tang identification help (please! )

[guylikemike]

Can anyone help me identify these markings? I believe it's from a type 98? that was confiscated in Burma during ww2. Would love to know a little more about it.

[John A Stuart]

関 Seki stamp. Maybe 兼朋 Kanetomo. John

[guylikemike]

Thanks, so machine made? Sorry I'm only just learning!

[John A Stuart]

I've changed my mind, I think 兼門 Kanekado. Machine made probably. John

[guylikemike]

Thanks again, out of interest how much would the sword be worth? I'm thinking of having it restored and polished/sharpened while trying to balance out the cost...

[hxv]

Not worth the restoration cost, unless the sword holds sentimental values to you.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[loiner1965]

First thing I would do is learn how to look after it

I can see finger prints so buy a cleaning kit. Uchiko powder / clean lint free cloth / sewing machine oil

Do not remove rust on the tang by machine , you can gently scrape away loose rust carefully and just dab some oil on

[Stu W]

Value is hard to tell from those limited photos but even if it's in great condition, which that one is not from what I can see, it will only be worth about 1K USD. Decent examples with non traditional arsenal made blades can often be obtained for between 500-800 USD.

 

A top quality polish will run you about 125 USD per inch of cutting edge. Lesser polishes can be had but given the value of the sword there really is no point and you will only get what you pay for.

 

Regards,

Stu