Cleaning - Yes or No?

[SwordGuyJoe]

All,

I recently picked up a Grade 1 Manchukuoan sword. It has a white same varient handle and a blade variant - Kogarasu-maru, rather than a Katana style blade. I am curious if a person could - or more importantly should - clean the backstrap, pommel, side ears, and hand guard (I hesitate to call it a tsuba). Also, can a person clean the same???

[Hermes]

Nice sword, i would not clean anything myself, cleaning the metal will take the patina away, i have cleaned same with a toothbrush warm water and a small drop of soap, wipe of the water right away with a dry cloth, but i don't think you really need it here.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Thanks - Honestly, since I haven't ever seen one in person, I was nervous that I bought a fake.

[Amon]

Maybe wrong but I think fake, at least from that picture

[Stephen]

ill vote on the end ...ive seen many and i say real.

[gtstcactus]

What sort of price do these tend to sell for? Were old family blades ever mounted in this style?

[John A Stuart]

Price would depend on a lot of factors, blade, rarity etc. I really respond to say this is a good example of a Manchukuo sword. Notice the flags. John

[sanjuro]

........blade variant - Kogarasu-maru,

 

By all means correct me if I'm wrong but I think more a naginata naoshi type. Kogarasu maru or more correctly, Kissaki moroha zukuri would be double edged at the point. This is at least from the photograph a single edged blade for its entire length.

[gtstcactus]

Were nihonto ever mounted in this style? were old family blades remounted in this fashion?

[Mark Green]

Yes, many old swords were mounted in many styles of military, and police mounts.

I for one, would love to see some better pics of the sword.

Mark G

 

Geezzzz, I just noticed how old the first post was???????????????

[gtstcactus]

Yes, many old swords were mounted in many styles of military, and police mounts.

I for one, would love to see some better pics of the sword.

Mark G

 

Geezzzz, I just noticed how old the first post was???????????????

 

 

So when you hear that all the military / police swords like this one are machine made that is not always true???

 

Sorry to drag this post up, an indentical sword in a bit better condition has come up for sale locally...

 

Was wondering if the handles are removable on these? Was hoping removing the handle would reveal some great treasure! (yeah right, but no harm in wishing!)

[Grey Doffin]

Jason,

This style of sword, if there is no mekugi, is almost without exception machine made. If there is a mekugi it can be hand made and sometimes it's a valuable older blade mounted for WWII. Usually not but sometimes.

Grey

[cabowen]

Grey is right- the number of handmade blades with a western style threaded end of the nakago are very few.....but they do exist...

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Jason,

Usually the nakago of these swords tapers down to a threaded bolt, and the blade is held in the tsuka by the bolt passing through a hole in its end and tightened with a nut. In very rare instances an older blade has had its nakago altered to produce the bolt end to fit these mounts. It is ugly as sin and quite painful to see. Maybe someone has a picture of one.

Grey

[gtstcactus]

Would this addition confirm it tobe machine made?

 

I also should have mentioned that the habaki is stamped with a Tokyo arsenal mark, and serial number "13011"

 

I just really like the shape of these blades, but would prefer one with koshirae mounts than the style of handle seen above

[SwordGuyJoe]

I'll weigh in here, since this was one of mine. What is difficult to see is the serial number stamped on the habaki. I bought this while very 'fresh' to this hobby and now know that is a dead ringer for a fake, which is what I sold this piece as. Perhaps others could comment on whether they know of genuine pieces that have the serial number stamped habaki. If no one confirms genuine articles have serial numbers stamped on the habaki, I'd steer clear (like I wish I would have).

[Weidas]

Jason, be very careful - there were no stamps on habaki on such swords. Only knowing that there is number and arsenal stamp there, i'd say that you are thinking to purchase chinese fake.