paul griff

Hello, The Mei alone would put me off....I don't think you are that far away with " Dremel " Brian...Without a clear picture I would have said it looks "laser cut"...Maybe that's how the nakago looks so clean ? Only my opinion and no insult to the owner meant...But on those points alone I would not want it...! Regards, Paul.

Hello Chris, Again,forgot to add...I got my products in the U.K from : Antique Armoury ( antiquearmoury.net ) and on the website is a good use and information guide on how to use the de-corroder ( It's in a translucent container and green in colour..It's the same product but in a different container ( see Picreator Enterprises Ltd. web is : picreator.co.uk ). Regards, Paul..

Hello Jean, Yes,commercial polish I believe machine done for a fast turnover... Regards, Paul..

Hello Chris, Yes,wash it off with clean water,dry thoroughly and the next part can be a bit contentious and you can ignore it if you are happy with the result thus far..I use solvol autosol chrome cleaner on a cotton bud ( the cotton ball on a stick people are not supposed to clean their ears with but they do ) to polish the damaged area...It's superfine so won't damage a polished blade,then one pass over the blade with an alcohol wipe ( the small ones used in the medical profession are best ) then oil as you would normally...Personally I don't use uchiko powder on polished blades just alcohol and choji oil.....but that's only my take on things....don't want to step on any toes or start a cleaning war ! Regards, Paul.

Chris,sorry,forgot to add....Have a friend who buy's lots of swords and some are obviously freshly polished in Japan...I do suspect they are what some label " commercially polished " and you have to keep an eye on the blade for weeks on the next Just in case some moisture surfaces....Not sure if it's in the metal or from being put in the saya without being correctly dried and cleaned....but not a problem if spotted in time....Just keep an eye on it..! After the de-corroder is used,no problems.... Regards, Paul.

Hello Chris, Yes,that's the one...That 1 litre will de- corrode all the blades in the country but that's the smallest container...You only use a small amount ....Had mine for years and it doesn't seem to degrade.....The wax is also very good,they use it in The British Museum...again,a small container last's for years...I Don't put the wax on my Japanese blades but wouldn't be without it for my other swords.... Regards, Paul.

Hello Chris, Neutralise the rust and it will bother you no more...! When it's brown it's active...get it black....I use copper to clean it then Renaissance de- corroder...Done lot's of swords over the years and it's always worked....Just my opinion...If I found the missing Masamune I'd still use it ! Regards, Paul.

Hello, Very nice sword Ed..Just the way I like them,original,nice patina and classy..Well done...! Regards, Paul..

Hello, This one has a bullet strike to the nakago showing the damaged tsuka and the subsequent replacement..Bought of a board member some time ago who I believe obtained the sword from a dealer in the U.S.A ( also uses the board ). A very nice sword signed Emura... Regards, Paul..

Well done Bruce,nice job a credit to you and your dad's history.. Regards, Paul..

Hello Dave, Excellent article...Very enjoyable reading,thank you for posting.. Regards, Paul.

Hello Brando, Sorry,only teasing....Better correct myself before I'm ostracised...! Wife's away so It's the Henry Weston oak aged speaking..! Anyway,welcome.! Good blade to get some experience and learn from...Good luck.. Regards, Paul..

It's your's so get to it with the grinder Brando and "pimp it up "...that will raise some pulses..!! Regards, Paul..

Hello Chris, Nice find and well done finding the history.. Regards, Paul.

Hello Stephen, The reply wasn't for you.....I was a bit slow on he trigger....Regards Paul.

Have you got a problem ? I'm being polite here and you seem to be looking for conflict....Grow up. Paul

Hello Ben, It's on the Google engine same title , 31 image columns down...Markus Sesko has a nice example.

Hello Ben, Certainly no ridicule intended or implied..just describing where I have seen the pitted nakago in the past ,and , if you haven't ,where you can see a pitted example to compare against the one in question....Maybe I'm getting too cynical these days ? Another good topic to get get me thinking again though..... Gorau o ran , Paul..

Hello Ben, The only reason I have seen them on reproduction swords is because of the "obsession" that people have to see the "signature"....! The local antique shop buys, and it seems has no problem selling all the "Japanese " swords they can get their paws on ! The only ones they don't attack are the nco's ones,again copies 99% of the time...If you want to see a genuine pitted nakago put Shin gunto by Emura in the search engine,look at images and you will see the one I bought off a board member....It's the one with the bullet damage....Cannot access photo's at the moment or I'd attach some for you and ....if you want a comparison...type in : Japanese sword nakago with fire damage,scroll down images for old swords with pitted nakago....Images are good but you cannot beat the look and feel you get hands on...I was lucky not long after I started collecting there used to be some very helpful dealers / sellers at the Birmingham arms fair ...had some tough lessons before that..! Regards, Paul.

Hello Ben, It's not corrosion as such but a deliberately unfinished surface from the manufacturing process..It doesn't have the same characteristic look of age corroded metal...it's too smooth and shiny,no real depth and dare I say it...patina..! With the two "drilled "holes that look the same diameter in the nakago it looks like a deliberate attempt to deceive someone into thinking that it's a remounted blade....? I don't think they will ever get it 100% right and it's good to see them sometimes to keep you "on your toes"....! Have a look at recently "commercially polished" swords on that big auction site and you will see nakago that have been cleaned up during this hasty process....even they retain some patina...! Regards, Paul....

Hello again Erwin, Sorry forgot to add ( working nights has fried my brain )...Sword looks to have been made recently,weeks,months but not so many years..Too much detail for a very early copy,most of those are crude but well made if that makes any sense....? Remember,the minute the war ended local craftsman started to make copies for forces personal desperate for a souvenir to take home . A lot of these are labelled "last ditch " swords, genuine to the era but not used in the conflict...This is no new thing,locals were putting things together the day after the battle of Waterloo ended in 1815 ,many of which are now in museums and collections as " genuine " ! Sorry, I digress....No insult to the owner of the sword meant they may have it in good faith... Regards, Paul..

Hello Erwin, It's 100% fake..Stay away from this one Erwin..It can be difficult when you want something and either the clock is ticking or passion running high but you have done the right thing by seeking advice...Didn't have any when I started so learned the hard way...! If you want a full break down of what's wrong ask away.. Maybe private message is better for this ? Copies are getting better so it's not always in everyone's best interest to help the fakers by listing the faults where they can see them.....But just one...! The castings on the fittings are terrible...! Regards, Paul.

Hello Jim, Welcome....Nice to have a heirloom such as this to introduce you to the fascinating study of the Japanese sword .....be it military or civilian...It's an itch I just can't scratch....! Regards, Paul.

Hello Stephen, Well spotted...Never seen this myself...very interesting...!...Nice example of a Nagamitsu gunto.. Regards, Paul...

Hello Ford, Thanks for the heads up.. Regards, Paul..