Richard Waddell

Thanks everyone for the incouraging words. Truth is this: 1) I am extremely happy with the information that I optained at the Shinsa. I watched the master polisher examine the sword and reject it. I also received word from him that he was unable to see I believe it was the folds in the metal. He also said that the sword was able to be repolished in his expert opinion. I talked them into actually running the sword the rest of the way through the Shinsa because I wanted information. 2) It is a 500 year old sword that needs a polish to have the ability to become fully certified. Anyone want to start a collection for $3K? 3) I am happy to display it and be proud that a piece of history is now being taken care of for future generations, who may have the funds to polish it then. 4) Crap, it's a 500 year old sword, who cares it's cool just the way it is. Not many can say that. Thanks guys you have been a great help.

Update: Just got back from the Chicago Sword Show. Put the sword through Shinsa. The sword was not certified due to the condition of the blade. The layers could not be seen clearly due to the polish currently on the sword. However, I asked for the sword to go through the remaining steps of Shinsa and everything was confirmed, mei, period, province, date. Ryokai Kageyoshi Late Muromachi Period Buzen Province 1504 Can be restored with a polish, and resubmitted. Needless to say that I would have loved it to be certified 100% with origami, but I will take what they called 95% and the information written down on the non certified form.

Update following the 2015 Show of Shows in Louisville this past weekend: Spoke with Mark Jones and Martin Zalonis at the show. Both were extremely helpful to a newbie. Martin spent about an hour going over the sword and explaining things about the sword. Also, spent time examining the mei, sori, shape, tang, machi, etc. and believes it to be accurate. Mark also offered his opinion on refinishing and asked some very important questions about the need and why i would want it finished. Mark also suggested going to the Chicago show and have a number of polishers to look at it first. Both gentlemen suggested switching the WW2 Fuchi and Tsuba,out for Civilian fittings, which i was able to do at the show. Mark also suggested that I have the sword certified at the Chicago Shinsa. In conclusion, I will be taking the sword to Chicago for the Shinsa. I want to thank both of them for teaching me and providing valuable information about a family heirloom. Thanks, Richard

That's why I asked the best! Thanks everyone

This is a sword I am looking at. Sorry about the pic size. It's all I have at the moment

Does anyone recognize this Tsuba? It was sold on a site a while back and I am interested in finding the buyer to possibly get a replica made, as this is the exact crane figure for our karate dojo. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/holbrook-tsuba/h356-bizen-shoami-tsuba# H356. Iron sukashi tsuba with brass inlaid eyes. 7.8 x 7.9 x .5 cm at the slightly raised rim. Skip’s tag says, “Bizen Shoami, dancing crane, mid Edo.” Heavy, dense plate, subtle tekkotsu on the rim, fine carving, excellent condition: what’s not to like? $650.

Thanks Brian. Yes, after I sent the post I realized that it most certainly could stir stuff up and I would not want to have anyone excluded. For the money, I am definitely doing my homework.

Could you elaborate a bit more on the 2 polishers in the US please.

Hey guys, Thanks for the information. I am meeting up with Mark in Louisville in a few weeks to have him look the sword over. I also sent a link to a polisher named Dave Hofhine to ask his opinion on whether the sword could be brought back to life. He said that everything looks good and that the foundation would be able to be fixed. Thanks again for your help.

Martin, Martin, One specific question on this. you mentioned that the sword has undergone machiokuri, which in this case would make the Nakago longer, correct? And a follow up question, this sword has what appears to be a WWII Tsuba and Collar (serial Number 119 i believe), could the sword have been modified to receive the new Tsuba and Collar? The tsuka appears to me to be original and it is definetely not WWII. could the sword blade have been removed from its original fittings, modified, and the WWII fittings added to be used in the war? i would like to replace the Tsuba and Collar with something that is closer to the actual swords period.

Gentleman, Thank you all for your information and advice. Going to start with the uchiko powder today, to clean the sword, and on the spot that looks like a hamon and go from there. I would be interested in meeting up with the gentleman in Toledo, as my daughter is attending school in Cleveland, so I am up in the general area a few times a year. Thank you again and I will let you know what I find out.

Rick, Thanks for the encouraging news.

Not that familiar with the terminology of the sword blade yet, so I will look things up. From what I can quickly tell the items listed could be fixed by a quality sword polisher. This would also be for family use only, not for sale. I am just happy to find out that we have such an old sword.

OK, so I am new at all of the parts of the sword, so I will look them up and see what you are referring too. I am upset about the sandpaper as well, but I cannot do anything about what happened to it previously. I am just happy to have such an old sword, and would like it to look good and to take care of it from now on.

Tried to get larger pictures. If you would like a specific one larger please let me know. There are a few that show a faint hamon line I believe.