Early sword in resting scabbard

[Harvey]

Hello,

 

This is my first post to this forum. I've owned a few swords over the years but am not a collector of them. Today I bought a sword that was brought to this country by a WWII US veteran, along with a rifle and bayonet. The blade is 27.25 inches long from the copper piece to the tip and is, at least in my opinion, in very nice condition. The temper line is very clear and there are no nicks or signs of abuse. I don't know how to properly photograph the blade but will try in the near future.

 

I need your help on the scabbard. The scabbard is covered in black paint which I believe was added by the veteran. He painted his bayonet scabbard black so I assume he did this also. I really want to remove this paint, but thought it would be best to check before acting.

 

Were resting scabbards ever painted black like this? If not, do you have any suggestions for the paint removal?

 

Also, I've been unable to remove the wooden grip; any suggestions?

 

Finally, what's the best way to photograph the blade?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Harvey

[Grey Doffin]

Paint stripper is the obvious answer for getting rid of the paint but that will most likely change the patina of the saya. If you do use stripper, don't clean it with water (even if the can says to use water). Denatured alcohol will clean off the stripper and paint but won't cause the saya to fall apart and won't introduce a lot of water into the saya where it can rust the blade. If you do this be sure to let the saya air out for a week or so before returning the blade to it.

A better solution would be to send the sword to a saya-shi (scabbard maker) and have him do the job. If you chose the right person (John Tirado comes to mind) you know you'll get a proper job.

To remove the handle, follow directions you'll find here: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm on the NBTHK American Branch website. If that doesn't work for you (if the blade hasn't been out of the handle for 60 years it may be stuck) try this. Place a bath towel on a kitchen counter, with an inch or so of the towel hanging over the edge. Remove the pin (mekugi) from the handle. Lay the blade on the towel with the handle over the edge of the counter. Slide the handle into the edge of the counter, gently at 1st, and with increased vigor, until the blade comes loose from the handle.

Grey

[AZPhil]

How about good old sand paper and elbow grease???

 

As for the pic's, I would start with taking the saya off :D

[sencho]

Grey,

 

Obviously it is a shirasaya that has been painted, right?

 

looks almost like a hex nut is holding it together!.... maybe just a new shirasaya would be easiest...

 

cheers!

[Harvey]

My photos are to blame. That's not a hex nut, but a bone insert, through which the pin inserts to secure the tang.

 

Thanks to all for the advice.

[Stephen]

maybe it came that way, you sure he paited it? Maybe it was used by Ninji at night time. Oh wait today is not April first...sorry carry on.

[dkirkpatrick]

Handle-Schmandle, lets have pics of that blade! On with the sword porn! Sorry for such overzealousness on an early Sunday morning but I am just dying to see what's in there! I don't care how bad the pictures are, just some sugata...a little kissaki...anything...I need a fix man! :lol:

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

I've owned a few swords over the years but am not a collector of them. Today I bought a sword

 

, so, then, will you be reselling this sword?

[Grey Doffin]

How about good old sand paper and elbow grease???

Sandpaper is no way to remove paint; the paper just gums up and drives paint into the wood grain (I'm a furniture maker and restorer; I speak from experience). Another reason not to use sandpaper is it would likely introduce grit into the saya and scratch the blade. A cabinet scraper would be a better solution if you didn't want to strip the paint. No matter what you try, the proper surface of shira-saya will be gone and will need to be redone.

This is definitely an after market paint job (done in the States, not in Japan). A real saya-shi wouldn't put up with those paint drips.

Grey

[Marius]

To remove the handle, follow directions you'll find here: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm on the NBTHK American Branch website. If that doesn't work for you (if the blade hasn't been out of the handle for 60 years it may be stuck) try this. Place a bath towel on a kitchen counter, with an inch or so of the towel hanging over the edge. Remove the pin (mekugi) from the handle. Lay the blade on the towel with the handle over the edge of the counter. Slide the handle into the edge of the counter, gently at 1st, and with increased vigor, until the blade comes loose from the handle.

 

Or you may want to use this tool - probably safer for you and the sword (although you must be careful not to hit too hard):

 

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/tools.html