nakago ?

[Ken-Hawaii]

Pontus, I happen to own a wakizashi made by Hitachi no Kami Muneshige. It's in much better shape than is your katana, but I would be very interested in seeing your katana once it has been polished.

 

Ken

[Pompe]

Yes,

Here is the picture of the full nakago,

theres some rust from the habaki, but it seems to be suface.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Pontus,

In FAQ above you'll find a piece about new collectors and wanting to have their 1st sword polished. A good one for you to read, I think.

Grey