Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 I inherited this sword and I know nothing about it. My friend directed me here, so I placed topic in this section and I'm not even sure if this is the right one. Anything will help. Please Educate me as much as possible. (Name, region, dynasty, price, age, maker, ext...) Images are below. The best I could take. This sword is believed to be Genuine. but I might be mistaking. Any suggestions please let me know... And also is there a way to get like a certificate for a sword, Ive seen some people around eBay with certificates. Thank You for your help in advance... Thank You Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 I believe this sword is signed 'Minamoto Toshishige', the last kanji I'm not 100% on. A real Japanese sword. John Quote
Stephen Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 remember the split tsuka and the mei, it was on ebay not to long ago. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Hi, Here's what you can do to fix the handle without doing any damage. Cut strips of paper about 1" wide and long enough to go around the handle 1 1/2 times. Wrap a strip around the handle at it's smallest diameter and tightly wrap masking tape around the paper. Now slide the paper and tape either up or down to a larger diameter. This will firmly band the 2 pieces of wood but it is reversible and will leave no mark when the time comes to have the handle properly repaired by someone who works with Japanese sword mountings. Once you have the handle in one piece you need to whittle a pin to lock the blade in the handle, through the hole in the handle. Chopsticks will do fine. Without a handle and pin through it the blade is very vulnerable to breakage (the point can get chipped in the bottom of the scabbard). Hope this makes sense. It is important that you do this soon. By the way, I agree with the reading of the signature and there is no doubt about this being a real Japanese sword. Grey Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 remember the split tsuka and the mei, it was on ebay not to long ago. Yes it was on eBay. I posted it there but since there was a big interest in the sword I would like to find out more about it. Probably not considering selling it again. Just like I mentioned in the eBay listing I inherited this sword and I would like to find out more before making a stupid mistake of selling it... Quote
Nobody Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 The date inscription reads … 寛政六年二月日 – Kansei 6th year (1794), a day in the 2nd month Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 Hi,Here's what you can do to fix the handle without doing any damage. Cut strips of paper about 1" wide and long enough to go around the handle 1 1/2 times. Wrap a strip around the handle at it's smallest diameter and tightly wrap masking tape around the paper. Now slide the paper and tape either up or down to a larger diameter. This will firmly band the 2 pieces of wood but it is reversible and will leave no mark when the time comes to have the handle properly repaired by someone who works with Japanese sword mountings. Once you have the handle in one piece you need to whittle a pin to lock the blade in the handle, through the hole in the handle. Chopsticks will do fine. Without a handle and pin through it the blade is very vulnerable to breakage (the point can get chipped in the bottom of the scabbard). Hope this makes sense. It is important that you do this soon. By the way, I agree with the reading of the signature and there is no doubt about this being a real Japanese sword. Grey Thank You so much for the info but I don't quite understand What you mean by that. The handle holds on the sword very nicely without any bounding but i do keep it off. and the blade itself is on the stand and i don't touch it. Do you really think it is that fragile? Ill read you comment again and I'll try to follow up on that. Thanks again... If there is any site where they explain how to take care of swords Please let me know... Thanks Again for help Ill make note of this. BTW since we know the name of the smith, is there a time frame about when it was made? Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 The date inscription reads …寛政六年二月日 – Kansei 6th year (1794), a day in the 2nd month Can you give me more details? Which inscription the short or the long one... I am really new to this. Can you detail your posts as much as possible... Thank You Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 The date inscription reads …寛政六年二月日 – Kansei 6th year (1794), a day in the 2nd month 1794 is begining of Kansei era... would you also agree with the name inscription? Minamoto Toshishige Quote
Nobody Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 The date inscription is shown in your second picture. BTW, can't you read kanji fonts in the post yet? Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 I believe this sword is signed 'Minamoto Toshishige', the last kanji I'm not 100% on. A real Japanese sword. John I tried looking for Minamoto Toshishige on Google but no luck do you have any site that would give me more details? Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 The date inscription is shown in your second picture. BTW, can't you read kanji fonts in the post yet? Yeah now I see it.. It just seemed different at first... Thanks a lot Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 One more thing... The circled hand guard (I don't know what you call it) on the sword seem like if it was not from the sword I have. It fits perfectly but when i put the handle on the holes do not align anymore. On the other hand when I put the handle on without it, the holes align perfectly. Is there a way to find out if the Circled guard is from the sword I have. Maybe the owner before put it together even though it was not suppose to be... Quote
Nobody Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 1794 is begining of Kansei era... would you also agree with the name inscription? Minamoto Toshishige The mei reading is correct. Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 The handguard is called a tsuba. The resting scabbard (shirasaya) your sword is in is not meant to have the tsuba on it. The tsuba would be part of the hilt (tsuka) when assembled as it would have been worn. If you do not have the rest of the koshirae (scabbard) with fittings then the tsuba is really a seperate piece, although, fitted to your blade. John Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 The handguard is called a tsuba. The resting scabbard (shirasaya) your sword is in is not meant to have the tsuba on it. The tsuba would be part of the hilt (tsuka) when assembled as it would have been worn. If you do not have the rest of the koshirae (scabbard) with fittings then the tsuba is really a seperate piece, although, fitted to your blade. John Thank You very much... and how much do you thing this sword is worth?... Quote
loiner1965 Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 keep it and treasure it as some of us would love a sword like this,,,,,, Quote
Jean Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Always the same answer to an inadequate question : The price someone is ready to pay for it - offer must meet demand - Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Hello, Hi,If there is any site where they explain how to take care of swords Please let me know... If you go to the JSS/US site linked below and look under the heading of articles, you'll find an article written about sword care. http://www.jssus.org/ Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 Hello, Hi,If there is any site where they explain how to take care of swords Please let me know... If you go to the JSS/US site linked below and look under the heading of articles, you'll find an article written about sword care. http://www.jssus.org/ Thank You so much Quote
Mravec000 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 So this is real "Nihon-To" which means it is not just large amount made military sword but a real hand made hard steel sword... aged about 1780 ? am i right. Just for my own reference and I do not consider selling it ... How much is it worth... seriously to all you've been great help... Quote
Jacques Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Hi, To repair your tsuka (handle), you can make rice glue and fix it with (rice glue is traditionaly used to stick parts of shirasaya). http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Rice-Glue Quote
Grey Doffin Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 I suggested the paper and tape fix rather than rice glue because it is much easier and therefore more likely to be done, and because it can't do any damage. I wouldn't suggest that someone with absolutely no experience should attempt to glue the handle, even with rice glue. The reason why I think you need to fix the handle is that the scabbard and handle provide the best protection for the blade. If the blade were knocked off the sword stand there is a high probability that it would break. Also, sitting out in the open it is more vulnerable to abuse (picked up and handled by someone who wonders if it will cut a bed post, for example). The paper/tape fix is really very easy to do; should take all of 5 minutes. The handle looks like it has a waist (narrow section in the middle). Wrap the paper here and wrap masking tape around the paper. Slide the paper one way until it will go no further. Repeat and slide the other direction. Voilla! The handle is now secure. Next you can whittle a pin to go through the hole in the handle and tang of the sword, and you're good to go. By the way, all you out there with sayas that are starting to split, this is an excellent fix for that problem also. Value? Maybe about $600 to $800 for the sword if it is as clean (in polish) all around as it appears in your pictures, and $250 for the tsuba. This is just a guess; I haven't seen the sword and markets change. Do check out the sword care site and be very careful with your sword. They break easily. Grey Quote
Mark Green Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Yes, do not try to rice glue your saya unless you have some experence with working with wood, and making the rice glue. That is not an easy task, and could make things much worst. Stick with the paper fix. That does work just fine. Gray has the value of you sword & Tsuba about right. All values are down 20-40% just now, with the world as it is. Keep it and leave it to your kids. Or if you just need the cash, try to hold onto it for a year or two till the prices come back up. By then, you will likely have changed your mind about parting with this pretty sword. Mark G Quote
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