Mystery Sword

[Jean]

  Quote

From what I understand is that a polish generally should last about 100 years, when the blade is not used and just resting in its saya, maybe less.

 

KM, I am really curious to know where you found this statistic. I won't live 150 years to see how is the polish of my blades. Considering that they are kept in an airtight shirasaya, how to compute a polish life span (I don't use uchiko)? I really have no idea.

[kusunokimasahige]

It is not a statistic dear Jean, it is what one of our fellow members said in one of the topics.

 

The topic was about tameshi giri if I recollect and it was said that a good polish should last for 50 or more years

and after one cut you had to get a new polish.

 

 

KM

[Jean]

In this case I am afraid that this theory has absolutelly no value. No one is able to assess the time a polish will last, all depends on multiple factors, each one being a variable.

[kusunokimasahige]

Indeed. Hence my statement "its almost impossible to say"

 

 

KM

[runagmc]

Seems to me a polish will last indefinitely, as long as no damage (rust, scratches, chips, etc...) takes place, and a sword is properly cared for... So yes, it is possible for very old blades to be healthy, as long as they were kept in good condition... We have some obvious examples of very early swords that were taken care of since their creation, and remain in almost new, healthy condition today.

 

That said- the dark staining of the jitetsu from nugui, and hadori work on a kesho polish, will fade with the use of abrasives for cleaning, but the sword will still be in polish... just not fresh kesho polish :D

[Jean]

Adam,

 

Of course, it will last centuries if properly cared for. :D

[Alan Morton]

Glen ,

where abouts in OZ do you live?

There are collectors all around the country

that could help you

 

Alan

[nihonto1001]

  Quote

Holiday spirit from everyone aside , in this case Grey already stated as much, and there is a quote by Fujishiro to this effect. “There are no genuine works with the mei on them” – H.W.’s translation

 

Maybe this has bolstered Sadamune's legend. Without signed examples, scholars rely on shumei examples, and paper trails of ancient text. I wonder how much of it is embellished; ie., in the same way many ancient "sword anecdotes" were. For example, we know that Masamune and Muramasa were not contemporaries, so they could not have competed for sharpness. Obviously. But, what about stories where the line separating fact and fable is more cloudy?

 

"Nihontology" is in a state of flux. Theories are changed and modified as new information becomes available. So, I think it is also important to keep an open mind with these things. Hopefully, the NTHK & NBTHK will continue to function more as a museum and less as a business.

[Tai1z]

Thank you all.

 

Has anyone looked at Mr Schiller's summary of Japanese laws and advice regarding import into Japan. I'm sure many of you have your own experience.

 

http://www.jssus.org/nkp/japanese_sword_laws.html

 

Any more recent advice or experience?

 

Glenn T