johnnymueller Posted September 13, 2014 Report Posted September 13, 2014 Hi I bought this sword in England, about 1984. Would like to find out what it is exatly. I payed less than $ 200. Quote
Surfson Posted September 13, 2014 Report Posted September 13, 2014 Do you have photos of the tang and the blade, especially the tip? Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted September 13, 2014 Report Posted September 13, 2014 Looks like a sword converted for war time use - leather cover and surute added. Can we see pics of the blade and nakago? The brass or copper cap on the saya (blanking on the term..) is kind of off putting but all the fittings and tsuba seem okay, so I doubt this is a fake. But pics will tell the tale. Quote
Surfson Posted September 13, 2014 Report Posted September 13, 2014 Seems possibly to be a genuine samurai sword in atypical military mounts. Probably a cut down shinto blade, making it 300 years old or so. How long is the cutting edge? Quote
Brian Posted September 13, 2014 Report Posted September 13, 2014 Check this blade carefully for hagire. (vertical crack extending through the temper line and considered a fatal flaw) Brian Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted September 14, 2014 Report Posted September 14, 2014 This looks like a hagire. I would rub over it with a soft cloth and some medicinal alcohol. And then take a close up image of it. That will show whether it is a crack or not. KM Quote
Brian Posted September 14, 2014 Report Posted September 14, 2014 It is almost certainly an earlier blade taken to war. Needs to be looked at in hand to see any damage or if it can be restored. Might be ok...you certainly did well on the price. Brian Quote
Mark S. Posted September 15, 2014 Report Posted September 15, 2014 Hard to tell from pics, so these are guesses at best: 1, 2 & 3: Shortened more than once? Also, can't tell if #2 looks like some type of 'weld' or other type of 'work' or simply a point where it was previously shortened? 4: Hi of some sort? Means blade was probably shortened quite a bit? 5: A bit of a signature, stamp, or other? Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted September 16, 2014 Report Posted September 16, 2014 Nakago is definetely not welded on. I am still very concerned about the tip it looks like a crack on one side maybe even partly inside. The black line extends upwards from the nick in the blade which points to a crack. If the crack in the tip is a crack your sword is basically lost for all time ie worthless. The nicks in the cutting edge are not too deep so they could be polished out by a proficient polisher. Having this sword polished will in my opinion cost you more than the end value of the sword. Please never put a sword blade on stone when you photograph it. In this case the blade is already scratched but still KM Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted September 16, 2014 Report Posted September 16, 2014 Follow up : Nakago and nicks close up : Quote
Mark S. Posted September 16, 2014 Report Posted September 16, 2014 Nakago is definetely not welded on. The change in lighting cleared up things on the nakago... but the poor blade has seen better days. Quote
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