zatoichi Posted January 12, 2013 Report Posted January 12, 2013 Wanted to find out how this could take place. Yasurime clear by the hamachi. Nakago has deep pitting rust below obscuring the Yasurime. Is this hi-hada? Justin Quote
kaigunair Posted January 12, 2013 Report Posted January 12, 2013 I would think it has to do with how the tsuka was shaped. Could have been tighter in all areas except for the non-rust parts where it didn't make contact. Sometimes I think the rust is developed due to the moisture coming from/through the tsuka. Maybe oil from periodic cleaning leaking down the habaki through the tsuba/seppas and the fuchi guarded the area? Worse case I can think of is maybe it was retempered at some point, and the file marks added back? Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 12, 2013 Report Posted January 12, 2013 Bad, bad rust. Needs work. John Quote
george trotter Posted January 12, 2013 Report Posted January 12, 2013 I once passed up a Yasukunito by Kotani Yasunori because of rust just like this (I won't buy a rotten nakago)...mei is usually high on Yasukunito and it survived clean, but rest of nakago was "rotten"...quite a bit worse than yours...pity. Yours looks like an interesting sword too. I am pretty sure this rust is caused by moisture entering under the tsuka (via mekugi ana?)...aggression of the rust maybe aided by the nature of tamahagane as it seems (to me) to be more common on gendaito than showato. Your "clean patch" is common ...it is not due to human interference, just the way it was affected by moisture IMHO. Regards, Quote
cabowen Posted January 12, 2013 Report Posted January 12, 2013 Some of these swords have seen extreme combat conditions- jungles, swamps, salt water, etc. If the tsuka was soaked and the owner not able to disassemble to properly clean, this kind of corrosion can take place. Also, sometimes post war they end up in flooded or damp basements, sea side areas, or whatever that can also lead to damage. For some reason I have seen this quite often in swords that landed in Australia in comparison to other locations. Perhaps there is a steel eating bug native.... Quote
David Flynn Posted January 12, 2013 Report Posted January 12, 2013 http://images.wikia.com/uncyclopedia/im ... arning.jpg WARNING: Not for the faint hearted. Quote
george trotter Posted January 13, 2013 Report Posted January 13, 2013 Oh noooo...Dave, ssshhhh...you have let out the national secret of the incredible bloodthirsty "drop-bears"!!! Believe me Geraint, even more scary than the ferromunchicus australis bugs. Seriously, I think Chris may be correct about seeming to see more rust on swords collected by Australians in New Guinea/Solomons/Borneo etc etc...incredibly humid places. A damp tsuka left neglected for 20-40 years won't do a nakago any favours! Regards, Quote
sanjuro Posted January 13, 2013 Report Posted January 13, 2013 Unfortunately. The repatriated members of our armed forces following WWII did not know that Ferromunchicus Australis was easily combated by the application of Oilus chojii Japonicus! :D A single application of which was anomolous to Ferromunchicus Australis. Alas, the result as sad as it is to relate, results in nakago horribilis which leads ultimately to the condition known as swordus neglectium undesirabilis. :D Quote
Ruben Posted January 13, 2013 Report Posted January 13, 2013 Dear Justin, there are two opportunities! You clean it with the right method (bamboo/- antler method) or you leave it like it is. I personaly would clean it, it will give the sword a few decades more to exist in a useable condition. But if so it has be done in a very fussy and rigorous way, it will take many hours and you will wonder about how nice it will come out in the end. Do it right or leave it, i would say. You will wonder how much red rust will come off! Greetings Ruben Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted January 14, 2013 Report Posted January 14, 2013 I think the use of the tip of an antler might work well in your excavating. Ken Quote
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