murphda2 Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 Miraculously as it may seem, I came across another Ido Hidetoshi blade today. I have owned my wakizashi for almost ten years, and until today have never seen nor heard of another blade made by him. The katana that I had the priviledge of viewing today had a couple of flaws. First and foremost, there was a slight "S" curvature in the spine of the blade. Secondly there was also a slight curvature in the nakago. I was very interested in the blade due to the fact that it was almost exact geometry of my wakizashi. The signature was exact as well with the addition of an early "Showa" stamp. Is it possible for an individual to have a blade repaired with such a curvature? If so, what would one expect to pay to have this repair made? How would it effect the value of the blade if I were to be interested in attempting to purchase it? My main interest in the blade is to purchase a match to my wakizashi, if the individual were inclined to sell the blade, but..... I do not want to loose my shirt in the deal nor take on a blade that could never be properly repaired. Any and all knowledgeable opinions would be greatly appreciated. Murph Quote
Grey Doffin Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 It's actually pretty easy to straighten a Japanese sword with a slight bend. If you have or can get access to a woodworker's bench with a wooden jawed vise you're set. Clamp the blade in the vise near the bend and push or pull the blade to straighten. Go slow; be careful not to over bend; you should do fine. If anyone else has a different take please let us know. The above technique has worked well for me but if problems are possible I'd like to know. Grey 1 Quote
Darcy Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 Sword polishers use a pegboard and pegs I believe, to create the right shape and fulcrum to bend the sword exactly into place. I don't think I for myself would choose to try to unbend a sword as I'd be more likely to put an S in it. However they are resilient so in general a bent sword can be put back if treated right. Quote
murphda2 Posted August 26, 2007 Author Report Posted August 26, 2007 How would the fact that a blade is bent effect its value? Murph Quote
AndreasU Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 I would say it depends which organisation you love more..... NBTHK: reject maybe because of the stamp NTHK: Nice swordsmith work your own impression: Go bend it back, its quite easy by using towels. Use two of them (thick wrapped) and lay the sword with the bended part facing upward. Now use your palm and give pressure to the highest point of the bended part end see how much you need to get it out. Other practice are the above mentioned but I never would use a clamp tool! use two woodsticks which have a 45° cutout where the blade fits in exactly and the pull the sticks together. There is a page somewhere that describes that If it anyway needs a polish the polisher anyway will straighten it in advance.. Quote
tonyb Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 the blades bend amazingly easy but getting them to bend in excatly the right place by the right amount can some times take hours. cheers tony Quote
Stephen Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 do not send a sword to Nippon with a stamp, in most cases you may not get it back. I have heard they have beed destroyed, back to bending a blade, you can play at it and Koichi posted a good way to do it, i think it best left for a togi. just my HO. Quote
Brian Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 I'm also hesitant to attempt any straightening work myself. Many of the bent blades I have seen also had a slight twist, which is not so easy to get out. Also, if the ha is bent as well as the mune, you risk a hagire when you bend it back. The hardened edge does not bend as easily as the mune, and hagire, wrinkles, shinae ware and other flaws are frequent side-effects of incorrect straightening. It is also extremely difficult to work out exactly where to have the pivot point and strighten it correctly. Often it will bend slightly lower or higher than where the bend is, and you get an "S" shaped bend instead. It isn't as easy as it sounds, and is really the work of someone who is a professional. Just my 2c. It will bring down the value of the sword. How much is debateable, although I would guess at 10-20% depending on how desireable the sword is. An s-shaped bend is worse than a normal bend, and probably means someone else tried to straighten it as some stage. Proceed with caution as usual. Brian Quote
pascal Posted August 26, 2007 Report Posted August 26, 2007 I could not concur more with what was said... I do not want to be over pessimistic.... but one has to know the risks and rewards before doing anything...especially if you value your blade..... here in France I have seen a very nice blade ruined because in the course of straightening, two hagire appeared...too bad... just because what has been said : the hamon is very stiff and tends to break and canot bend as easily as the other parts...which is the very purpose of the weapon...ne ?.... Now this is a very nice blade for iaido .... so take a minimum caution before doing anything.... My one EurosCent worth from experience.... Ganbatte kudasai ! Pascal Quote
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