Mumei Wakizashi - Restoration Project

[lubo]

Hello folks,
please I tried to restore rusty wakizashi.
Rust and geometry problems are still not fixed (somebody before me used sandpaper on yokote and shinogi ).
I noticed it has interesting hamon and hada and may be it is a good old sword.
It is not definitely gunto or WW2 stuff.
 
Please somebody help me with the period - school classification.
I don't want to ruin valuable piece.
 
I suspect it could be mizuta school but I can't see any nie or nioi.

Does it have any value ?

Thank you very much, Lubo.

 

***********************************
Mei: Mumei.

Sugata: Shinogi-zukuri, tori-zori, iori-mune.

Overall length: 21  inches (533 mm)

Nagasa: 16 inches (406 mm)

Nakago: Ubu, 5 inches (127.00 mm), 
Nice old patina but there are some rust damages on the nakago.
The yasurime is Katte Sagari .

Kissaki: Chu-kissaki, 1.5 inches (40 mm). The boshi is ko-maru or yaki zume - it is not very visible and may be the blade has run out of kawagane on the kissaki ?.

Moto-haba: 1.14 inches (29 mm). Moto-gasane: 0.25 inches (6.4 mm). Saki-haba: 0.83 inches (21 mm). Saki-gasane: 0.2 inches (5.0 mm).

Sori: 0.47 inches (12 mm)

Hamon: Gunome midare or may be hako midare.

Hada: Mokume with chikei.
 
 
Note:
Shingane is visible on the shinogiji on ura side and may be whole kissaki has shingane surface.

Shinogi and yokote is rounded because of sanpaper damage.

Some rust pittings are deep and hard to remove.
No cracks, chips or forging flaws. The blade is sharp and hamon is intact.

[TheGermanBastard]

Shinto ... not very valueable since Mumei ... or as the seller states: Suitable for polishing practice

[lubo]

Hello, thank you for reply.

 

I just paste an image of hada in detail as it is not visible on the previous pictures.

Have a nice day, Lubo.

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello Lubo,

 

I think you are doing a nice job in your Kantei and also your restoration effort is admireable. The lines yo established on your foundation polish aren't bad. This blade may have seen a foundation polishing some years ago, was considered to be unworthy of further polishing and then left as is as we see some rather recent rust on it. The blade you have there is a solid Wakizashi and does make a good restoration project for the amateuer in your leisure time.

[Brian]

[nagamaki - Franco]

A good number of criticisms could easily be made here not the least of which is encouraging amateur polishing, a forum no, no, but I won't.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Brian, mods, should this be here at all?

[Stephen]

Im hoping Luis means restoration project

for a beginner's first project...not the Togi! Like others MHO a waist of money n time.

[TheGermanBastard]

this sword offers four options

 

a) get it professionally polished ... makes sense to put 1500 usd into it? no

 

b - use it for playing around ... will it get any better? no.

 

c) let it sit as is and continue rusting. will it get any better? no

 

d)  restore it for fun. will it get any better? probably no

 

b and d will offer you some fun atleast.

 

this is a swod you do not want to get professionally restored.

 

I would not recommend ever to use a nihtono for cutting pratice nor to polish a nihonto oneself ... but this one is nothing to be consideref a thing of art nor value anymore ..

[Brian]

We don't get to decide that. The forum does NOT get to judge swords and say which ones may be used for amateur practice and which may not. We also don't get to decide what has art value and what doesn't.
Are you a one man shinsa panel Luis?
Stick to the forum policy...we do not encourage amateur work. Period.

Edit to add: A professional could easily polish this and likely turn it into a very nice wakizashi. Possibly Mizuta...yes. So it is a question of money. And if there is someone with disposable income that wants to spend money polishing stuff like this, it is his prerogative. The FAQ contains all the advice needed.

[TheGermanBastard]

I accept your policy Brian and No I am not a Shisna panel. I am happy to learn from others since I am just a well known idiot.

 

Some of you seem to see art value in this sword. So be it.  No hard feelings and may the owner be happy with it what ever road he takes.

[Ray Singer]

To my eyes this looks like a typical Sue-Bizen wakizashi (koto, late Muromachi). Perhaps a kazuuchimono from one of the Sukesada. Please stop the home restoration efforts.

[nagamaki - Franco]

 

 

Some of you seem to see art value in this sword. So be it.  

 

 

Luis,

 

Your comment is out of line and a deflection from the main point being made, often what is not being said is as or even more important when discussing nihonto issues than what is said. The sooner this is realized the better off all involved will be. 

[TheGermanBastard]

You have an unique approach at communication. Not my cup of tea. Amen.

[lubo]

Thanks for replies, I didn't want to start a flame. I have good opportunity to send the blade to professional polisher for formal judgement, if it is worth restoration or not. Probably not but I will give it a chance.  I didn't make any damage to the blade as all important geometry lines are preserved and minimum material was removed just to put the worst rust off the blade.

B.R. Lubo

[UnoKubi]

If nothing else, drop $100 or so and get a window put in it to see what you have to work with...  *shrugs*