NihontoEurope Posted June 8, 2012 Report Posted June 8, 2012 I think you need to post better pictures and you name. Close-up of the Boshi (both sides) An on-top of the whole blade If the hamon is visible, catch it and post it. The nakago is in bad shape. Can we see both sides? Measurements of the sword too would help. /Martin
Grey Doffin Posted June 8, 2012 Report Posted June 8, 2012 The Osafune Nagamitsu would not have signed a sword katana mei. Also, If I'm getting the signature correct this is Bizen (obscurred Kanji that might have been "no Kuni no Ju") Osafune Naga something, and the Kanji for Naga is not the one the the big name Osafune Nagamitsu used. This is probably a bizen blade from Muromachi, and in poor condition. Grey
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 How much do you think it's worth? After being fully polished
hxv Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 Hi, The polish will cost about $100-$150/inch, habaki=$400, shirasaya=$450, round trip shipping=$100. So if your wakizashi is nominally 17in, the cost will be $2650 at best. I would guess the wakizashi after the polish would be worth less than $2650. Restoring a sword for resale is not a winning proposition, unless the sword is an important sword. If you restore it for personal enjoyment, that's a different story, IMHO. Regards, Hoanh
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 I purchased the sword for 435.00. I myself have the water stones and jizuya and hizuya and the professional oil and powder and such. How much profit should I be expecting
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 This is a Japanese sword wakizashi blade only.
Jean Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 - Wakizashi are the cheapest Nihonto - To be worth something (compared to tanto/katana/Tachi...) they must be in pristine condition - This wakizashi has, what I would call, a rotten nakago. I have sold a much better one, slightly suriage, in full polish for 1000€
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 Would it not be worth my time to polish and resell or should I just return it and purchase a better blade
estcrh Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 Would it not be worth my time to polish and resell or should I just return it and purchase a better bladeFernando, it is not the policy of the forum to encourage the polishing of any nihonto by anyone who is not a professionally trained nihonto polisher with years of experience. the standard recommendation would be to buy a sword that does not need polishing. If you would look in the "for sale" section here you will find very reasonably prices swords from other forum members or you can post a "wanted" add asking to purchase a sword, in addition, there is a link section at the top of the forum listing many good sword dealers.
Tokaido Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 Hi Fernando, your questions give us the impression, that you are not familiar with (old) Japanese swords. You wrote: "I myself have the water stones and jizuya and hizuya and the professional oil and powder and such". So you intend to polish the blade BY YOURSELF?? Well, to say it the blunt way: this maybe the best method to reduce the value from 435 US$ to ZERO. Sorry. Greetings Andreas
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 I understand. I'm familiar with them and have polished them in the past, I just don't understand why people are to scared to take their time to polish and care for the sword, not send it to Japan everytime it needs some polish.
NihontoEurope Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 I just don't understand why people are to scared to take their time to polish and care for the sword, not send it to Japan everytime it needs some polish. Fernando, Do you have any photos before/after of your polished objects? I have a few swords that needs some stone rubbing. /Martin
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 Right now I'm on vacation and when I'm home I'll be beginning my project, I will post before / during / and after pictures. I'll be back home on the 16th. Till then my friend.
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 I have some pictures on my home computer of a previous project on a tanto from ww2, I'll post pics as soon as I get back.
hxv Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 Hi Fernando, Your sword is an authentic nihonto, not a Chinese fake. That's for sure. Don't know about the authenticity of the mei, though. Here is a previous thread regarding sword polishing and why one should leave the job to a professionally trained polisher. Please read through all of the posts on this thread. Since you are not personally involved, it's easier to leave out the emotions and understand the content on an analytical level. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8968 Regards, Hoanh
Brian Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 Ok..let's get one thing straight here. People who go back and delete their first post of a thread, making the whole thread irrellevant and nonsense....that is the second fastest way to get yourself deleted and banned here. Secondly...anyone advocating and encouraging amateur polishing as a means of preserving Nihonto...that is the fastest way. Generally we are a tolerant group of collectors here. But 1000 years of tradition over-rules anyones stupid ideas about polishing swords. Is that clear? Brian
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 I'll do you a favor and stop posting sorry that I'm intolerable, the only reason I deleted he first photos and info is because I am going to post more an better pictures when I'm back home. Which definitely has nothing to do with you. Sorry guys for any inconvience.
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 I was also going to post pictures of my project. But apparently you didn't read that post
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 Please just delete my account apparently I am stupid and have no idea on what im doing. I understand you are far superior seeing as you are the site admin.
Brian Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 I'm familiar with them and have polished them in the past, I just don't understand why people are to scared to take their time to polish and care for the sword, not send it to Japan everytime it needs some polish. When you have done some studying, seen a few top swords in real polish, and understand the damage that beginners do to swords when they "..have the water stones and jizuya and hizuya and the professional oil and powder and such" then you are welcome to come back and learn how to really appreciate swords. You might also discover that posting new and better pics in a week has nothing to do with deleting the existing ones. For now, keep looking for that Kamakura Nagamitsu treasure sword for $450 on eBay or online. Brian PS - Being the admin doesn't make me superior. I don't even claim to know very much. Just enough to not throw old swords onto polishing stones and tell people that polishes needn't be done professionally.
Grey Doffin Posted June 9, 2012 Report Posted June 9, 2012 Hi Fernando, Not looking for a fight, not interested in an argument; just the facts, OK. You asked if this sword could be the important, Kamakura era swordsmith Nagamitsu, when for a variety of reasons that would be impossible. You asked what the sword might be worth after polish. The fact that you're asking these questions tells me that you are far from being an authority on the subject. That's fine; I'm not one either. I do know that there is a whole lot more to polishing swords than making them shiny and that many, many fine Japanese swords have been ruined or seriously damaged by well meaning amateur polishers. The polisher has to know the proper geometry for the blade, the correct color of the steel, how the steel will interact with a particular stone, the warning signs of trouble approaching, how to deal with and minimize problems, and so much more. He also must be careful to remove the least amount possible of the skin steel, so as not to expose the coarse core steel. Amateurs always get it wrong. Sometime the sword they ruin was unimportant and and the loss, while unfortunate, isn't catastrophic. Sometimes the sword was important, and the loss to history, art, and the pocketbook is terrible (give a sword that in proper polish would be worth $100,000 to an amateur polisher and he can easily make it worth $20,000). Amateur polishers can't often tell whether or not a sword is important (I know you can't). If you are a reasonable person with a modicum of intelligence you'll pay attention to what I've said and swear off polishing unless and until you get proper training. Again, I'm not an authority and I'm not trying to insult you, but I know from 30 years experience that what I said is the truth. Grey
FernandoSantana94 Posted June 9, 2012 Author Report Posted June 9, 2012 I'll take your advice. Thanks for being honest with me and not being rude about it. I'll just apply the powder and oil and just make sure the sword doesn't gain more surface rust than it has. I'll leave the polishing to an expert.
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