I am now the proud owner of.......

[robobot]

A piece of junk!!!!

 

Well took the risky plunge I new it was going to be bad when I got it for £250

But it turns out I don't think it is actually as bad as I thought it was going to be!

 

just after some opinions really,

I was just going to have a go at polishing it myself as I thought it wasn't savable

however since receiving it and giving it a look over the scratches although all over they are not to deep,

 

I was told by the guy he thought is was made around 1560 any opinion?

I think it's later 1650 ish due to the straightness but I don't know anything really!!!!

 

So now I'm thinking of getting it professionally polished however as its going to be costly

is there anyway I can see what the hamon is before I get it done.....

probably sacrilege but if its just a straight one I may or may not get it professionally done

where as if its a swanky wavy one I probably will.

 

your thoughts and comments much appreciated

 

PS Bizen Osafune Ju Sukesada

 

PPS Thanks Mark!

[Alex A]

Hi Tom, have you got a clear shot of the signature?, no expert but looks strange, angle of camera maybe.

 

Alex.

[robobot]

Yep here you go...

I'm really lucky the previous owner polished up the nakago really nice!!!!

 

see the strand of wirewool!

[Marius]

Tom,

 

to wrap up:

1. You have bought a mishandled blade for GBP 250 and you say you want to get it polished (that's GBP 1,500).

2. You think that a "straight" hamon is somehow worse than a "wavy" one.

 

Here is what I think:

Ad 1: You can have a "window" made by a polisher (please use a real togishi, not some bloody amateur).

Ad 2: This is not sacrilege, it is a complete lack of knowledge about nihonto

 

My advice (and you will hear it again and again): read some books, learn, then buy a sword (in good polish) and learn from it.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Tom,

Ditto to what Mariusz said.

Never try to polish a Japanese sword yourself unless you 1st have a proper training (many years of study with a teacher). Untrained polishers destroy blades.

A straight hamon (suguba) is more difficult to do than the wavy ones; they are more valuable.

Grey

[remzy]

well made suguha hamon are amongst the hardest to make and in many people's opinion including my own, some of the finest hamon out there... Please, do not molest this nihonto more than it already has been on basis of its hamon...

[robobot]

People really need to learn to read.

 

CAN A SWORD POLISHER SAVE THIS BLADE????

I stated first that I got the sword because it was ready for the bin so I could clean it up and wouldn't be destroying it as it was already destroyed. However When I got the sword I realized it may be salvageable.

THAT is what I was asking the opinion about.

 

I PREFER IRREGULAR HAMON!

just like a painting, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

mariuszk Where did I say a straight hamon is "worse" than a irregular hamon???

 

Also the age seems to of been over looked.

Anyone have any ideas?

[pcfarrar]

Second photo appears to show a nasty fukure. Definitely not worth the cost of restoration. It's also probably gimei.

[Thierry BERNARD]

People really need to learn to read.

 

CAN A SWORD POLISHER SAVE THIS BLADE????

I stated first that I got the sword because it was ready for the bin so I could clean it up and wouldn't be destroying it as it was already destroyed. However When I got the sword I realized it may be salvageable.

THAT is what I was asking the opinion about.

 

I PREFER IRREGULAR HAMON!

just like a painting, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

mariuszk Where did I say a straight hamon is "worse" than a irregular hamon???

 

Also the age seems to of been over looked.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Tom

 

you are on this forum for only few days and you're already aggressive towards people who try to help you!

very bad start!

[Geraint]

Woah! More light, less heat. Tom clearly hit a number of buttons with his first post and got predictable reactions from us arising from painful experience, unexpected reactions for a neophyte.

 

Tom, depends on wherabouts you are but there are some easy ways to progress with this. The second photo does show a flaw and it may be serious but the quality of the images makes it hard to tell very much. There are risks with polishing which include the fact that a fatal flaw may show up and you still have to pay the polisher for their work.

 

There are at least two sword societies in the UK and a number of collectors who could advise you. If you would rather not publish your location feel free to PM me, I may be able to make some suggestions for you. The mei, by the way, is very familiar as many Bizen smiths signed this way.

 

Don't give up, enjoy!

[Alex A]

Tom, the guy told you it was 1560, that was his opinion, right or wrong, probably because it was signed Bizen Sukesada (well known bizen smiths of that era). You thought the blade was a later kanbun blade. This should have rang alarm bells. I think shapewise you where thinking in the right direction (maybe not far enough) but with my knowledge its hard to tell from the pics and the poor state of polish. You spent £250, for another couple of hundred you would have probably got a wak in good polish. Was this off ebay?.

 

Alex.

[pcfarrar]

Was this off ebay?.

 

I saw the fittings for the blade on ebay, not a pretty sight.... :|

[Dr Fox]

Tom

 

I have learned that advice on here is like having a meal! Chew it slowly, and when it is 'fully' digested come back and talk to the chef.

[Alex A]

On a bright note, only £250!, so not the end of the world. If folk on here sometimes seem a bit harsh about stuff like this its because, as mentioned above , they want to help you, human nature.

 

Alex.