zburkett

Thanks Jean. That thread was very helpful. By reading all the way through I was able to better understand my own interest. One distinction I notice is I'm not interested in resale value. My interest is where a given sword will fit into my collection. When I am blessed with the opportunity of being the steward of a beautiful work of art that is a rich contributor to our world's history, my kids can worry about how I spent their inheritance.

Thanks everyone. Steven M that is the most useful answer I have received on this forum. I have a working knowledge of military blades but am developing more interest in Japanese swords, in my case more from the historical point. The two other swords in my collection are older. The problem is "Samurai" swords are more expensive then even the blades from my collection that have already gone into museums. I'm willing to bite the bullet but for the expense I would like to know more about the collecting culture. My blade signed Yokoyama Kousuke Daijo Fujiware Sukesada (which is in worse shape) is in many ways more interesting, but I do not understand the relative value in yankee dollars. Since all of my blades, so far, are war bring backs I will probably just end up giving them to the Marine Corps Museum. Then I will be dead so I won't care what the dollar value is. What I can't seem to get a handle on is how one chooses a sword to add to their collection. What makes one blade worth a few hundred dollars and another worth several thousand? I understand that the saber in my collection with a small "CS" stamped on it is worth several times the price of the same saber without the stamp. I understand that the market is flooded with Chinese fakes you can see in an instant but not necessarily see a picture. At present I know where there is a $1,000.00 blade that I don't know if it is a rip off or a steal. What I cannot get a handle on is the culture of collecting.

I'm trying to get a handle on what to look for is swords starting with the swords I already have. I bought this sword a auction a couple of decades ago, it is in military fittings and I am to it is a hand made sword from just before WW II. It is in good shape except for frayed wrapping. Among the things I don't know is it a good or poor example of the type? Is it oil or water quenched? Why does it matter? Etc.? Any tutoring of someone who knows nothing would be appreciated.

Speaking as someone who is trying to learn, thank you. This discussion was both informative and easy to understand.

BTW Ken, I'm not wealthy, but very lucky. It would be embarrassing to say how little I have invested in my sword collection. I fear that may be about to change. I do agree with you, I do not own the swords, I have been granted the privilege of being the stewards of them. As such I would like to do it right. In my collection there are half a dozen swords from the American Civil War. There is only one that when you hold it, you feel it. With all of my Japanese swords, when you hold them you feel them. I hope you understand.

Thanks SteveM, Because of what you said about "fakes" I have a question. I just ordered a Koiguchi for the red saya just to stabilize it. Some of the lacquer is flaking off. For the price I paid on ebay I know it is a reproduction (fake). Should I just wrap the collar with something to stabilize it and throw the fake away when it gets here? Z

Thanks everyone. First, I know that the swords I own at present do not have a high monetary value. The first sword I am told is a hand made military sword from early WW II. It is in very good shape and all the standard WW II dressings are in place. My second sword is an unsigned sword in excellent shape but the koiguchi and fuchi or sageo are missing from the saya and some of the lacquer is flaking off. My most recent sword has four chips, the deepest I/16" deep and some discoloration. The mei is Yokoyama Kouzuke Daijo Fujiwara Sukesada and on the reverse Bi-shu Osa-fune ju-nin. I understand that is the signature of a master in the early 1700s but was forged well into the Edo period. It has WW II military dressing through the fuchi but the tsuka is broken off at the end of the nakago. There is no ito. At some point I will replace the tsuka. My original question when I came onto this forum had to do with cleaning up the blade. Since then I have become confused about the different groups of collectors. Some seem to treat the swords strictly as art and disparage the history collectors. There seems to be little middle ground, or frankly respect between the two groups. In my case I find them beautiful and am fascinated by their history. My first two swords are service men bring backs and I suspect the most recent one is also. I would like to know if the saya was broken in battle or by some kid playing with daddy's war trophy. I would like to know if it is really a master made blade or an old forgery. As for resale, that is my children's problem after I'm dead. But for now I am discovering that this fascination can get very expensive very fast so I would like to understand the ins and outs.

Several years ago I was at a county auction and picked up a sword for my military collection. On checking it out I found it is one of the WW II hand made and signed swords. While it was not particularly valuable it was a great addition to my collection. Then a good friend gave me a long term loan of one of the swords his father brought home from Japan. Recently I got a sword signed Sukesada Fujiwara which peaked my interest again. On following this forum there seems to be different schools of collecting. The two most prominent seem to be the art collectors and the history buffs. This brings up the question, when do you restore a sword and when do you leave it as found? My new (old) blade has a few chips and the beginning of rust spots. The handle is broken off just above the tang. Where do I go from here?

After many decades of collecting, my only regrets are the things I didn.t buy that I really should have.

Thanks Steve. Some years ago I worked with Richard Stein who knew a lot about Japanese Swords. Now I can't find him. Does anyone know where he is and if he is well. He is a great guy l lost track of. Again, I'm not sure I really care if it is the original or an old forgery, I'd just like to know. Z

I'll try to get the other side attached.

OK, here is another shot at pictures. BTW Grey, I don't think it needs fixing, just TLC. I'd like to take it out for a beer and get it to tell me the story of its life.

Thanks everyone. Here are the pictures as best as I can do them. The first are the three swords in my collection with the one with the broken handle being the one in question. The second photo is the sword disassembled and the last two are the signatures as best I can do them. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks, Zack

I recently got a sword in standard WW II mountings with the blade signed Yokoyama Kouzuke Daijo Fujiwara Sukesada (I am told). I was also told that this signature was often forged in the Edo period. Where can I find more information? Second, the sword is in slightly rough shape. Four chips in the blade, the largest 1/16" deep. It also has the beginnings of pitting and discoloration. What is the best way to maintain a sword with respect? I am something of a knife collector but know almost nothing of Japanese swords. On a pocket knife I could clean it up with semi-chrome polish. Is that ok for a Japanese sword?