To Have Restored or Not.

[tesscoothome123]

Hi, I found this last week and had never seen anything like this before, so I had to have it. Contemplating having this restored and looking to see what others have to say. Do not have much into it but being unusual to me I would like to have it brought back to its glory if some of you think it is worthwhile. Never seen iron panels on a tsuka like this before and the dragons are finely detailed. Many of you probably have seen this. Blade is signed but the kissaki is broken.. The nagasa measures 11 3/4 inches so I believe it is a long tanto. The kamon(Mogami) are 22kt gold(tested) and has two on saya that are silver. Regards, John 

[lonely panet]

It all depends on what your plans are. Sell for profit after restoration or keep.

 

Approx polish $1000+usd

Retore koshirae, $500+ usd

Or shirasaya.

Shinsa fees 

Etc etc.

[ROKUJURO]

John,

the photos don't tell much, but the NAKAGO has a SOSHÛ touch.

[tesscoothome123]

Hi, I would keep. Here are a few more pictures. Thank you for the input.  Regards, John

[tesscoothome123]

And another. Regards, John

[Mark]

maybe SoShu Ju Tsunahiro

[tesscoothome123]

Hi Mark, Pictures are hard to see. Found one very similar. I think you have it. Thank you. Took another and enlarged a bit. Regards, John 

[Geraint]

Dear John.

 

For me this is a no brainer.  Metal hilt plate are scarce but do occur, I think I have come across three or four examples in my whole collecting career.  I have never come across any quite like yours and I envy you this find.  You will never come across another like this.  The koshirae is unusual and good quality, Soshu blade and the whole thing will be fantastic when restored.  It is of course hard to tell from these photographs but there seems to be plenty of boshi left.  I am curious, do you think the tsuka was originally wrapped as per usual  or are there any signs of thin metal splints that might have covered the edges?

 

I really look forward to seeing this one when you have done the work.  I don't think it matters how much it costs though you may have to save up a bit to get it done in the way that it deserves.  

 

All the best.

 

 

[16k]

I would have it restored too. Looks worth it.

[Gakusee]

Hmmm, yes, the signature does seem to end in “....ju Tsunahiro” but the Tsunahiro part is engraved in a rather different style to the papered Soshu Tsunahiro blades I have images of. 
Therefor it is either an “aspirational” signature or some later generation. 
 

Opening a window could allow to evaluate how active the hamon and whether it follows the Soshu Tsunahiro style at all. 

[kissakai]

Didn't Ford do a restoration on a tsuka with metal side panels

 

[tesscoothome123]

Hi, Thanks to all who have helped. I am going to have this restored. Any suggestions on where work should be done? I had a saya done years ago from Fred Lohmann and have seen another site with Moses Beccera but not sure about their restoration work. No disrespect intended to them. Will post some other pictures with side panels and how they attach later. Best Regards, John

[Mark S.]

Hi John,

 

Not sure where in Illinois you are located, but usually there is a Chicago Sword Show every year in Schaumburg.  It's a great place to get advice on the blade.  Usually Mr Bob Benson is there who is one of the few qualified U.S. polisher's.  As of right now, the show is on for April 30 to May 2.  Go here for more info: http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/

 

Mark

[JH Lee]

Maybe blade should go to a polisher and the koshirae to a professional art restorer or similar type of worker at a museum who has relevant experience and knowledge of Japanese antiques.  As for remounting, I would steer clear of Fred Lohman.  There is another gentleman in Arizona who does fantastic work.  I only have my blades mounted by him for years now and no one else.

[Geraint]

Just a word of caution regarding the idea of using any museum restoration services.  For a start museums focus on conservation rather than restoration; stabilising and preventing any further damage or loss as opposed to making good any damage.  This is a quite different philosophy to the one prevailing in Japanese arms and armour where it is accepted that lacing decays, polish fades and, 'moth and rust corrupt', but that skilled craftsmen can make good such damage.  In the case of this particular piece I feel that this is a much more appropriate view than merely conservation work.

 

Added to that museum conservators in smaller museums are often tasked with caring for a whole range of articles, only on the larger museums are they able to specialise in one field such as arms and armour.

 

During lockdown a source of much interest has been the Met Museum's regular Arms and Armour updates, worth a look if you don't already.

 

All the best

[Surfson]

One of the photos looks like a large part of the tip is missing.   Is it just sunk into the carpet?  If so, that is an issue to consider as well. 

[Greg F]

Hi John Im definitely keen to see this after restoration. I hope you choose the best possible experts that you can afford to fix the koshirae and a professional polisher to do the blade.

The tip should be fine after a good polisher is finished with it. 

Good luck and please keep us up to date with it all.

[Surfson]

I would only restore it if I were sure about the mei, the health of the blade and the signs of beauty of the blade.  Proper restoration will be likely $2000-3000 minimum for just the blade and a $1000 more if you decide to have gold foil put on the habaki, another $1000 for shipping and shinsa.....  The koshirae are of interest as well.