Daso Posted March 30, 2016 Report Posted March 30, 2016 Hello All, I am brand new here although I have read a fair amount of books on Japanese blades and have collected some fine examples of Bronze and middle age swords. I've always wanted to add a Katana or Wakizashi to my collection but everything I have liked has exceeded my current budget and I do feel like now is a good time to look. This is not the reason for my post. In talking with a friend who knows of my passion for swords, he kindly offered to give me a sword sitting in his basement which his wife wanted him to get rid of (kids in house) and he tried to sell on Ebay and got offers but buyer bagged out. He kindly offered it to me and I would love anyones advice if this is just some junk his dad had that's a rusty paperweight, fun plant whacker or something I could at least put with my collection as real. I've included photos that i took with my regular camera and a micro camera of the signature to see if it was machine stamped, it looks like triangular chisel marks, but they also look like some white material or paint is in the signature to make it visible). The inscription reads 守家造 (Moriie) and when I looked it up on the sword database it seemed to match (although I'm hard pressed to belive this is a 700 year old sword and not some fake). That being said I know it means nothing. The sword itself is not in very good shape with what looks like a series of blisters, some close to edge with edge chipped, lots of scratches and wear. It is in a wood saya and has a Japanese police card (if real). I am obviously not expecting much, but I would like to know if it is a real piece and I do have to say that it balances very nicely in hand. It is about 2o" to the protector and an additional 6 " through tang. It is relatively sharp. The tip looks small but I know little about relative size of a wakizashi. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Someday, I would love a Katana sword with proper provenance, but not right now. The pictures I've included have a few 200x magnifications of where the edge damage is (it is obviously much smaller in relation to a real blade). I also included the only signature I could find of another Moriie blade from a very Expensive and reputable Japanese dealer website (It's the last image and is silver vs the rusted tang on mine)and the strokes look completely different adding more likelihood to my little basement gift. Would love a surprise but I'll leave that to those of you with knowledge. Thanks for any help. D (I'll gladly add any photos needed if helpful) Quote
Daso Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Posted March 30, 2016 I forgot to ask if there is anywhere that one can compare know swordsmiths signatures to see if one looks real? Thanks Again Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 30, 2016 Report Posted March 30, 2016 For swordsmith signatures you should look at Grey Doffins website: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books Most signatures you won't find online. So good books is the way to go. Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 30, 2016 Report Posted March 30, 2016 Markus Sesko has also some good books with signatures. I would say that your blade is authentic Japanese made. The nakago (tang) looks like it went through fire damage. In its current condition it's hard to discern any features in the blade itself. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 30, 2016 Report Posted March 30, 2016 Hi Daso, (and if that's not your name please add it to your posts) No question; it is a real Japanese Samurai sword. This may be retempered, as mentioned above by Maximillian; hard to know for sure from the photos. The numerous grain openings may be the result of retemper or maybe just core steel showing through on a worn out sword. Either case, it would make no sense to attempt a restoration. Keep a very thin coat of machine oil on the rust spots, if not on the whole of the polished blade, to keep the rust from progressing, and enjoy it as much as possible for what it is. And keep reading; always nice to have new collectors join in. Grey Quote
Daso Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Posted March 30, 2016 Hi Grey, Thank you for your and all the responses. I'm not so hung up on the condition if it was really a Moriie piece since at least it's very old, but if it's just someones fake stamp on it and poor condition makes it less overall appealing and more of a closet piece (Of course beggars can't be choosers). What I would really love to find out is if the signature is real. Also, any suggestions for a mount other than the shirasaya? Regards, Darius Quote
Brian Posted March 30, 2016 Report Posted March 30, 2016 More gimei (false signatures) out there than real ones. No way to know if it is or isn't. No..I don't think it is 700 years old. But false signature (if it is) doesn't make a sword bad. It's real, it's old (at least a few hundred years old) so enjoy it. 2 Quote
Daso Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Posted March 30, 2016 More gimei (false signatures) out there than real ones. No way to know if it is or isn't. No..I don't think it is 700 years old. But false signature (if it is) doesn't make a sword bad. It's real, it's old (at least a few hundred years old) so enjoy it. Thanks Brian, I tend to get too wrapped up in the small details on first aquisitions (even if free). Thanks for the level headedness. Darius Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 30, 2016 Report Posted March 30, 2016 Hi Darius, As I said before, it would make no sense to attempt a restoration. Do not spend a dime trying to put this into different mounts; it would be like restoring a 15 year old Ford that has been totaled in a wreck. Instead, take some time to study and learn and then if you still want to restore a sword you can find a much better sword to restore. Grey 1 Quote
Daso Posted March 30, 2016 Author Report Posted March 30, 2016 Grey, Completely understood and makes sense. Thanks Quote
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