Tesla_HV Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 Hello, This is my first post so please bear with me if this is the wrong forum to post this request in. I own a sword that was once my great uncles who was a Marine in WWII. He brought this sword back. It is in fair shape in my opinion but the handle is beginning to fall apart. First of all, I would like to identify this sword so that I can ask some restoration questions in the correct forum. I apologize for the poor photography. Thanks in advance for the help. Monty Quote
Mark Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 the sword is a "late 44" army sword, or some call it a marine landing force sword (but this seems incorrect). The blade is machine made. The scabbard is mismatched, it belongs to the earlier army sword Quote
Tesla_HV Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Posted January 3, 2012 Mark, Thank you for the reply. It seemed to me to be a regular production sword rather than a fine heirloom. Would it be advised to just leave it alone in its present condition rather than have it restored? The handle is beginning to fall apart. Thanks again, Monty G. Quote
Mark Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 depends on your purpose, if economic best to leave it alone as restoration will cost more than the increased value, if sentimental then do as you wish, but restoration is expensive. If you do not do anything you can wrap the handle in "saranwrap" or clear plastic wrap to keep it from getting worse, you can put a light coat of oil on the blade (there is a lot of info on care available). Quote
Brian Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 Mark, How can you tell it is machine made from only those pics? Whilst likely...not enough info to make that call. Can you post a pic of the tang so that we can see who made it? Brian Quote
Tesla_HV Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Posted January 3, 2012 Mark,How can you tell it is machine made from only those pics? Whilst likely...not enough info to make that call. Can you post a pic of the tang so that we can see who made it? Brian The tang is a bit rusty and I chose not to mess with it and clean it. Again sorry for the low quality pics... Tang 1: Quote
Tesla_HV Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Posted January 3, 2012 Tang 3: you can almost make out the markings... Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 Hi Monty, Do not clean the tang! Never! Looks like what Mark called it: WWII Japanese military sword, most likely machine made/oil tempered. Grey Quote
Bruno Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 Please post better photos of the inscriptions so that one can translates them for you. Quote
Brian Posted January 3, 2012 Report Posted January 3, 2012 You can try a light dusting with talcum powder to see if you can bring out the signature. Otherwise, try using a flatbed scanner instead of a camera..sometimes works better. Brian Quote
Tesla_HV Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Posted January 3, 2012 Photo with light talcum powder... Quote
Bruno Posted January 4, 2012 Report Posted January 4, 2012 You should try better shots if you want a translation. Quote
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