Value?

[coster]

I have inherited a sword.  I would like to sell it, it has no sentimental value for me and I am not a collector.  It was brought back from Japan by my Father-in-law who was an American soldier stationed there right after the war.

 

My Japanese student translated the writing on the scabbard as saying the swordsmith was one Kunishige Kishimaru.

 

I've made contacts at a couple of websites, but the only response I've gotten is offers to send the sword to them, after which I assume they would send me a check.  I'm not going to do that.  No one seems to want to tell me what it may be worth; I do appreciate that it's tough to do that remotely, but....

 

Appreciate any advice.  I live in Western New York.

 

Thanks,

 

Charlie

 

 

 

[SwordGuyJoe]

Can you remove the handle and post a picture?  

[SwordGuyJoe]

The second sayagaki says "Ikea Kishinmaru Kunishige" (池田鬼神丸国重 ) - We would need to see the tang/nakago under the handle to see if it is signed.

 

Here is a little about him from the Sesko index:

 

KUNISHIGE (国重), Tenna (天和, 1681-1684), Settsu – “Sesshū-jū Kunishige” (摂州住国重), “Ikeda Kishinmaru Kunishige” (池田鬼神丸国重), “Ikeda Kishinmaru Fudō Kunishige” (池田鬼神丸不動国重), first name Chōbei (長兵衛), he was the second son of Edo-Mizuta Yasuzaemon Kunimitsu (安左衛門国光), he studied also under the 2nd gen. Kunisuke (国助), he lived in Settsu ́s Ikeda (池田) and his nicknane was Ikeda Kishinmaru (池田鬼神丸), he also signed with the supplement Fudō (不動), we know blades from the Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673) to the Tenna era, he also worked in Edo, Iwaki, Akita and Satsuma, ō-gunome-midare, wazamono, chūjō-saku 

[Thierry BERNARD]

Ikea Kishinmaru Kunishige

 

Charlie would have some difficulties to remove / remount the handle :laughabove: :rofl:

[SwordGuyJoe]

Whoops. Ikeda

[coster]

Very much appreciate the info.  I would not know how to remove the handle.

[Brian]

I can't see a mekugi. Anyone?

Surely this isn't just glued in? That would make it a gamble, although it has potential, and looks worth saving. Needs oil on that rust asap though.

[SteveM]

Hello Charlie, 

 

It will be tough, if not impossible, for any of us to tell you what the sword is worth. We'd need lots of high resolution pictures of the blade to see the quality of the work, check for flaws in the steel, check to see if the rust is repairable, etc... And we'd need to see if the name of the smith is inscribed on the handle, which will have an impact on what someone is willing to pay for the sword. 

 

To give you a rough idea, take a look at the site below which has a beautiful Kunishige sword (and beautiful photographs of the relevant bits) selling for

JPY 1,150,000.

 

http://katanakura.xb.shopserve.jp/SHOP/1403-K02.html

 

That sword is in very nice condition, nice polish, full signature, and has authentication papers, all of which add to the price someone is willing to pay. Your sword could be worth as much, or more, if it is authentic, well-made, gets a proper polish, and probably a new wooden scabbard (and maybe tart it up with a new habaki). But all of that will take time and money, and you will need to get it authenticated before anyone will be willing to pay that sort of price. Also bear in mind that your sword would be worth considerably less (and maybe close to worthless) if it has any fatal flaws in the steel, if the rust is beyond redemption, if the sword isn't well-made, or is counterfeit. This is why its inevitable that you'll need to get the handle off. There are a fair few videos on YouTube that describe how to do it (search for a clever title like: removing a Japanese sword from its handle) 

 

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to remove rust by using anything abrasive or any funky chemicals. 

 

For a ton of other very useful information, search this site for keywords that might be relevant - removing rust, for starters. 

 

Edit: As Brian indicated above, normally the blade sits in the handle and is held in place by a removable peg. I've never seen one without a peg. Not a major worry, just an oddity.  

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Charlie,

As your sword doesn't appear to have the pin through its handle (mekugi) it may be difficult for you to get the handle off.  In order for you to know exactly what you have, someone who knows Japanese swords will have to see it in hand.  I will PM you with contact information for someone I can recommend who doesn't live terribly far from you.

Grey

[coster]

Many thanks to all on this forum and particularly to nagamaki, whom I met here; he actually lives not too far away and was kind enough to look at the sword, take the handle off and teach me several things.  He has reiterated that I should have it authenticated, so I believe I will pursue doing so as the next step.

 

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Charlie,

 

Glad to help.

 

Please check your private messages.

 

Thank you.

[Brian]

Nice one Franco.

So tell us how it was mounted in the tsuka?

[nagamaki - Franco]

Good morning Brian,

 

No mekugi meant only friction was holding it in, which was somewhat surprising considering it has 3 mekugiana. 

The sword came out quite easily, thankfully it was not glued in, the tsuka split apart as soon as the sword was out as the glue was all but gone.

A good thing no one flung it in all this time, an accident waiting to happen.