Ww2 Bringback - Rusty Katana Opinions?

[ROKUJURO]

Ben,

as far as the MENUKI are concerned, I have seen these EBI design items too often (having one of my own here) being mass made from sheet metal in a press, so after a soft cleaning with your wife's toothbrush have a closer look yourself!

The same applies to the NAMBAN TSUBA (photo is upside down). This one is possibly an original, considering the remnants of gold application. On the photo it looks quite dirty as Thomas already pointed out, so some tender care might lead to a better judgement. The SEPPA-DAI looks indeed kind of 'flat', but with this type of NAMBAN TSUBA I am always having problems - often they look cast to me without really having been made this way.    

[ggil]

I think those menuki (the one on the way) are quite nice! (maybe this is because I own/treasure a very similar set though). They arrived very corroded and by the condition I assumed they were about 150-200 years old. I gently cleaned off the corrosion and coated with wax so they look newer now, but since I actually have them on me at work....

 

EDIT: After reading Jean's next post I'm starting to see another learning opportunity for myself, and I think your menuki are actually a little nicer than mine. Oh well I still think they will be useful and enjoyable for me.

 

About the first blade not having the lowest portion of the blade unpolished (ubu ba?), that may have happened in the blades last so called restoration, but that would involve some serious grinding so probably not case here.

[FletchSan]

Thanks Jean & Grant.

 

I'll give the Tsuba and Menuki a clean when I receive the sword and will create a new thread for that sword.

 

Any tips on cleaning - is soapy water with a gentle scrub with a toothbrush okay or should I avoid getting them wet at all and clean with a dry brush?

 

Ben

[FletchSan]

Hi,

 

Received the second sword which is actually a wakizashi not a katana (54cm nagasa). Not quite what I was expecting but the hamon has potential. It is out of polish and a bit rusty and the kissaki isnt in great shape. Not sure about the nakago either. Looks like one of the mekugi-ana was filled with copper?

 

The menuki look pretty good to me - are they authentic or repros?

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[Stephen]

Interesting find....and I love the nuks..nakago looks like mei was removed or filed to fit new tsuka...uchiko time for hamon?

[FletchSan]

I gave it a clean with uchiko - not sure I'll get it any better though will see if I can get a window opened up.

It didn't fare well through customs and it was opened and "inspected". The tsuka was falling apart, saya badly cracked and fuchi was missing

[ggil]

 

I think your Menuki look great as is, no cleaning needed. They definitely are a little nicer than mine too! Always regret cleaning things as they seem to lose character and look too new, but my Menuki were rotting away with rainbows of corrosion, and I wanted to preserve them over retain the investment value. If ours were cast they came from separate molds, although at quick glance they seem similar enough to have come from the same mold.

 

Great picture of the hamon, btw!

[Stephen]

Ben 

 

once a week with the ball will give you more results than you'd think,  to me its a meditative thing, quiets the mind. 

 

PS if you have pix as bought id file a claim on the fuchi, that just sucks

[FletchSan]

I thought I'd give the wakizashi another clean as per your advice Stephen and to my surprise noticed a faint mei on the nakago!

 

I've posted a picture on the translation forum though very very hard to make out. I did give it a light wipe with oil to see if I could make out any more detail.

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[FletchSan]

Slightly better pics of the hamon after another clean.