Bob in Ohio

Here are some pics showing the layering & copper core....Really, I am trying to determine the approx age. The link kindly provided suggests sanmai tsuba age is debated Assuming the blade and fittings are original to the build... Do the fittings provide a clue to approx. age... (shown previously) The blade is rough, nakago is unsigned.... but assuming original to the tsuba, does the blade suggest approx. age? Nagasa = 27.5", one mekugi-ana

So, I traded into this... the blade is in poor shape, but I rather liked this poor orphan. I am pretty new at this, and hoping someone can unpack what exactly you see in the copper tsuba and fittings & approximate age. Hopefully, this all has been together for a long time... with a two-piece habaki..... and unsigned blade TIA/ Bob

Thanks RA for the nevr-dull recommendation.... there was cosmo on the blade. While the blade is still not in polish, at least it has the color of patinated steel, and not dingy yellow.... I am delight with the improved look! Some before/ after pics

Thx Bruce... and other one I snagged at the same time is also 'Na' marked... both Apr' '44 from what I can see... I know Na is for the Nagoya Arsenal, but what is the significance here with swords? Just a data point?

Well, oxiidation/cosmo may be in combination. The purchase also included an unissued Arisaka, w/ metal covered in cosmo + the bayo had a yellowish tinge. Both cleaned up well with oil and bronze brush to the Arisaka. Will give the nevr-dull a try....

Greetings--- Every five years or so, I buy a gunto from the wild (never in a collection) and get enthused to learn about the specific sword, but also to expand my understanding. Bruce helped with the date and Smith, but I wanted to share and also get some opinions on this example I just added. Let me ask my questions, and then post some pics... I have a local auction house, and every example they have ever sold (perhaps 25 swords) have had shiny blades.... [Not sure they should be shiny or if some were buffed]. This Yoshume's blade is "covered with patina or possibly a varnish was also added from the vet as a preservative. .................................... What should I do/ have done to the blade, if anything? The ray skin.... I assume mine same* is real. When was fake ray skin used? The smith, is Yoshimune..... but that is just a name to me. Were smiths of WW2 non-traditional blades ranked.... or ............................................................................... Is "Yoshimune" just the smiths name for this era of Mfg, and all are about equal? The handle is pencil numbered 1781 by the throat. One side of the tang I can read 1781 as a ghost under where paint was/remains ................................................................................... Does the red paint, on the other side, also translate to 1781?

Here's a blade with WW2 fittings. I am trying to confirm it is an old blade, and anything close to it's approx. age. Sadly, no signature. The blade is 27.75", and the tang is 6.25". Any illumination you can provide is greatly appreciated! Thx/ Bob

So here are some blade pics. As you know, these can be tough to image... reflection of trees and photographer etc...

I am a principally a firearms collector, but travel the margins too. I recently added this thinking it was a just a typical Katana. I knew it was right and it's been in the closet for many yrs from where I bought it. It is my first Japanese sword, so this a new world for me. I posted on a Japanese firearms site some pics and they helped, but I thought I would bring it here in the hopes of learning more. Someone suggested it's a Edo (1680?) period blade made by Sagamino kami Fujiwara Hiroshige. I measured the cutting edge properly from the habaki and it's 71.5 cm long (28.1"). I want to get your confirmation on this and ask some questions.... ************************************** Here's how you can help.... 1) Curious on the yellow painted 787? 2) Is this an edge that should be authenticated/ papered in some way? 3) This (if I understand correctly) has been reworked as a Shinto blade for WWII.... are these Edo reworks uncommon? 4) Is the signature from a desirable smith? 5) My intentions are unknown at this time. I simply love this katana.... just not sure I can afford to keep it? Any gross ballbark range on valuation would be good to know. 6) Is the real value in the blade only, or is the whole package critical to it's value? Thanks in advance...Bob