Polishing styles and burnishing

[blackwatercreekllc]

This has probably been discussed and if so i apologize but i did due dilligence and could not find an answer on-line or in the boards. So, i am familiar with different styles of polish and of course some of the travesties that have occurred over the years. Was there ever a polishing style that burnished the entire blade surface or is it strictly due to someone having buffed the blade? I have recently purchased a wakizashi that i am 99.999% sure is the real deal - it's had a rough life and may very well have started it's life as a katana but hey, it's my first. I also just got a cut-off nakago. Both appear to have had the entire surface of the blade burnished and i have not found a reference to that ever having been done aside from in grandpa's basement. Any help would be appreciated, thanks! P.S. - the nakago was straight from Japan (via ebay), which is what really peaked my curiosity...

[Ken-Hawaii]

Do you have a few photos to share, by any chance?

 

Ken

[drdata]

I have heard of GIs having such items chromed. Could that be it? Pics would be useful.

 

Regards

[runagmc]

David, burnishing the whole surface of a sword has never been done by any Japanese tradition. Usually when you see a sword that's "shiny all over" it has been polished with some kind of polishing compound by someone who didn't know what they were doing. Also, there's a difference between burnishing and polishing, in that burnishing actually work hardens the surface. If you google it, you will find plenty of info.

[blackwatercreekllc]

So, after closer inspection it does seem like a normal polish on the waki. It just took a cleaning and some very good lighting. It's also just been very abused & neglected. Will need to do a really close inspection of the nakago under better lighting.

[Ken-Hawaii]

David, just telling us these things doesn't allow us to help at all. How about posting a couple of good, clear photos for us?

 

Ken