Early Christmas

[Marino F]

My wife got me this early Christmas gift...she was told its 1900's.  Looking for input on potential age as well as thoughts on where to get the necessary missing pieces for this era...

 

Thank you and wishing you and yours an Outstanding Christmas Holiday and New Year

 

Cheers

 

 

[BIG]

akaMD please sign your post. May be it's better that you tell your wife your special wish ...

 

Best

[Brian]

To tell you the truth, it is pretty far gone. Beyond economical restoration. But if age is your thing, it is likely way before 1900's....a few hundred years earlier.
Since it was a gift, enjoy it for what it represents, and I wouldn't spend too much money restoring it.

[ROKUJURO]

akaMD,

to be more specific: Even if the photos are not good, one can see that the blade has suffered some alterations which cannot be repaired. The tip was obviously broken and had been 'reshaped' (which is not possible to do at home), and the tang has been stripped off its natural patina which is important for the appreciation and the classification of a blade.
The remaining parts are in a condition which would not justify to have them restored unless you don't care about the costs.

The up-side is that you have an authentic Japanese WAKIZASHI from the SAMURAI era, and if this triggers your interest in the subject, you might want to read a lot about it here at the NMB or even buy some books, which would be a very good investment.   

P.S. This is not a military blade, so you posted in the wrong section. 

[Surfson]

The most amazing thing is that your wife gave it to you!   If you play your cards right and cultivate an interest in Japanese swords in her too, then you will be able to pursue collecting these amazing art/utilitarian objects without facing the slings and arrows of a critical spouse.  Priceless!  As to the sword, use it as an excuse to buy a couple of good books (like the one by John Yumoto or the one by BW Robinson), and start to learn about Japanese swords.  There are many more amazing swords out there to buy and enjoy.

[Marino F]

Thanks everyone for your input.  If this is a piece of 400 year old history, I will look into getting it to a respectable display piece...by adding missing pieces...a project I will enjoy doing and learning from.

 

thank again

[Marino F]

Having taken your suggestions, I started to read Samurai Sword - a handbook by John Yumoto and my amateur knowledge findings are the following....for those most knowledgeable your assessment is appreciated...

 

 

Point shape is curved – Fukura-Tsuku

Point size and Shape - Small curve ko-kissaki or maybe Medium chu-kissaki

Ridgeline Flat? Vs Raised? undetermined

Curvature is shallow

Tang is uneven u shape ha-agari kuri-juri

File marks - Greatly slanting left – o-suji-chigai – used by smiths of the Aoe Branch of Bitchu Province and Sa Branch of Chikuzen Province

2 pocket scabbard

 

Missing collar – Habaki

Missing spacer – Seppa

Missing Pommel Metal Sleeve – Fuchi

Missing Pommel at base - Kashira

Missing hilt ornaments - Menuki

 

2 rivit holes on hilt – Menuki

Blade shape - Shinogi-zukuri – most common type and majority of long swords – daito

Plain or no Grain – Muji – are common in marugitae swords of New Sword period (1530-1868) and Modern Sword period 1886+ 

[ROKUJURO]

Marino,

I understand your excitement, but I am not sure that you really see all these details in the blade. At least I cannot see the original shape of the KISSAKI nor that of the BOSHI from the photos.

The two 'rivet holes' (MEKUGI ANA) have not been used at the same time, so you need one MEKUGI. The HADA cannot be seen without a proper Japanese polish, and that would require a restoration of the tip and the NAKAGOn as well. All parts (HABAKI, TSUBA, TSUKA, SEPPA, SHIRA-SAYA) have to be fitted to a blade after restoration.

The TSUBA is difficult to see on the photo, but it might be a later addition.  

[vajo]

Someone took a lot of time to scrub the rust from the whole blade. All is made perfectly round. The shape is gone, also the patination of the nakago. Its a unsigned mumei blade in really terrible condition. I think with rust before the condition was really better. A good togishi can bring back the blade to life but it isn't worth all the money. Btw i think it is now a good tsunagi for a nice koshirae.

[Guest Rayhan]

At the end of the day this was a loving gift from your wife and she tried her best. It is a great learning experience and you can also use it as such which you already have started to do, so well done. Keep this as a loving memory that got you started on a very long and fulfilling road.

[Tom Darling]

Yumoto's book is a good start, you named everything correct. Is this your only sword?  Happy Holidays to you and yours.

 

Tom D.

[Surfson]

Marino, my advice is not to focus too much on your first blade, as the conversation will shift to its poor condition and general lack of collectibility.  The beauty of it, as I said, is that it was a nice gift from your wife and an opportunity to start a new and wonderful hobby that she can be involved in with you.

 

Once you have read the Yumoto and Robinson books, you will have a good rudimentary education as to what to look for in your next blade.  

 

I encourage you to enlist the help of the NMB to be sure that your next blade is in good condition, historically relevant and enjoyable as an art piece.  

 

In the meantime, I suggest that you always keep this first blade as a meaningful gift from your wife and as a reminder of your first blade and how far you will advance as a collector.  

[Marino F]

Yumoto's book is a good start, you named everything correct. Is this your only sword?  Happy Holidays to you and yours.

 

Tom D.

Yes first sword.  I have always been a stickler for authentic in what ever I collect...always appreciated history - never interested in knockoffs...as my wife knows my quirks...and the sword is very much appreciated :-) 

Please keep this newbie informed on any swords that may have little value due to its condition but may have historical age as that is my weekness...history 

 

Cheers

[Surfson]

Well, you can build a huge collection then Marino.  Swords are made of steel and last nearly forever.  There are a lot of very old swords of little or no interest to collectors due to condition, flaws, fake signatures, the ravages of age, etc.  I hope that the books convince you that age isn't everything.  

[Guest Rayhan]

Yes first sword. I have always been a stickler for authentic in what ever I collect...always appreciated history - never interested in knockoffs...as my wife knows my quirks...and the sword is very much appreciated :-)

Please keep this newbie informed on any swords that may have little value due to its condition but may have historical age as that is my weekness...history

 

Cheers

I suggest watching the following 10 episodes

 

The Value of Art: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9LyZcEeKzXrEh1ff7BELfZ93UsFBgUXJ

 

Very often the best preserved antiques also come with the best preserved historical value....don't buy a rusty sword expecting to automatically have a historically significant piece. That's insulting to all the really important, pristine museum artifacts

[Marino F]

I suggest watching the following 10 episodes

 

The Value of Art:

 

Very often the best preserved antiques also come with the best preserved historical value....don't buy a rusty sword expecting to automatically have a historically significant piece. That's insulting to all the really important, pristine museum artifacts.

 

Thanks for the link Rayhan...interesting and educational....much appreciated...definitely helps with understanding what to look for...

 

as they say - beauty is to the eye of the beholder - and the same can be said about value or dollar value - what is someone willing to pay, another wouldn't

 

a buddy of mine over the weekend was stunned that $100 was spent to acquire this sword..."useless, cant even cut with it"...lol...

 

to me the historical or romantic side says, this sword could be 200-400 years old...the stories it could tell... who made it, owned it, held it, what was it used for, how did it get her etc....

 

l look forward to collecting my next sword  with a higher sword education and one in better shape  :-)