Trying to view the mei on my authentic sword? Help?

[acasubtime]

I have an authentic sword. The blade is in excellent shape. I removed the handle and could barely make out what was left of the mei. Is there anything I can do to help bring out what's left of the characters. I lightly rubbed some of the rust off with a paper towel and a small plastic brush, which did help slightly... but any ideas or help would be great. I do not want to damage the sword, but at the same time I will never part with this sword, so value does not matter to me, I would love to know its history.

 

thanks.

[Stephen]

a light dusting of talc might bring it out, dust on wipe off, pix are n order to help more.

[Grey Doffin]

Talc or chalk dust might help the Kanji show better but hold off on any other cleaning attempts. The patina of the nakago is important and shouldn't be messed with except by someone who knows what he's up to (properly trained polisher, for example).

Take some pictures, with and without the talc, with a raking light, and post the best here. Good chance someone will be able to help.

Grey

[acasubtime]

Great info! I will take pictures with the talc and post soon. Not sure where you can get a raking light? Thanks for the help!

[Grey Doffin]

Raking light is light at a shallow angle to the nakago, shining across the Kanji and possibly making them more visible. Try different lighting schemes.

Grey

[acasubtime]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46367437@N08/4253626015/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46367437@N08/4253532133/

 

 

Trying the links to the pictures again. Thanks.

 

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[Nobody]

Maybe;

備州長舩祐定 - Bishu Osafune Sukesada

[acasubtime]

what would that stand for? date/sword maker?

[Brian]

Please sign all posts with a name and initial as per the rules, thanks.

I suggest a forum search for that phrase, or a Google search. You will pull up a heap of info.

This forum alone must have enough for a book.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Rich S]

Bishu = province (Bizen)

Osafune = town

Sukesada = makers name (actually a school with many makers. probably the largest, longest producing school of sword makers in Japan).

 

Rich S

[acasubtime]

What time period would that fall into? Also any idea on the tsuba? It has two characters very clear. I believe the sword has dried blood on the blade, is this unusual? Any other thoughts on the mei of the sword or is that the consensus?

 

thank you so much for the help on this!

 

Jesse

[Rich S]

Jesse -

 

I can't get your pics to load, so can't tell you anything about the blade or its fittings. The Sukesada school worked from the 14th C thru to Showa.

Dried blood is more likely just rust. The Japanese took care of their blades. Most of the rust damage has occured when the blades came into possession of Westerners.

 

Wish I could be of more help.

Rich S

[Grey Doffin]

Jesse,

Many swords are signed Bishu Osafune Sukesada; gobs of them were turned out in late Koto, 16th century mostly. There were a number of good smiths who signed Sukesada, usually with something else (a personal name, for example) to distinguish them from the rest. Most all blades with just Sukesada are school work, made in quantity at a time of great warfare (thus great need for weapons) in Japan's history. The marks on the tsuba aren't important. It is a cast brass tsuba from WWII, very standard, and the marks are some sort of indexing system. The dried blood looks a lot like cosmoline or plain old corrosion. It is very unlikely that anyone planning to keep a sword would allow blood to stay unwiped on the blade.

Grey