ChrisW

What can you tell us about each of them? Pictures can only do so much, but I am more attracted to the second one.

I don't even bother with their descriptions anymore.

I wouldn't write any of them off just yet. Take them to a show, find a polisher. Get their opinion. Theirs more than anyone in the internet will be your definitive answer.

You bought a blade out of Japan and didn't take time to research it fully? That's a bit of a gamble, don't you think?

Looks like a real wartime setup. Can't say anything about the blade yet. The photos just simply don't show enough of it to make any sort of call on that.

This is the auction that was discussed here: In my opinion, these are likely fake/modern reproduction blades paired with some antique fittings in a colossal waste of money to deceive new collectors. Steer clear of this auction, these deals are really just "steals" from new collectors.

I don't think there's anything real about these two, sorry about that! If you bought them recently, definitely try to get your money back.

There are professionals who CAN rewire a sword handle properly. But the big problem is sourcing appropriate replacement wire; which usually means original wire, which is almost certainly impossible to find. You'd have to know someone in Japan who has new-old stock of it.

So your grandfather's blade is a mumei o-wakizashi (long wakizashi, not a katana). For it to be a katana, nagasa should be around 24" or greater. You could ask a polisher about the feasibility of restoration work and barring a fatal flaw, it would be possible. However, it would be a passion project to protect family history. In terms of financial viability, mumei wakizashi are generally not worth restoring. BUT, this is just my opinion based on a general consensus and only a polisher can give a definitive statement. Financial viability could change if the workmanship of the blade is judged to be of someone of merit. It does appear to have some interesting activity and doesn't appear to have any obvious fatal flaws. You can check for the definition of FATAL flaws here: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm Those stones, if they are high quality, could be of interest to a professional polisher as the really good quality stones are rather scarce these days. Again, do make sure that no one attempts to use them on any swords as that could ruin both the sword and the stones.

Looks like your grandfather had ideas of restoring the blade himself. Hopefully he did NOT carry through with it! Restoration is best left to a professional, do keep those stones away from the blade as irreparable damage can be done to them by a person without the proper decade-or-so long training in Japan that is required to be knowledgeable and skilled enough to carry out such work. It does appear to be an older (not WWII) blade, possibly Koto as you suspect. Could you give us a measurement of how long the cutting edge is? (From notch to tip)

Super beautiful piece! Would make a fantastic addition to any collection.

This is the victim of a bad acid job. Nasty pitting, dull and lifeless waxy steel. Or it is a polish job that was done halfway and stopped. Possibly because of the damage in the kissaki. Looks pretty nasty.

Its an antique one. I just bought it (and the tachi it was mounted on) from a woman whose husband picked it up back in the 70's, so very unlikely to be Tschernaga's work.

@Bruce Pennington Here's one for you Bruce. This one is off a tachi I just picked up.

There are no words to describe... this.

What you're looking at is probably tobiyaki: sections of hardened steel above the hamon, usually in small dots. They can be intentionally placed or isolated remnants of the hamon that has been polished away.

The blade itself has some seriously damaged geometry in my eyes: lack of a hamachi entirely, yokote is gone, kissaki rounded off, the hamon may run off the boshi as well. The nakago appears greatly messed with too and the patination either appears missing or otherwise compromised. Something is off about the bohi too... just can't quite place my finger on it. My best guess is that someone had an empty kyu gunto koshirae and shoe-horned a very rusty blade into it. I'd pass on this one!

100% fakes/reproductions. They NEVER put serial numbers on the habaki and it is a dead giveaway that it is probably a Chinese fake. The Damascus steel should also be a tip-off as Japanese steel is far subtler and more refined. You should definitely pass and save your money for some books first. Trust me, they will save you a lot of heartache and money in the long run!

Ultimately it comes down to tradition and not wanting to be caught (on record) if they are incorrect. Easier to blame the owner or whomever removed a gimei signature even if the judges then later agree with the alleged gimei signature. That's my understanding of it anyways.

Hey Steven! Congratulations on your finds. To take a proper measure of sori (curvature), you should measure from the mune-machi (notch where the habaki sits on the transiton between the nakago and the mune of the blade) to the very tip of the boshi. The sori is probably around 1/2" just from a glance though. The blade is a very standard size for a WWII-produced blade and may very well end up being gendaito (which could warrant a polish). Just based on what I am seeing, there is a good chance of that. So definitely find a token kai or collector near you for assistance!

Does it smell bad? Might explain its ability to clear a room.

Could be made into a mekugi-nuki!

They can sometimes be rather subtle, especially if the wartime polish is scuffed or not in great condition. Either way, Kinmichi is only known to have made showato. If this were a gendaito, it'd be a first. But unlikely, as those who were not deemed worthy did not get access to the materials during the war to make gendaito I believe. However, pictures across the internet can only do so much. You should bring this to the nearest Token Kai meeting or sword show to get an in-hand opinion for something more definitive.

If that is a silver habaki, they didn't tend to put those on junk blades. WWII menuki are easily replaceable.

Kinmichi only made showato, as far as I am aware. If you look in the peaks of the hamon and see dark spots, that is the tell-tale sign of oil-quenching.