bone Posted April 30, 2011 Report Posted April 30, 2011 I just picked up this little wak and have a couple of questions. First I can't remember ever seeing active rust on top of old rust but since everything else I collect isn't prone to rust I just want an expert opinion. The second is the length of the nakago in relation to the nagasa. The nakago is 5" and the nagasa 20.75". The sori is 1.1cm. I'm only going to post the one pic here because I don't want to waste the boards bandwidth. I'll post the photobucket link and if it turns out to be worth discussing I'll go ahead and add the pics so they'll be around. http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e382/ ... Wakizashi/ I'm already working on the rust. Gives me something to do on rainy days. And we've had a LOT of rainy days lately. Thanks guys! Quote
Marius Posted April 30, 2011 Report Posted April 30, 2011 I'm already working on the rust. Gives me something to do on rainy days. And we've had a LOT of rainy days lately. Thanks guys! STOP !!!! Whatever you are doing, STOP IT NOW! You are not in the least qualified to remove rust from a Japanese sword You are likely to damage its polish, and if you are reckless, you may seriously damage the blade After you listen to this simple advice, we can move on. Otherwise you will hear some rather bitter comments. Quote
Brian Posted April 30, 2011 Report Posted April 30, 2011 Mariusz, I think Steve might only be removing (stabilizing?) the active red rust on the nakago. If done carefully and non-abrasively, I don't think it is a huge problem. A bit of oil, maybe some careful ivory, and you can stop that active rust from doing damage. I don't see any active red rust on the blade itself. Brian Quote
bone Posted April 30, 2011 Author Report Posted April 30, 2011 ???? Errmm, what Brian said is true. Though I'm not even using ivory but rather a wool cloth with choji oil and that only on the nakago. I'm only using uchiko and choji on the blade of course. I appreciate your concern and your passion though. I promise not to do anything like "polishing" or using a dremel or anything else insane. Quote
george trotter Posted April 30, 2011 Report Posted April 30, 2011 In relation to your two questions: first, yes I have seen such rust on top of old rust...probably indicates humidity and resulting moisture in the wood shirasaya...probably hasn't been out and inspected/oiled for quite a while. You are handling it properly IMHO. Second, the stubby nakago is not rare...see especially the nakago/blade nagasa relationship in the Bizen tradition. Your nakago seems to be an example of this. BTW, your blade has quite strong fumbari so IMHO, it is probably ubu nakago. I stand to be corrected on all points of course. Regards, George. Quote
Marius Posted May 1, 2011 Report Posted May 1, 2011 ???? Errmm, what Brian said is true. Though I'm not even using ivory but rather a wool cloth with choji oil and that only on the nakago. I'm only using uchiko and choji on the blade of course. I appreciate your concern and your passion though. I promise not to do anything like "polishing" or using a dremel or anything else insane. Steve, Thank you and sorry for my outburst In my mind's eyes, I have already seen another ruined blade... Coming back to your questions - I think I see running masame in the blade or is it just the pictures? The hamon runs down to the edge in some places - the sword has seen many polishes. It looks like a late koto, possibly an uchigatana? This could be a Bizen kazu-uchimono, given its shape, the fact that it is ubu but unsigned. I am, however, sceptical regarding the Bizen attribution - masame does not fit and the hamon seems to show Mino influence in some places. I might be wrong, though :-) As to the fumbari - could you give us the moto-haba and saki-haba? Also, could you check how the nakago looks below the munemachi - do you see fresh rust and/or naked steel? Quote
Jacques Posted May 1, 2011 Report Posted May 1, 2011 Hi, This sword is pretty tired (dead), i wonder if man can see something interesting on it. Quote
bone Posted June 3, 2011 Author Report Posted June 3, 2011 Hi guys! I want to apologize for being gone so long. But I have a home again and a computer again so I'll be answering all the questions in the next couple of days. And hopefully learn a little something new. I'm in the process of rebuilding my less than extensive library so anyone that can point me to some low priced reading material would be an angel! Jacques: I know how things can be misconstrued without vocal inflection so I want you to know there is no sarcasm or malice in what I'm saying. I see your comments and value them. I'm sure there's nothing you can learn from this poor tired girl, frankly if she was in perfect polish I still don't think you could learn anything from her. But I almost certainly can. Please, any comments you have from what little there is to see would be welcome. I've got a new camera which I'm going to start using this weekend and I'm hoping I can get the measurements everyone has requested. To answer one question though... mariuszk: There is active rust below the munemachi. As with most of the rest of the nakago there seems to be old black rust underneath it. It's good to be back friends and neighbors. Quote
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