sword information please

[Ron Durall]

A few years ago I cam across this sword in one of my customers houses while treating it for an insect problem. It kindled an interest in swords and over the years I picked up a few. A month ago the same customer called me with a problem and offered to trade me the sword for $350 worth of pest control services. She got it from her father who brought it back from WWII. I posted some pictures on the sword forum and some one suggested I post some here. There are no stamps on the tang just some white marks that I can't make anything out of. I was wondering if anyone in here can give me some information about the blade. I'm think that the fittings are type 34 but that is about as far as my knowledge goes. I had problems trying to get shots of the hada but used a powder ball and with the flash I was able to bring it out enough to capture it in the pictures.

[Ron Durall]

[Ron Durall]

Whoops this was the picture I meant to post last.

 

[Brian]

Hi Ron,

 

At first glance, with that extremely vivid hada, I think many people are going to call "fake" as a first instinct.

However the lines, hamon, kissaki and real-looking koshirae including the tassel make me look twice at it.

What it looks like to me is a Gendaito that has been heavily acid washed bringing the hada out too much.

I am not sure if it is more subtle in person, and the combination of the flash and white powder make it so visible, but it definitely needs professional work to bring it back to natural looks.

If I had to make a call, I would say WW2 Gendaito with acid wash. The white markings on the nakago are just painted arsenal or issue marks, and are fairly common.

I hope I am not wrong and it turns out to be a fake

 

Regards,

Brian

[Darcy]

I think you're right Brian. I saw the hada and right away I thought Chinese, but nothing else on the sword evokes the same response. So Occum would have it that there's just something weird with the hada. I won't rule out a new generation of fake, but I think it's fair to say it could be a legit gendaito.

[AndreasU]

I don`t think it`s a fake because there is a good Hada and Hamon visible, but I am sure it was "altered" by using some strange stuff.

 

Maybe it was this "miracle" polish that is sometimes offered on ebay?

 

However, it needs a new polish to repair it.

 

Andreas

[Brian]

No, the "miracle polish" is just a mild abrasive paste like Flitz or one of the others. No acid.

 

That kissaki pic has me doubting my own opinion though. There are just some glaring things that do not look good to me. The direction of the hada, and the fact that it seems to flow off the blade in places?

It is hard to look past that ugly acid-washed look though, so hopefully the camera is making it look worse than it is.

 

See if you can get a pic of the kissaki in natural light without the flash from a bit further away? Also...do you see nie crystals in the hamon at all?

 

I am pretty sure the mounts are original and genuine though. That tassel and combat cover are too well done and aged to be modern.

A few more pics of the nakago from straight on, at a bit more distance so that we can get an idea of the shape?

 

Brian

[Ron Durall]

Between the flash and using the powder ball is what made the blade hada show up so much. I know this blade has been in the family for years. I'll try to get some more pictures of the blade posted.

[Stephen]

seeing things but id like to see this area close up with maybe some rubbing with a bone before...looks like a mei under all the black gunk...seen that before when it was filled in with pitch or tar...or like i said i may be seeing things.

[remzy]

Do you think a traditional polish would "fix" this chemical look?

 

and also.. hey! that "magical polish paste" did wonders on my teeths!

[Stephen]

lt sure did wonders on your eyes....yes a polish would make it right and looks to be more than meets the eye.

[remzy]

I still think that Ron got a great deal for $350! :3

[Ron Durall]

I can't get ImageStack to come up right now to post more pictures. Perhaps this will work.

[Stephen]

with each post...supect a good blade here, anything on the other side of the nakago?

[Tim]

Looks legit to me, but definitely something used on blade that maybe should not have been. The hamon and blade shape appears much more accurate than the Chinese fakes.

 

Tim

[Ron Durall]

Here are some more.

 

Thank you for your insights.

[remzy]

I dont mean to insult anyone here but... gosh, i find gunto mounts to be very ugly...

 

Two thumbs up on a great deal tho! looks legitimate (altho somewhat molested) to me!

[AndreasU]

Uhhh,

 

I know what Stephen see`s. Is that a star stamp in the nakago?

Try to get away that black stuff without removing the rust. It maybe is a good idea to use some bone in this area or just some warm water with a soft pad.

[Ron Durall]

Do you all know of anyone in Oklahoma or North Texas that could do a polish on this katana? Where on the nakago do you see what might be a star?

[waynes]

Hi Ron, nice find. I would recommend doing what some of the other members have recommended and finding out exactly what you have before parting with your money. If it turns out to be star stamped (most likely non traditional made), it probably wouldn't justify spending that type of money on it. The prices on swords are down right now for example I recently got a old koto katana in new shirasaya and polish for what I've seen people spend on a polish. On the other hand there are places that specialize in polishing war time swords for about half of what a normal polish would cost. Best of luck however it works out.

[Brian]

Wayne,

 

Star stamp usually means traditionally made Gendaito. It's what you do want to see on your WW2 sword

The Sho/Seki etc stamps are the ones that can (usually) indicate non-traditional, but this one is definitely not a machine made arsenal blade.

Ron, glad to see the additional pics. Definitely looks to me to be a nice WW2 hand made sword with potential.

Bear in mind that the $2000 plus cost of a professional polish is seldom recovered in these swords, but with the low price you paid, it might very well be worth it. Or at least get it to someone at one of the sword societies to have a look at. Anyone know if Gendai swords can be submitted to the USA shinsas, and how they are treated?

I stick with the acid polish, but that should be easily repaired.

Either way..keep it as is or have some restoration done, you got a heck of a deal.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Stephen]

Yes Gendai can be papered, at least the NTHK npo papered a sword i took to them in June,,,a Kaneyoshi that went 75pts!...I still would like to see the area that i cropped close up...think i see something up there.

[Jacques D.]

Yes Gendai can be papered, at least the NTHK npo papered a sword i took to them in June,,,a Kaneyoshi that went 75pts!...I still would like to see the area that i cropped close up...think i see something up there.

 

 

Mumei gendai blade can't be papered by the NBTHK i think it's the same thing for the NTHK.

[murphda2]

On the other hand there are places that specialize in polishing war time swords for about half of what a normal polish would cost.

 

Could someone provide me with the information to a few of these polishers? I would love to have my Gunto wakizashi polished.

 

Murph

[Ron Durall]

I would like to know also.

[zuiho]

A polish suitable for showato that have no major damage can be

had from the Fred Lohman co. or David Hofhine for $7-800.

Just do an internet search for these names.

 

William G.

[waynes]

Sorry about the confusion. I read and wrote star but was thinking Seki. That'll teach me to post before that first cup of coffee. As for the polish Fred Lohman comes to mind. I've personally not used him yet, but have never heard a bad thing. Here is the link. http://www.Japanese-swords.com/pages/polish.htm

[Brian]

Just do an internet search for these names.

 

...Or you could just go to our own links page above, which has a nicely detailed section on restoration which has all the links :D

 

Brian

[Ron Durall]

Thank you

Ron

[murphda2]

I have contacted Lohman in the past, and have since purchased a blade which was polished by his company.

 

When I first contacted him, I called interested in paying good money for a service, and he acted as though he didn't have time for a five minute conversation. His solution was simply for me to get on his web site, look up his address, and ship the blade to him. Call me "old fashioned" or even just too skeptical of the average human being's intentions, but when I'm discussing handing over hard earned money, I want five minutes of your time in order to be comfortable with the transaction.

 

Murph