Scogg

Preserving history is the goal. Everything i've learned in the process is just a bonus! I was given a few options on next steps, but I have not decided. Rest assured - all options end with this sword being restored and cared for. Cheers, -Sam

Right?! I'm feeling very lucky / fortunate to have found both these swords for under 1k Honestly though, I think I live in a dead-zone of Nihonto collectors that are in "my budget range". Seems like i'm the only one at these shows actively looking for Nihonto thats not Gunto. That being said, I think I am done searching around locally for a bit. There were a surprising amount of nihonto at these shows, many in bad condition, and these two swords were the only ones that really sparked my interest. I'd really like to get into fully polished papered blades, Cheers, -Sam

Update: I just got word from the Togishi! He believes my sword to be Yamato Tegai school, shortened Tachi, probably late Kamikura period. The kitaeware in the kissaki is a problem, and might never polish out - BUT he believes it to be worthy of a polish and very quality work. He mentioned chikei and jinei, hakikake boshi, and mokume hada. This is VERY VERY exciting for me. I'm so glad I found this sword, got it off the shelf, and into a togishi's hands. Something told me it was special, and I'm glad that i'm beginning to learn how to recognize that (or maybe this was a total fluke ). What an amazing learning experience, and now I have a real responsibility of choosing what to do next Thank you again everyone for all your help, Cheers, -Sam

Thanks again everyone! I've got the Pecards antique leather dressing on order, and plan to take it very careful and slow. That Connoly Hide Care looks great; I've got an old saddle made in SF before great fire, and I think that might be perfect for it. The rolls royce angle is pretty cool! All great info and advice! Thank you again everyone! The blade has a wild and fun hamon, and interesting koshirae. I have a hard time seeing the jihada unfortunately. Nonetheless, I am enjoying cataloging and admiring the sword I will update when I finish the leather treatment, Cheers, -Sam

Just figured out the menuki. They’re bell crickets (suzumushi) Cheers, -Sam

Thank you @Jon for that thoughtful and helpful advice! I think I'm going to give it a try. I've been doing a lot of research on leather conditioners and treatments for ww2 saya; and it looks like a project I can tackle Thank you again everyone! As always, ya'll are a big help and have given me a lot to look into and learn, Cheers, -Sam

Wow, the leather on your saya looks really nice. That looks like a great project for me to try. Do you have any recommendations on product or process to use on the leather? Thanks for the info and kind words about my sword. I’m enjoying looking into other gunto wakizashis, and looking for others with green ito. Other than Nihonto, I really enjoy learning about militaria and ww2/ww1 history. So these bring-backs with older swords are particularly interesting/cool to me. Thanks again everyone! cheers, -Sam

Thank you! I made that spelling correction Finding a civilian saya would be a fun search. I agree about your observation of the tsuka-ito, and some of it is fraying around the menuki (which I’m trying to identify). Thank you for your input and info! Cheers, -Sam

Thank you both, that gave me a lot of good information to search I found this old thread with the same design https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/19513-what-would-make-you-think-it-is-not-a-nobuie-tsuba/ I see a lot of gimei nobuie out there, and mine looks like a pretty crude version of the signature (to my novice eye). Do you think mine might be a gimei akasaka copy of the design? Or potentially a fake? Cheers, -Sam

I think it is iorimune, but my photo did not capture it well. I’ll attach another incase I am mistaken That’s good info, and I appreciate the input, thank you!

Forgot to add these two

Oh my goodness, that’s a turtle? That’s so cool! It appears there’s a kanji above, but it’s covered by rust except the very bottom part. I don’t think there’s a kanji below. Here’s another photo

That would be a fun project, its a beautiful little piece I've considered using it as a bolo-tie for my wedding - by threading string through the loop of the obidome

Recently got a mumei wakizashi; and surprise! The tsuba is signed I appreciate any help in translating. I can provide more photos if requested Cheers, -Sam

Hello again, Welcome to another thread of me buying/rescuing an out of polish mumei sword that I found at a local gun sale. I was attracted to the hira zukuri, and also the hamon. Unfortunately the condition, chipping, and rust have obscured some detail. I struggled to get good photos of this one, so apologies for that. Any opinions welcome! I’m particularly interested in opinions on its age. It’s in a ww2 leather covered saya, and some civilian fittings Nagasa = 41 cm sori = 1 cm nakago = 11.5 cm motokasane = 6.8 mm sakikasane = 5 mm motohaba = 30.2 mm sakihaba ~ 24 mm (not sure how to measure this one on hirazakuri) The boshi apears to turn back along the mune and the hamon seems to reappear along the mune, which I thought was interesting. If you’d like more photos, ask and I’ll do my best. Thanks everyone!

Thank you Piers! A repurposed kashira would make a ton of sense! I thought it was small for an Obidome, and that would explain it. Mino makes sense to me too! Thank you. Now I’m starting to see the similarities on my mino katana koshirae

I’ve got this obidome. Just sharing because I like how much it reminds me of tosogu Any opinions welcome, especially on the type of flowers and grass depicted. It was listed as chrysanthemum and autumn sword grass, but I have doubts Cheers, -Sam

On that type 95, there appears to be a stamp, maybe Seki?, right behind the bohi. Never seen that before on the blade, but i'm no NCO guy I agree that it doesn't look right. To my novice eyes Edit: The older blade in type94 fittings, from the original post looks interesting. I'm an Ebay seller of comics and collectables, and Ebay still makes me nervous when it comes to antiques. Best of luck, -Sam

It's tough to get a good eye on it. Any chance on getting a more clear image? Here's my shot-in-the-dark guess: Two Samurai in armor jumping from boat to boat over waves. One with a naginata, and one with a sword

I think they look great! I’ve enjoyed watching the progress on IG Honestly, going in blind, I don’t think I would clock them as modern. I like the reserved style of both, and especially the radiating lines on the 2nd one. They don’t look plain to me I like to say “less is more”, and I think you’ve captured that idea with class and skill Well done!

I've decided to save my money for Blades and/or Tosogu, where my current interests are. A fellow forum member reached out, and is looking for something like this. I am hoping they are able to purchase the set, and save it from the antique store shelves. Getting it into the collection of someone who will appreciate it - is a win for me! Thanks again everyone! I'll be spending my day on that Bonhams website, Cheers, -Sam

Thank you Colin, and everyone! Every time I go antiquing, and find something Japanese that's listed as a "samurai" item, it's either extremely over priced, or extremely underpriced. I had my hopes up that this might be one of those underpriced items. Maybe next time! Thanks again! Cheers, -Sam

Thank you. Next time I stop in, I will ask to view it outside the case, look for a signature, and get some better photos