Old Wakizashi?

[miner1436]

Hello, I have been offered the chance to buy this wakizashi, but there is no signature or date, can anybody tell me how old it is and if it can be restored with a full polish? Blade mesaures 24 inches total with a 19 inch cutting cutting edge.

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/505/73288356.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8858/53812927.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5744/56768698.jpg

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/720/92847431.jpg

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5571/70872666.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5616/54322244.jpg

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3246/21905793.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/524/97166201.jpg

 

Any info appreciated.

 

Thanks, Rich R.

[SwordGuyJoe]

It probably can be restored, but the question is should it? Right now it doesn't look all that special and even in pristine polish, without papers, I can't see it fetching even $3K USD. A full polish plus shirasaya and habaki will run you over $2,500 USD (or thereabouts). Also the shape of the kissaki in this picture (http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/720/92847431.jpg) gives the impression of a broken tip that was reshaped - and not very well. This could VERY possibly be a poor trick of lighting, but unless they are giving the blade away - literally - I would pass unless there is some reason to believe this blade is from someone important; the condition and o-suriage makes that difficult.

 

This is my opinion alone, based solely on your photos and I suggest you wait to field the opinions of others before making a buy/no buy decision.

[drbvac]

Agreed! Unless its a couple of hundred bucks and you want to practice polishing or cutting brush - it was possibly shortened and may be old but it will cost a couple thou to polish.

[watsonmil]

Dear Rich,

The roundness of the shinogi, and overall appearance give the impression of a very tired blade. It reminds me of a koto sword I once owned. It had at one time been a very elegant Tachi, .... later cut down to wakizashi, and although relatively free of rust or pits, the polisher took one look and said " put the old man to rest ", .... He has a little skin, ... but what is left is merely covering his bones.

Regards, ... Ron Watson

[miner1436]

Do you think it is too worn to be polished?

 

Rich r.

[watsonmil]

Dear Rich,

I believe it is too far gone to invest in a polish. Whenever a polish is done, .... metal is removed. In order to get the shinogi back to a sharp line, ... a lot of metal is going to be removed. If it is possible to have a polisher look at it and give an opinion, ... without having to purchase it first, ... that would be ideal. Since this is not always possible, then one has to look at the blade very critically, and decide for themselves taking into account what are the obvious problems ... and try to imagine the amount of metal that will have to be removed to obtain suitable results. Often the answer is too much metal. This is my opinion, ... and someone else may differ, ... but in this case I would be surprised. ..... Ron Watson

[miner1436]

Ok, do you know of any polishers I could contact?

 

Thanks, Rich r.

[watsonmil]

Dear Rich,

Few if any of us will recommend one polisher over another. It really is best to do an Internet search looking for Japanese Sword restoration. Take a look at their profile, and qualifications, where they are located, etc. Some of the retail sword dealers can also help you locate a polisher or make arrangements. Again the sword dealers can be found by doing an internet search or looking thru the list of advertisers at the top of the NMB Home page. ...... I hope this helps, ... Ron Watson