Garage sale find

[William Jennings]

Hey guys! I picked up this sword at a sale and was hoping to get more information on it. Is this an older sword that was repurposed for the war or a showato? I’m guessing older but not sure. I think it’s in gunto mounts but not the typical mounts that I’ve seen before. Was this a military sword or carried by a civil worker? 
 

Mumei nakago 

The nagasa is 26 inches

 

i think the hamon is notare-gunome but not sure

 

takanoha yasurieme, so possibly Mino den? 
 

any information about its age/maker would be helpful

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 05:17 PM by William Jennings

[William Jennings]

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 05:14 PM by William Jennings

[William Jennings]

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 05:15 PM by William Jennings

[William Jennings]

[William Jennings]

[Toki]

Nice find and a pretty sword!

The mix of rust and shiny spots on the Nakago make it look more modern than old to me, as if its not completely oxidized quite yet. 

 

But I am just a beginner myself, so wait for a more experienced member of this Board.😅

 

[ROKUJURO]

William,

the TS)UBA photo is upside-down, and the contrast of the blade photos is low due to the bright background so there is not much to see for identification. The corrosion is also not helping.

I think I see a SANBON-SUGI HAMON, and as Erik states above, the NAKAGO looks like one of a more recently made (WW II) blade.

A good photo of the NAKAGO without HABAKI and light frome the side (blade-tip pointing upwards), made on a dark backgound, may reveal more.

Do you see a stamp somewhere?

[William Jennings]

@ROKUJUROJean, thank you! I will try to get you better photos on a dark background and side lighting. As for the nakago, I don’t see any stamps. Just the yasurieme. Is there a way to remove some rust on the nakago without ruining the blade to better look for a stamp? Suggestions? 

[ROKUJURO]

William,

I would not try to remove or clean anything on a sword. In case you had the money, get it in the hands of a TOGISHI (= polisher). 

You can try to slow down the corrosion by applying a thin layer of low-viscosity machine-oil, but take care that NO oil gets into the SAYA!

[Grey Doffin]

Hi William,

Do not clean anything. Do not try to remove rust. The sword is OK as is; it won't disintegrate if you don't tend to it immediately and, knowing as little as you do about Japanese swords, any attempts at repair could/would be counterproductive. Here you will find a brochure on care and Cleaning: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/

You should read it twice. Take better pictures on a dark background and post them here; we will tell you what we can. And don't pay any attention to anyone who tells you to have the sword polished; that is terrible advise to give a beginning collector.

Grey

[Rivkin]

Hamon is exactly periodic sinusoid with accented nioi-guchi which is visible everywhere at any angle.

Most likely Showa (WWII) stuff with brutally cleaned nakago.